By Rachel Weber
Staff Reporter

Last year, the baseball team ended with a record of 20-6, working its way to the state quarterfinals. The boys lost a heartbreaker in the bottom of the seventh, but they hope the skill and high amounts of effort the team put in will be carried through to this year.
Coach John Vogan, the winner of the Daily Local News Baseball Coach of the Year, feels that the way the players carry themselves is just as important as playing ability when filling positions.

“Quality of character is very important to our program,” Vogan said. He thinks attitude and work ethic last year were why the team did so well last season.

Although any coach hopes for a winning season, Vogan believes in taking each game at a time, focusing only on the situation at hand.

“It’s similar to running up a flight of steps. If you run so fast and you’re looking at the step five rows up, you’re going to trip on the one you’re on,” Vogan said.

As defending Central League champions, players like senior Kyle Birmingham find the biggest challenge will be proving themselves.

“Every team is gunning for us and we will face every team’s ace,” Birmingham said.
Birmingham plays third base and has assumed a leadership role on the team. He is confident in the team’s chemistry and expects the talented group of young players to be the basis for this year’s success.

“Our lineup will be solid, top to bottom,” Birmingham said. “We have to go out every game and earn respect.”

Rachel Weber can be reached at rweber@stoganews.com.

Printed originally on p. 20 of the March 27, 2009 issue of The Spoke.