Sports

The Mind of a Baseball Player

By Chris Gagne, Sports
Baseball is widely considered America’s national pastime, and for good reason. Beginning in the 1860’s during the Civil War, it was the first major American sport. Although football has taken its place, it still holds a place in a lot of Americans hearts. As we watch the screens when our favorite teams are playing, we only seem to care what we are experiencing, what’s going on in our heads. But what happens in the minds of a baseball player? What, in terms of motivation and love for the game, goes into a swing or a caught fly ball?
 
Kaleb Bassett, a sophomore baseball player who has been playing for most of his life, knows the game like the back of his hand. He says that he personally is driven to play by his family, because he wants to be able to provide for them, and his brother, as he was forced to give up the game prematurely. The first baseman also loves the
individuality of each game, as they are never the same. He is also starting a travel season very soon, with the Orlando Jays. As for making a travel team, he states that, “a lot of hard work and time, time to just get those extra reps and to make sure you do more than your competition,” is the way to go.
 
This is very similar to his hero, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Pillar, who worked very hard and got drafted low, but is still successful due to hard work and dedication. But a baseball player also needs time off so he isn’t constantly working himself. Bassett, in his free time, spends time with his niece, but never loses his drive, as he also works hard in weightlifting. For younger baseball players, he believes they should work hard and take every extra opportunity for improvement.
 
Our favorite players who go up to the mound or stand at that plate, have gotten there through hard work and dedication to the sport. This runs through their veins in every swing, every throw, every stolen base. The field is full of competition, but the realization that you have worked hard to get there must come through amidst all of it.

Oakland Raiders to Become Vegas Raiders

By John Richardson –

An executive decision was finally approved by the NFL this Monday, April 3rd, to move the Raiders from Oakland to Vegas in 2020. The new stadium is being built in the U.S. city that claims to be the, “Entertainment Capital of the World,” for $1.9 billion. Nevada taxpayers are footing almost half of this bill already giving the Raiders $750 million dollars last year to help finance the construction of the new stadium. This is the third NFL franchise to move in recent years. The Rams moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles for the 2016 season, and the former San Diego Chargers will move to Los Angeles for the 2017 season.

 

WPHS Tennis Update

-By Mathieu Wilkhu

On Friday, February 17th, the Winter Park High School tennis team beat the University Cougars 6-1. Senior J.R. Kidd won both of his sets with dominating scores of 6-2 in both.

“The match was a great way to start off my season,” Kidd said about his victory.

J.R. told me that he wasn’t the only person who dominated – all six of the wins were by a large margin. The one loss was decided in the third set, but that didn’t matter as the Wildcats moved to 3-0. Tuesday, the 21st of February, the Wildcats play against the Grenadiers of Colonial and are expected to move to 4-0.

J.R. said,” Tonight should be a good match, but we expect to win.”

 

Chelsea Makes a Comeback

By Lance Robinson

chelsea-article

[www.goal.com]

     This weekend, Chelsea played Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, winning 4-0.  This was a great achievement for Chelsea after a slow start to their season and a very poor performance last season.  Pedro scored their first goal right off the bat, only thirty seconds into the game, due to bad defense from Man U.  The second goal was scored off of a cross to Gary Cahill, and the third point was from Eden Hazard.  The fourth and final goal was from N’Golo Kante, his first ever goal for his new club.  Chelsea is now ranked fourth in the Premier League.

 

Wildcat Football Team Update

By Mathieu Wilkhu

    The Wildcats Football Team are going into week nine sitting at five to two. In the district play, three to zero. Their only losses were a heartbreaker to Lake Nona and a blowout to Wekiva. They have wins over district rivals Colonial, Timber Creek, and University, and need to beat Boone, Friday, October 21st. This victory is needed in order to win the 8A District 3 Championship and “clinch a playoff berth”. The game on October 28th will be our first home game as well as our Homecoming Game at the recently remodeled Showalter Field against Spruce Creek. Senior Night is on November 4th against Olympia Titans. If we win our district, we will likely host Wekiva in round one of the playoffs on November 11th.