PRIDE ATHLETICS: BASEBALL PREVIEW

Pride baseball team in Florida

Pride Baseball

Coach: Mike Webber P’17, P’18

Last year’s record: 9-6

Returners: Seniors — Capt. Will Rickert (1B, P), Capt. Jesnel Soto (SS, Dayton), Connor Bradshaw (OF, Pepperdine); Juniors — Nick Selden (P); Sophomores — John Link (P, OF)

New Faces: PG — Connor Harris (P, George Washington), Pat Metzger (P, Dickinson), Kareem Holloway (3B); Juniors — Lucas Shliger (C, Maryland), Julian Uejima (2B), Jake Repaci (OF), Kendall Greene (OF, P), Kyle Hammel (OF); Sophomores — Tyler Gmyr (P, DH), Rory McLaughlin (OF), Kyle Stober (OF)

After a March trip to Ft. Pierce, Florida, the 2019 Trinity-Pawling varsity baseball team looks to continue their success as the northern campaign begins. The six-day trip afforded five practices and five games against NEPSAC and Canadian opponents, and the Pride ended the trip with four victories, dropping just one contest by one run to top New England opponent Andover. In true spring training fashion, every player appeared in every game.

As the regular season begins, Coach Webber will look for strong starts from pitchers Harris, Rickert, and Metzger, with support from new arms Gmyr and Greene. The Pride will rely on a quick middle infield with future Division 1 players Soto and Uejima at shortstop and second base. PG Holloway steps in at third base with great athleticism and a valuable bat. The outfield is ripe with new talent, led by senior returner Bradshaw. Junior, Maryland commit, Lucas Shliger will dig in behind the plate as a trusted leader and pitch-caller, while also occupying the third spot in the batting order.

Webber said the spring trip was a challenge because the team played a doubleheader after just one practice. “This week was a week of work, a week of building relationships and chemistry because it’s all baseball, all the time.” Some highlights include: a four pitcher combined no-hitter, a lot of power-hitting (including a 17-run game), and competing under the lights in the Florida Coast Spring Training Association’s featured game of the week against Andover. Members of the team want to express gratitude for the generosity of donors that have made the March trip possible for the past five years.

The Pride’s home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, at 3:30. Pray for the rain gods to rest this spring.

Come to campus for a game this season!

by Cyrus Rothwell-Ferraris