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

Swinging for the Fences

Freedom’s very own baseball team is throwing embers on the fire that is Freedom’s passion for striving athletics. Coach Dan O’Leary has “great expectations and high hopes” for this year’s baseball season. These hopes are exemplified in the goal set by O’Leary for the 2012 season. These goals are “as they are every year, to make it to states,” O’Leary said, “And with this team, absolutely, no doubt in my mind.” These goals don’t only matter to the coaches, but the entire team as well. Junior Samuel Beckey’s goal for this year’s baseball season is to get a WPIAL title and believes this is absolutely achievable. Senior Collin Allego has many goals and aspirations for his team this year as well. “I hope we make it to at least playoffs, hopefully win our section and maybe even go further,” Allego said. To help meet these expectations, the 20 players on the team started practicing in November and hold practices five times a week. Practices usually start with stretching and running, then go into specialized areas such as throwing, fielding and hitting. With all the practices and games, team players have developed a real close friendship with one another and the sport. “It’s fun. I know I’m going to miss it after this year,” Senior Jordan Price said. “This is the best time you will ever have in your life,” Senior Riley Schwertz said. Leading the team are the nine Seniors, Zeke Stroupe, Kenny McClain, Francis O’Connor, Derek Fajtak, Jordan Price, Collin Allego, Connor Yarzebinksi, Josh Herdt and Riley Schwertz, who will take turns serving as captain. New players on the team this year are Freshmen Andrew Baker & Patrick Baker. “We have a great group of seniors this year that was a pretty mature group of juniors last year,” Coach O’Leary said. With all this excitement Coach O’Leary makes one thing clear to his players. When it comes to game time: Focus, focus, focus. This motto will be carried out on the field for the first baseball game of the season March 20 at 4 p.m. home against Western Beaver. Looking forward to their first game, the baseball players keep an ever hopeful and spirited attitude. “I think we are going to do pretty good; there’s no reason we shouldn’t win it all. I think we are about to have a real good season,” Sophomore Matthew Feits said.