Falcons look to bounce back after rough 2017 season

After last season’s losing record, the baseball team is trying to re-establish a winning tradition — or at least take steps in that direction.

Though they lost some key players due to graduation such as alumni Jonathan Yun and Tony Ramirez, the team still features plenty of talent, most notably two-way senior star catcher and pitcher Nathan Peng, who is already committed to play at UC Davis next year.

The boys hold a 2-1 conference record as of March 15, winning against Monta Vista 6-0 on March 6, losing to Wilcox 6-1 on March 10  and defeating Wilcox 14-4 on March 15. Despite the boys playing Monta Vista again on March 8, the game was inconclusive due to an absence of sunlight.

Peng has placed the team in the stat sheet on both sides of the ball, owning a 2.00 ERA on the mound and a 2-0 record; at the plate, he holds  a .500 batting average, five RBIs and one home run.

Though the team still has 22 games left in the season, they seem confident in their abilities to achieve a better record than last season.

“As a team we hope to play better this year,” junior outfielder Zachary Li said. “We play to win a title but most importantly play for one another.”

Li said that the team has improved significantly from last year, with the addition of players such as freshman shortstop Ryan Gilligan, sophomore pitcher Mihir Bettadapur and sophomore catcher Justin Loconzolo.

The  three underclassmen newcomers, along with fellow sophomore returner double Payton Stokes, have hit a combined .386, giving the team a much needed talent boost across their lineup.

“We definitely have more depth this season with the addition of several underclassmen,” Li said. “Their versatility to play multiple positions and the energy they bring to the team are the key to our success.”

In order to improve their chances of winning a league title this year, Li said that the team is working more hours as well as watching more film in order to strengthen their chances of achieving their goal.