After a walk off home run by senior Evan Uhland that sealed a perfect 29-0 season that Head Coach Mr. Ed Freije and the baseball team achieved last year, which had occurred only three times prior in Indiana, the squad now has established similar goals to the ones that helped it achieve last year’s undefeated season.

Freije wrote in an email, “The goals are going to be to compete at a high level day in and day out. Get better every day. Conduct ourselves in a positive way on and off the field while being great teammates. The tangible goals consist of a City championship and State championship.”

And although others might believe there is some pressure returning from such an incredible season, Freije and the Irish are not feeling that way. They are focused on this season.

Freije said, “This is a new group with a new identity. We’re excited and ready to go. We can’t worry about what has happened in the past, whether it is positive or negative. It is about the present and the future in regards to what we are working for.”

Returning senior Jared Poland backed up the idea. He said, “I think that this season will go similar to last season. Never losing a game is always a goal, but we will just do what we did last year, taking it and only worrying about one game at a time. And also playing relaxed.”

“With last year’s success, the baseball team was happy for the school, the program and our seniors to be able to have the year that we had,” said Freije.

However, Poland said the focus now shifts to next spring. “(My teammates and I are going to) treat this upcoming season the same as we did last season, by working hard in the off season and working towards playing on victory field in June for a State title,” said Poland.

One factor that will help the baseball team’s success this upcoming year is the finishing of Brunette Park.

Freije and the team hope for the facility to have a positive effect on the team’s play. Freije said, “Brunette is coming along nicely. The playing surface and facility is beautiful. The field is finished and settling in. There are a few cosmetic items that will be done prior to the spring. We’re looking forward to being on it and calling it home this spring. It’s exciting to think about how much it will have to offer for baseball and other activities.”

The baseball team looks to be strong this year not only with the addition of a new field and with the momentum of last season’s success, but also with the number of returning players from last year’s State championship roster.

There are eight returning seniors: Jake Andriole, Wyatt Ferguson, Collin Greene, Alan Johnson, Seth Link, Mack Murphy, Poland, and Uhland, with one returning junior, Peyton Schofield.

With the entire outfield returning this year as well as some of the infield, Uhland said, “I think we have a good chance at making a run again. If we work as hard as we did last year in the off season and during the season, we should be fine.”

With the new park, momentum from the undefeated season, returning players with capable additions to the team as well and motivation to become back-to-back champions, the baseball team has a great chance of accomplishing another great season.

Uhland said, “Winning State is always a possibility, so don’t count us out.”