Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Baseball team improves, secures section wins

Passing+off%3A+Switching+places+on+the+field%2C+junior+Thomas+Ward+and+senior+Tyler+Schultheis%2C+pass+equipment+to+each+other.+Since+Ward+is+the+only+catcher%2C+he+often+needs+a+baserunner%2C+which+gives+Ward+time+to+get+ready+for+the+next+inning.+
Colton Blank
Passing off: Switching places on the field, junior Thomas Ward and senior Tyler Schultheis, pass equipment to each other. Since Ward is the only catcher, he often needs a baserunner, which gives Ward time to get ready for the next inning.

So far this season, the baseball team has faced many challenges in the short amount of time they have played, the season started strong with the first few scrimmages. Later, the team moved to their section games in which they both won and lost. The team has been showing a lot of teamwork in their gameplay.

The team played their first scrimmage on March 12, which the Bulldogs won. They started their section games on March 25, when Freedom hosted Our Lady of Sacred Heart. After some difficult innings, the team was unable to secure the win. They lost with a final score of 10-5. The team added a non-section game against Beaver on March 28. Although it did not affect their section record it was still a loss for the Bulldogs.

“I’m so glad I decided to come back to help the team and work to achieve our goals,” senior Cody Patterson said. “Starting the season off good with some huge section wins helps a lot and we are going to continue to keep it rolling.”

Due to the ever-changing weather, the team also had to push back many games. This made it very difficult for the players to plan their schedules around the games. Some students had to miss games because of predetermined plans. However, on days the weather did cooperate, the team put their best efforts into winning those games.

“I have not played as much as I thought I was going to this year, although this is unfortunate, I do feel that it has made me overall a better player,” junior Elias Boyd said. “When I do have the opportunity to play I give it my all and try to make the most of my time on the field.”

During the doubleheader against Aliquippa on April 16, the team won both games. The team played six innings of the first game, winning 10-0. Starting the sixth inning with four runs, the team acquired six more in their last time up to bat. The second game is where it got interesting. Playing only until the top of the second inning the Bulldogs beat the Quips 21-0. Starting the second inning with six runs, the team quickly scored 15 more points in the remainder of the inning. 

The team will continue to push through the season as they play their final games. At the time of the publication, their current record is 5-1 for their section games and overall 7-3. So far this season the team has won more games than in their previous season. This is a step in the right direction for the team as they prepare for playoffs. If the team were to make the playoffs it would be the first time in a few years.

“I have been more than happy with how our team has been playing this season. Everyone is putting in a lot of work to be better, and that makes us a better team,” sophomore Colton Blank said. “Overall I want us to be able to make play-offs, and if I am not wrong we have not made play-offs in the past nine years, so it would be a cool thing to do!”