On March 18th the Tigers faced off against Lincoln North Star. They ended up losing 10-14.
The start of all the spring sports happened on February 28, and the Tiger baseball team has been putting in the work since the start of fall sports.
The 2020-2021 team had a lot of seniors who graduated. So, players are working hard to try and earn one of those newly open spots while the coaches are watching their every move.
“As good as a student athlete might be on the field, it is just as important to us coaches that they are performing their best in the classroom as well,” head coach Blake Mardquart said.
As underclassmen work to try and get a spot on the Varsity team, there are three outfield spots that need to be filled along with three infield spots.
“Last year our team worked together really well, all of the starters had good chemistry and confidence in one another. So this year we need to build the confidence up because there will be a majority of players who didn’t play last year,” said pitcher and center fielder Daeton Espino.
Along with a majority of the team being seniors last year, one of the main pitchers was Brayden Mackey. Two of the other players that pitched a lot were Markus Miller and Luke Brooks, both are returners and two of the four senior leaders this year.
“With it being game week ahead, we want to go out there not trying to hit home runs but get bunts down,” Coach Mardquart said.
Coming off of a record of 20-7, the team put in a lot of off season work to get back to the district games and try to make it farther this year. The Tigers first game was March 17th, they took on the number one seed Norris. Last year for the spring opener they defeated the Titans, but this year they were run ruled, the opposing team was winning by 15 in the 5th inning, in the 5th inning to end the game.
After the team’s first loss Coach Mardquart said, “ If we want to make our goal (state) we have to execute the little things perfectly.”
