Goals must be set in order to achieve success. The Bulldogs’ baseball team set goals early and often this season. Their goals started basic; win each game and never look ahead. Then the goals got bigger. Win the first turn in section playoffs. Then bigger: continue to work and win section. Finally, win the WPIAL championship and qualify for the PIAA State playoffs. The Bulldog’s started off the season 3-1 with no section wins against Ellwood City, Cornell, and Quigley and a close loss to Beaver Falls. After the loss to Beaver Falls, the baseball team caught fire. They started off their first turn of the section against preseason favorites, Center and Beaver. The Bulldogs first pounded Center in five innings, forcing the mercy rule, and then turned around and beat Beaver 11-7 in a slugfest. Carried by strong pitching and clutch hitting, the bulldogs finished the first turn in the section undefeated. The second turn of the section was rough for the Bulldogs as they lost a heartbreaker to Center, and then were given a reality check from Beaver after being 10-runned. The Bulldogs responded to the wake up call and compiled four straight victories, including a 5-2 victory over New Brighton to clinch the Section 1 AA title. After the Freedom’s first section title in baseball in eleven years was in hand, the Bulldogs went on to the playoffs and defeated Steel Valley. Then this baseball family was two outs away from going to the semi-finals of the WPIAL playoffs, before losing to Beaver Falls. Even though this goal oriented team, led by coach Steve Wetzel, and a plethora of young and experienced talent did not achieve there WPIAL championship and PIAA state playoff goal, there is tons of hope for next season. The Bulldogs will return eight starters next year, including seven juniors. Next year the Bulldogs will also have the assistance of Adam Teets, who started his freshman and sophomore years, but sat out this entire season with a broken hand. Next year, this resilient group of ballplayers will set more goals, and will look to defend their section title. Goals must be set in order to achieve success. The Bulldogs’ baseball team set goals early and often this season. Their goals started basic; win each game and never look ahead. Then the goals got bigger. Win the first turn in section playoffs. Then bigger: continue to work and win section. Finally, win the WPIAL championship and qualify for the PIAA State playoffs. The Bulldog’s started off the season 3-1 with no section wins against Ellwood City, Cornell, and Quigley and a close loss to Beaver Falls. After the loss to Beaver Falls, the baseball team caught fire. They started off their first turn of the section against preseason favorites, Center and Beaver. The Bulldogs first pounded Center in five innings, forcing the mercy rule, and then turned around and beat Beaver 11-7 in a slugfest. Carried by strong pitching and clutch hitting, the bulldogs finished the first turn in the section undefeated. The second turn of the section was rough for the Bulldogs as they lost a heartbreaker to Center, and then were given a reality check from Beaver after being 10-runned. The Bulldogs responded to the wake up call and compiled four straight victories, including a 5-2 victory over New Brighton to clinch the Section 1 AA title. After the Freedom’s first section title in baseball in eleven years was in hand, the Bulldogs went on to the playoffs and defeated Steel Valley. Then this baseball family was two outs away from going to the semi-finals of the WPIAL playoffs, before losing to Beaver Falls. Even though this goal oriented team, led by coach Steve Wetzel, and a plethora of young and experienced talent did not achieve there WPIAL championship and PIAA state playoff goal, there is tons of hope for next season. The Bulldogs will return eight starters next year, including seven juniors. Next year the Bulldogs will also have the assistance of Adam Teets, who started his freshman and sophomore years, but sat out this entire season with a broken hand. Next year, this resilient group of ballplayers will set more goals, and will look to defend their section title.