Boys’ baseball bats towards CIF
The NPHS baseball team is now in season, with an 8-4 overall record, and a 2-2 record in league games. The team hopes to continue their success in their upcoming games, with the goal of qualifying for CIF playoffs. With a more detailed approach to their game strategy this year, the team is confident in their chances of performing well.
Cameron Fausset, sophomore and pitcher on the varsity team, looks forward to the prospect of qualifying for CIF playoffs. “We have practice everyday, we’re all working really hard, and we have a lot of guys who are committed to college for baseball so I think we’re gonna be able to do it,” Fausset said.
The team’s hard work in their daily practices and games is rewarded with soreness as much as it is with success. Drew Turley, senior and catcher on varsity, discusses the effects baseball has on his body. “The biggest challenge in baseball really comes down to staying healthy. Baseball puts a lot of strain on your body that you might not notice at first glance,” Turley said. “But playing for multiple years really takes a toll on your body, especially your shoulders or in my case, knees.”
Over the years of playing baseball, players have developed routines and methods to recover and stay fit. Derek Turner, senior and third baseman and pitcher on the varsity team, discusses how he recovers after playing baseball as well as how he stays fit outside of school practices and games. “I’m always sore. I normally jump in the hot tub [or] in the pool [to] down and just try to loosen up. You’re never going to be 100 percent in this game,” Turner said. In terms of staying fit, personally, I do my weightlifting, working on strength for swinging the bat or for pitching. A lot of us also play on our own separate teams for summer, and travel for showcases.” Some other methods players use to recover are icing/heating, stretching, and using a massage gun.
The friendships between players extend the team beyond just the baseball field. “My teammates are like family to me, and I’m sure any one of them would say the same thing. We often go to places such as restaurants as a team or in smaller groups and bond that way,” Turley said.
The closeness of the team creates an encouraging environment, which helps during games. “Pressure can build up because we all want to win, but being friends, we can all joke around which releases that a bit,” Fausset said.
Players’ journey with baseball has continuously fostered their love for the sport. “I like the team setting of baseball. Every position is as important as the other, so all of us have to be playing well in order to succeed, and even when one of us isn’t playing well, that person has their teammates to pick them up,” Turley said.
Having played baseball for almost all of their life, players feel a deep connection to the sport and embrace its uniqueness. “Baseball’s a lot different than other sports. It’s a lot harder mentally than other sports which I like,” Fausset said.
