The St. Mary’s varsity baseball team has begun preparing for their first game at Yokosuka Naval Base on March 4th, against the Red Devils of Kinnick High School.
Practices have intensified as players solidify their fundamentals and build team chemistry ahead of their season debut. Coaches have introduced intense conditioning to prepare the players for a challenging nine innings away from home. With the first game approaching, our Titans are concentrated on staying extremely focused and consistent in their practices and training sessions.
As March 4th gets closer, tension continues to build. “In military bases, people come and go, so we’re not familiar with any of their players,” Said Assistant Coach Mr. Kraatz. Alongside Head Coach Ms. Souers, the team has been going through a lot of live scrimmaging, pitching, and batting to familiarize players with the tempo and environment of a real game. The Titans are also trying to develop a theme that defines their vision and the team as a whole. The players understand the importance of starting the season strong and are using each practice as an opportunity to improve. “I think this opening game can be a strong signal of where we stand among teams in our league,” pitcher/infielder Derek Furudera (27′) says, “we still have time ahead of the game, so I think it’s important that we learn to play as a team and communicate.” Their preparation shows a shared commitment to representing St. Mary’s with effort, teamwork, and determination in their upcoming game at Kinnick.
