With early season struggles and a roster decreasing in size by the minute, common logic would suggest that the Maple baseball team would be dragging across the finish line in another sub .500 season.
But because of these issues, the remaining team has come together and the Maples have been playing their best ball of the season.
“Even after the players quit, the team never fell apart,” head coach Don Watchowski said. “This team has always been a family.”
Watchowski acknowledged that the issue was a distraction to the team, but is still trying to look at it in a positive light.
“This season has been a learning experience,” Watchowski said. “We will agree that it has been a rough year, but it has just made us stronger.”
Freshman Keaton Aldridge has not panicked since the departures.
“It was their choice to quit,” Aldridge said. “If they didn’t want to be with the team, it’s their problem, not ours.”
As much as the team wants to ignore the issue, the dugout seems sparse, and many players have needed to take bigger roles.
“We have had a lot of shake ups with playing time,” junior Ryan Miner said. “Some people have had to switch from infield to outfield, and people have had to pitch more. In my opinion, they have all done a great job.”
Because the quitters were seniors, the team was left with little leadership. Senior Brian Palmeri has stepped up to fill the void and hold the team together.
“[Palmeri] has done a great job since they left,” Miner said. “He has taken it upon himself to make sure this team is ready to play.”
However, at times, the team has been anything but prepared, and the season record reflects that.
“We didn’t start off very good,” Aldridge said.
“We lost a lot of close games early. Then we turned it on for a little while, and then we went downhill again. Now we are starting to pick it up again.”
Districts start on Tuesday at West Bloomfield High School, and the team is confident.
“We lost to Brother Rice recently, which was tough, but our chemistry has been great,” Miner said. We are playing like we thought we would at the beginning of the season.”
Confident, determined, and motivated; the Maples are excited for their upcoming games. It seems as though all they need to do is focus on the fundamentals and they will play strong.
“I think we need to focus on what all other teams need to focus on,” coach Watchowski said. “We need throw strikes, and put the ball in play. Throw in playing with confidence, and I think we will have the edge.”
