By BRIDGETTE NORRIS
Stepping up their games, junior infielder and pitcher Ian McKinney, junior infielder Derek Deler and senior infielder and pitcher Frank Grandinette helped in the team’s first win, against Lake Brantley, 8-5.
The game improved the team’s record and changed the season for the better.
“We started out slow, and we needed to work more as a team. I expect to do well and come together as a team. I think we have good comradery,” McKinney said.
Despite losing the first two regular season games, the team entered the game against Lake Brantley with a different mindset.
“I thought our game [against Lake Brantley] was a big win. We stuck to our ability and everything took care of itself. I expect to win more games,” Grandinette said.
Since the team’s won their first game, the boys have been undefeated. The wins include the team defeating district and metro games.
“We have been [playing] together since we were young and that benefits the team,” Grandinette said.
The team won 8-1 on March 9 and 10-3 on March 7 against Freedom, and 7-2 on Feb. 29 against Dr. Phillips. All three games were district metro games.
“The wins do not change our outlook on future games. Each game is important. Each game we will focus just as much,” coach Pete Post said.
Two days after the game, March 2, the team defeated Dr. Phillips again, 2-1. Deler had the game winning RBI.
“I was excited to win a big district game against Dr. Phillips. Getting the big hit to bring the second run across to help my team just added to the victory against Dr. Phillips,” Deler said.
At the game against West Orange on Feb. 24, the team won 7-5 with junior catcher and outfielder Mitchell Barati earning a double and a triple.
Leading the team with a home run and three RBI’s, junior outfielder and first baseman, Dylan Dragon contributed to the 11-1 win against Foundation Academy on Feb. 21.
Before the team’s winning streak, they lost their first two games of the season, against Lake Mary and Oveido.
In the Lake Mary game, the team was ahead 4-1 at the bottom of the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, Lake Mary began to catch up, and pull far ahead, leaving the team defeated, 4-5.
“Practicing and playing as a team will help us to fulfill our hopes for the season,” Grandinette said.
Nine games into the season, the team is looking forward to continuing their winning streak.
“Things are looking good right now but we still have a lot of ball [games] left [to play],” Post said.
The boys will play district and metro home games against Cypress Creek tonight, Wellington on March 21 and Colonial on March 22.
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