The cracking of bats and the excitement from the crowds have been constant this season as the baseball team continues to refine their game. With several wins and few losses already in their bags, the team has been working hard to make it as far as they can in the postseason.
After their win against Neshannock, the team continued their streak the next day against Sewickley Academy. They gave up the first runs but bounced back quickly, winning the game with a score of 13-11 against the Panthers. Later, on April 14, they played against Laurel. They were defeated by three runs, ending the game 0-3. The next day, however, the team managed to pull through a win, defeating the Spartans 5-3.
On April 17, the team faced off against New Brighton and defeated the Lions in a close game of 3-2 by the final inning. Four players ended up with at least one hit during the game, one being Colton Blank (11), who scored his first double of the season. On April 22, they played Bethlehem Center and lost in yet another close game by 8-7. They continued on April 24 to play against Highlands. Luckily for the team, they defeated the Golden Rams by 10-7.
On April 28, the Bulldogs hosted Aliquippa for their senior night. They created a season high-score, dominating the Quips 18-0. Mason O’Donnell (10) notably contributed to the game with three runs and one double. They ended the game with a high on-base percentage, not allowing the Quips on the board.
After the successful game, the spirit continued with the senior night ceremony. The team honored three seniors: Elias Boyd (12), Ryan Fessler (12) and Thomas Ward (12). The baseball boosters worked to put together the events, bringing in a food truck in addition to the concessions table. They also had large decorations that they used at the end of the game, when their ceremony took place. The seniors were presented with gifts from teachers as well as signs and flowers, which they presented to their guardians during the ceremony.
“My favorite part [of the ceremony] was finally getting to be a senior and do it,” Boyd said.
The boys faced off against Shenango on May 5 and won by a score of 1-0. Unfortunately for the boys, their opponents bounced back against them on May 7, causing the Bulldogs to fall short by a close game of 5-4. Determined to win a game again, the Bulldogs faced off against the Quips on May 8. This time, they conquered yet another game, winning 29-1. During this, the boys dropped another season high-score for the season.
The turnout of these games paved a pathway for the boys to continue their season and advance into playoffs, their first game occurring on May 13 against Apollo Ridge at Plum High School.
As the season continues on, the Bulldogs have proven themselves to be a team that refuses to back down from a challenge. With successful wins and few losses, they’ve shown resilience on the diamond. With more games from the playoffs to come, the team is remaining focused on building their momentum and finishing strong, making every inning count.
“In the future this season we have the potential to win the WPIAL championship and go into the state playoffs. When we play as a team and trust each other, we can beat any team we face,” Anthony Taddeo (10) said. “If we play the way we’re playing right now, we’re going to be a team that is scary to play.”