CAPTION: Senior pitcher Tyler Dick in full form, mid-pitch against Brennan High School.
For the first time in twenty years, the baseball team has claimed the district championship title. With a record of fifteen wins and two losses in district, they have found their way to being first in district and secured a spot in the playoffs.
Many of the senior players have been with coach Roger Luna since sixth grade, and have built their team since then.
“They’ve been with me since sixth grade. I’ve known them for a long time and it’s nice seeing them have success because they’ve put the work in,” Luna said.
The victory was something new to the boys, with senior center fielder and pitcher Tyler Dick still unable to soak all of it in.
“I’ve never felt that feeling before. I still haven’t processed it all,” Dick said.
Winning the game and earning the district championship title was a goal that the boys have been striving for and obtaining it felt phenomenal for the team members.
“After the last out was made, I realized no team was officially better than us in the district, and it was like a dream come true. I’ve waited all my life for this exact moment and accomplishing it was like no other experience,” senior second baseman Omar Garza said.
In order to get this far in their journey, the boys needed to trust each other.
“Trusting in each other’s capabilities really drove the team to new heights this year. We all worked hard and trusted one another to do what needed to be done,” junior shortstop Noah De La Rosa said.
To gain each other’s trust, the team has spent a lot of time bonding and bringing spirit at other school sports events.
“Not only have they done it here, but if you look at football, volleyball, and basketball, these [baseball players] are the ones that are going to all the games. They had a tailgate before a football game one time. They instilled spirit not only in baseball, but across the board. That’s the thing I’m most proud about because they’ve really embraced the community and the school,” Luna said.
With playoffs on the way, the team is motivated and ready for the opponents they’re about to face.
“We’ve been preparing for the playoffs for weeks now, and our confidence couldn’t be higher right now. As seniors, we don’t want to know when our last game is, so we are going to see how far we can make this run last,” senior right fielder Alex Lopez said.
The team faces Marshall on April 26 for the final game of the season at 7:30 pm by Gustafson Stadium on Baseball Field #1. Make sure to follow @holmesbcnews and @holmes_bball for updates on the schedule for playoff games.