With the spring season right around the corner, the baseball team is gearing up for the opening week of high school baseball. 

According to head coach Chase Franks, the team has been working hard over the offseason, with the team being in the weight room since September and using that time in the weight room to build a solid team foundation for the year. 

“We’ve had a really good offseason, and our numbers have been the best they’ve ever been consistently, and we’re looking to build off that coming into the start of the season,” Franks said.

Center-fielder Brady Davis also talked about some of the other drills the team does in the offseason to improve.

“We also do some skill development stuff at our houses as well, like hitting drills and practicing catching as well,” Davis said.

Last year, with the team finishing 13-13, they are seeking to improve upon that record and break .500 this year. The team got the opportunity to play against Sherwood, the #3-ranked preseason team in Oregon, on Tuesday, Mar. 31, which was expected by the team to be a great test of their skill and a good way to gauge where the team is heading going into league play. 

Some key matchups for the team once they enter league play will be some of the top teams in the PIL: Lincoln, Grant and Wells. 

“You always gotta circle the big teams like Lincoln, Grant and Wells,” Franks said. “Those will be interesting, and then Cleveland should be a team where we match up pretty well against.”

Last season, the team had a historic win against Grant, beating them 1-0. 

First base-man Emmett Letson stated the importance of the Grant matchup.

“Grant is definitely one we have marked on our calendar. I think if we play a clean and solid game against them, we have a real shot at it,” Letson said.

 According to Franks, the team is also looking forward to the matchup against Cleveland.

 This year, the team has a strong core of returning senior talent, with some of those players including in-fielder Riley Flynn, pitcher James Runoa-Banister, and pitcher Lowan Ouska. 

“Lowan is definitely someone to look out for this season,” right fielder Oscar Smalley said. “He’s gonna be hitting near the top of the lineup.”

The team also has some new freshmen players with breakout potential this year, including pitcher Brycen Schmitz and second-baseman Otis Gladski-Murphy.

This year, the team is looking to take advantage of its strengths and be more process-oriented than results-oriented.

“As long as we communicate on defense, play clean defense, throw strikes, and have a team offense approach, the results will take care of themselves,” Franks said.

The season is just starting up, and there is a lot of baseball to be played. Come to the team’s first home league match on Wednesday, Apr. 15, against Franklin.

Correction 4/1/26: Fixed player position and name spelling.