“We all know what we’re shooting for, but we’re not allowed to say it because we’ll jinx it,” junior Zack Higgins said.
Player after player refused to talk about the team’s ultimate goal, but with 11 seniors returning from a team that went to the fourth round last year, expectations are high.
The Chargers are currently 12-4 (8-0 in conference) with a team ERA of 1.79, and will open post-season play in May.
“We’re just going to try to survive and advance each round. Our goal is to always improve more in the playoffs than we did the previous year,” said head coach Rick Parks. “We know where we want to go and we’re on that course. Hopefully, we do everything right and the pieces fall into place like they’re supposed to.”
This year’s team is unique in that it includes 11 seniors as well as four juniors and one sophomore. Players attribute their success to experienced pitching and hitting, as well as leadership on and off the field.
“Definitely our strength is our seniors and how close we are. We’re like brothers,” Higgins said.
Senior Chase Golden persuaded the entire baseball team to shave their heads for the VS Cancer Foundation known as BaseBald, raising over $2,000 for the fight against cancer.
Over spring break, the Chargers competed in a tournament in Wilmington, N.C., facing top ranked 4A teams where they went 2-1, losing in the championship game against Forest Park. But on the way to the title game, they defeated teams ranked fourth and sixth in the state.
“The competition was really good, we had some game pressure situations, and it was nice to see some of the seniors step up in those key areas,” Parks said.
With the early success, Parks knows what his biggest fear is.
“Complacency,” Parks said. “Some of them may feel like we’ve already arrived, and there’s a tendency to coast your way. We play some teams that we can beat up on and if we aren’t striving each and every day to get better, somebody else is.”
While Parks says he has not yet seen much complacency, he foresees it as a possible problem in the future.
With Northwood moving up to 3A in conference play next year, the pressure is on for all sports teams to do well this year.
“Every year we beat our record, so we have to do better every year, and this year will be the toughest,” junior Cody Farrell said.
— By Dana Walker