With hopes to follow last year’s win of the League title, the boys’ 3-6 record mid season could have caused a lack of motivation for them. However, senior captain Owen Lyons feels his team has what it takes to repeat last year’s victory.

“The season is not really going as planned so far but it will turn around soon,” Lyons said. “Our strengths as a team are staying up even if we are down in the game. We’re fighters; we’re never actually out of the game even if it looks like it.”

Senior captain Kevin O’Leary believes that his team tries to win not only for themselves but for Algonquin as a whole.

“Winning means everything to me,” O’Leary said. “It is a great feeling when you get the W, because you are not only getting it for the team but for the Algonquin community.”

Coach Mike Mocerino, who is now in his fourth year ashead coach, hopes he can help the players improve in their skills throughout the season.

“Ultimately, the goal for a coach is for the kids to be able to look back on the season and be able to see themselves as better baseball players,” Mocerino said. “Winning is important but not as important as developing these kids over the course of the season.”

Having graduated multiple star pitchers and hitters last year, the team struggled to fill their shoes.

“Going into the year, we had a brand new pitching staff, so that was expected to be an area of struggle, but we have guys qualified enough to step up and become as strong as our defense is,” Mocerino said.

Being as close as a family is important when it comes to baseball. The team often has practices with team building exercises so they can be more successful.

“We just got off to a rough start, but I think our team is close enough together that we are going to be more successful in the end,” Mocerino said. “Hopefully, we can pull ourselves together to win the state championship.”