The varsity baseball team placed second in the DAC-VI conference, going 7-3 in conference play to finish the season with a 15-6 overall record.
The team worked with an all new coaching staff this season. Steven Launse replaced Bryan Tuck as head coach, while Logan Howard, Palmer Blanchard, Paul Milam, Taran CoyneSmith and Tim CoyneSmith served as assistant coaches.
Launse anticipated a rebuilding year in his debut season as head coach but said he was pleasantly surprised at how well the team played, making it to the second round of the state playoffs.
“A number of very talented seniors graduated over the last two years, so there were concerns that the program might require a great deal of work to develop strong players,” he said. “Somebody forgot to tell the team this year because they played like a seasoned group!”
Senior Thomas Roberts, a team co-captain, led the team with the highest batting average (.485), while fellow senior Sam Elston hit the only home run of the season. Junior James Staats recorded 26 hits on the season, and junior pitcher Jason Krieg boasted the highest earned run average (ERA) at 1.22.
The season presented its challenges to the Diamond Tigers, including a four-hour game at Hillside High School on April 23 that the team won 20-9.
“I think [it was] our best win,” senior Krish Gandhi, who plays second base, said. “We had to really dig deep for that win.”
The last game of the regular season on May 3 was cut short during the fourth inning due to unsafe weather conditions, and, despite the rain, the Diamond Tigers prevailed 3-0 against East, ensuring the team would host its first-round playoff game the following week.
The team won its first-round game in the playoffs 1-0 against Middle Creek High School at home on May 7.
“I am extremely proud of how our team played getting to the second round of the state playoffs,” freshman shortstop Teagan CoynesSmith said. “We had to beat a strong Middle Creek team in the first round 1-0, and it was a great all around team effort.”
The Tigers faced Wake Forest High School in the second round on May 10, a contest that the Cougars won 15-0, leaving many players feeling disappointed.
“I think we didn’t perform our best [at the last game],” sophomore Austin Campos said. “Our hitting wasn’t there, but, despite all that, we were a strong team with great players and great coaching staff.”
Teagan CoyneSmith said he wouldn’t change a thing about how the season went.
“We did all we could and left it all on the field,” he said.
