Whether they are playing a game or working hard at practice, the Platte Valley baseball team has one goal in their mind this year, and that’s winning the district final and making the state tournament.
“Hopefully, we make it to state this year since last year, we lost in the district final,” sophomore pitcher Carson Hollst said, “and hopefully I can help our team win, mainly, and have the most wins as a pitcher because it’s kind of important to me.”
To help the team reach their goals, the coaches are focusing on getting the team better every day and winning every battle they come across.
“We say ‘get 1 percent better today’ all the time. We also talk about ‘going 1-0 today.’ That way, we can focus on today rather than the past or the future. If we keep stacking good days on top of good days, we will improve as a team. We plan to practice hard, play the game hard and spend some time doing some team bonding activities,” head baseball coach Shawn Emanuel said.
The boys stay in a routine at practice to keep their consistency throughout the season and work on the basic skills each day.
“Usually, we start with stretches, then we play some catch and then we go into individual defense, which whatever position you play, you go into and you work on some drills. Then we usually have batting, and then we usually end with a two-inning scrimmage,” freshman Kael Hoffer said.
Despite hard work, the bond is something that keeps the team motivated.
“Even though the practices are challenging and very long, the coaches and team make me want to keep coming back,” freshman Isaac Anderson said.
Hollst agrees that his friends and the people he is around are what keep him in the sport.
“My favorite part about baseball is just being out there with your friends, in front of your family and playing the sport that I love,” Hollst said.
This team’s dynamic is a little different because the players are from three separate schools, but the common goal is what brings them closer together.
“The thing about this year that makes me enjoy baseball is the energy on the team. We are all connected together. Even though we are co-op, we have a great energy,” Hollst said.
The bonds will help them overcome their main challenge, which is having much fewer leadership positions filled than they have in the past. They need some younger players to step up and take those spots.
“The biggest difference is that we only have one senior. He is a strong leader, which helps, but we lack experience and leadership. So, developing leadership and team cohesiveness has been a priority. This team has brought really good effort, energy and attitude, so I am happy with where we are at,” Emanuel said.
Overall, everyone on the team wants to get better, build connections and, like every team, win games and make the postseason.
“My hope is that they keep growing and improving every single day. We are a younger team, so our goal is to be playing our best baseball at the end of the season and make a postseason run,” Emanuel said.
