BASEBALL

6enior 1icN /uNac watches the ball as he runs toward fi rst base at a home game against Pendleton Heights on April 23, 2019. FHS won 3-2. Photo by Grace Vang.

)aPily on tKe fi eld Boys baseball team creates a family atmosphere to help achieve goals

Riley Gearhart gearhril000@hsestudents.org

All of the time and eff ort that players put into their practices and _orSouts lead up to one single moment. ?hether that be on the fi eld, the mound or at home plate, the baseball team uses their family atmosphere to their advantage during their practices. Aearround training allo_s the team to _orS _ith each individual¼s strengths and _eaSnesses, as _ell as develop stronger bonds _ith one another. ¹?e¼ve created more of a family aspect _ith our team, all the _ay from our incoming freshman to our seniors that have been here for four years,” senior 3aid 5uth said. )lthough the team is seeSing success this season, they Sno_ there _ill be some struggles. Coaches help the players through these obstacles using diff erent methods, depending on the player. <he oneonone support that the coaches provide allo_s the players to overcome their challenges and improve in the future. 0ead coach 5att Cherry says that this oneonone support helps create the family environment they strive for. ¹?e try to get our guys to thinS outside of themselves a lot and to thinS about the ne`t person to build that team family and camaraderie,” Cherry said. <he team¼s attitude gives them the opportunity to maSe the changes that they need to maSe, according to 5uth. 8utting the team before themselves helps to maSe their goals for the season achievable. ¹<his year, 1 thinS a lot of guys are trying to be better and do more of _hat _e did in  to _in that state championship,” 5uth said. ¹1 thinS _e¼re trying to get bacS to _here .ishers baseball _ants to be and go bacS to being that gritty team that doesn¼t give up in a game.” Coaches are a big part in achieving these goals. /etting to Sno_ the players on a personal level is _hat hitting coach ,anny Collier hopes to do this season. <his _ill allo_ him to help each player _ith ho_ they play the game, especially mentally. ¹?e talS to our players a lot about being mentally tough,” Collier said. ¹Aou¼re going to fail in this game more than you succeed, so it¼s just ho_ you deal _ith your failures.” )ccording to 5uth, the family environment is _hat allo_s the team to come together and help _ith their game on the fi eld. Cherry¼s main goal, ho_ever, is for the boys to maSe memories and have fun together. ¹<hey _on¼t remember in  or  years _hat the results _ere, they¼ll remember more about the bus rides and hanging out together,” Cherry said. ¹*uilding that family atmosphere is al_ays an internal goal for me as the head coach and helping to create that space.”