Sectionals for every sport have a lot riding on them, but for the Warren Central baseball team, it would mean even more to win sectionals. With a new head coach and a roster ready to show up and show out on May 22 at Roncalli High School, the Warriors want to begin the post-season journey to end their 33-year sectional championship drought.
While this season has been solid and improvement has been made, the team hopes that will carry over into sectionals to rally and win a trophy and a spot in regionals and beyond. Doing this, however, is easier said than done, and setting goals and being realistic could play a role in how the team performs.
“A realistic goal for me going into sectionals is just doing our job and knowing what our skills are and doing what we can to achieve our goal of winning,” sophomore Dylan Thompson said.
Separate from team goals, individual goals are also important in helping contribute to the success rate of the team.
“Probably batting over .300 and providing for the team are my personal goals,” Jacob Vokes said of his own personal goals.
The team has battled through the season's toughest moments in an attempt to improve their record and how they look compared to other teams in the state.
While the baseball program at Warren is on the up and up, keeping it headed in that direction is a difficult task, but with incoming stars, the potential in Warren’s future is bright. That being said, sectionals are a good time for freshmen to get playing time in crucial moments. Freshman Anthony Dennison is one of two freshmen on varsity gearing up to experience their first sectional game ever.
“This year has been exciting, but I think as far as my success this season and how I am able to compare to my next upcoming seasons, [playing during sectionals] will be a great process for me,” Dennison said.
Warren drew Franklin Central as the team they will play in the first round of sectionals. After recent losses to Franklin Central, the team has a lot of motivation to beat them. They hope to be able to get their revenge and advance.
“After drawing Franklin Central as the team we will play, I wasn't really shocked,” senior Jacob Peace said. “We have played them in the first round for the last three years. I feel like we could beat FC. They are a good team, but we can compete with them. We just have to prepare ourselves and bring our A-game.”
Winning sectionals is not just a win for players but a win for coaches as well. Being able to win a sectional game or sectional championship would be a major win and a defining moment for the baseball coaching staff.
“To me, being able to win a sectional would be ecstatic for me and let alone Coach Kamm, because it's his first year, and coming in and winning a sectional would just be good for all of us,” Thompson said.