This year, WT’s Varsity high school baseball team debuted in its first year. Sadly, in the first year of a varsity sport, the team cannot play in its section. Due to this, the team faced many cancellations of games and was not able to compete in the section tournament and qualify for the playoffs. Next season, the WT Bears will play in the single A division. Despite this, the team ended the season with a winning record and is looking into a bright future. The team is made up of five freshmen, one sophomore, and five juniors. They started their season off strong with a 8-7 win against Northgate. In their second game, they lost 10-0 against Obama, a 6A section team. They followed up this loss with a 6-4 win against Aquinas Academy and a 22-3 win against Summit Academy. Due to cancellations by other teams, they were not able to play in the following games up until the game against Washington Area High School. This baseball team made it to the AA playoffs. The WT Bears put in a valiant effort and kept the score to just an 8-10 loss against Washington’s varsity team. The closing two games of the season were smashing wins, with an 11-4 win against Aquinas that went into extra innings and a 20-5 win against Hillel Academy. The WT Bears finished with a 5-2 record throughout the season, and beat every team that will be in their section next year. Let’s get to know this young team!
(All of these answers were provided by the players themselves)
Lucas Picher
Grade: 11
Number: 33
Positions: Pitcher and Short-Stop
Favorite Position: Short-Stop
Favorite MLB Player: Bo Bichette
Walk-up Song: Reptilia by The Strokes
Known For: Running weird
Voted Most Likely To: “… fall down catching a pop up”
What Your Mascot Would Be: Blue Jay
Austin Lenhardt-Barley
Grade: 11
Number: 22
Positions: Left Field, Pitcher, and Third Base
Favorite Position: Pitcher
Favorite MLB Player: Aroldis Chapman
Walk-up Song: Your Man by Josh Turner
Known For: Having a Cannon (can throw far)
Voted Most Likely To: “… yell”
What Your Mascot Would Be: A Big Polar Bear
Alex Staresinic
Grade: 11
Number: 13
Position: Second Base
Favorite Position: Second Base
Favorite MLB Player: Connor Joe
Walk-up Song: Fight Test by The Flaming Lips
Known For: Making it to First Base 100% of the time on a dropped 3rd strike (it happened twice!)
Voted Most Likely To: “… leave something on the bus”
What Your Mascot Would Be: A Frog
Sam Tarr
Grade: 11
Number: 9
Positions: Second Base, Short-Stop, and Pitcher
Favorite Position: Pitcher
Favorite MLB Player: Jared Jones
Walk-up Song: Thunderstruck cover by 2Cellos
Known For: having a good nickname (Pine Tarr)
Voted Most Likely To: “… watch a fastball right down the middle”
What Your Mascot Would Be: Simon the Chipmunk
Enzo Mercurio
Grade: 11
Number: 7
Position: Right Field
Favorite Position: Right Field
Favorite MLB Player: Mike Trout
Walk-up Song: Magnolia by Playboi Carti
Known For: Holding the bat like a Samurai sword
Voted Most Likely To: “… slide to first”
What Your Mascot Would Be: Lizard
Ben Kogan
Grade: 10
Number: 15
Position: First Base
Favorite Position: First Base
Favorite MLB Player: Ian Kinsler
Walk-up Song: Too Old To Rock and Roll Too Young To Die by Jethro Tull
Known For: My Dad Being the Bear
Voted Most Likely To: “… get run over at first base”
What Your Mascot Would Be: THE Bear
(there has been a mysterious man showing up to the baseball games in a full bear suit with a matching jersey.The bear sometimes cheers in a grumbling deep voice. Come to the games next season to find out who it is!)
Sam McComb
Grade: 9
Number: 50
Positions: Catcher and Pitcher (not at the same time )
Favorite Position: Catcher
Favorite MLB Player: Bryan Bello
Walk-up Song: Cruise by Florida Georgia Line
Known For: My Speech impediment
Voted Most Likely To: “… get kicked out of an all you can eat buffet”
What Your Mascot Would Be: Cow
Sam Hammons
Grade: 9
Number: 26
Positions: All Outfield, all Infield, Pitcher, and Catcher (but not at once )
Favorite Position: Short-Stop and Center Field
Favorite MLB Player: Mike Schmidt
Walk-up Song: Can’t Stop by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Known For: “Dancing and Singing in the Outfield”
Voted Most Likely To: “… play for the Savannah Bananas”
What Your Mascot Would Be: Harpy eagle
Benji Smuckler
Grade: 9
Number: 4
Position: Center Field and Pitcher
Favorite Position: Center Field
Favorite MLB Player: Aaron Judge
Walk-up Song: Axel F by Crazy Frog
Known For: Being Controversial
Voted Most Likely To: “… ask you if you want to square up”
What Your Mascot Would Be: Lemming
Hunter Rockwell
Grade: 9
Number: 25
Position: Right Field
Favorite Position: Out Field
Favorite MLB Player: Andrew McCutchen
Walk-up Song: Bandit by Don Toliver
Known For: Antagonizing Benji
Voted Most Likely To: “… get injured”
What Your Mascot Would Be: Dog
Mason Witten
Grade: 9
Number: 21
Positions: Pitcher, Third Base, and First Base
Favorite Position: First Base
Favorite MLB Player: Mookie Betts
Walk-up Song: Spring by Vivaldi
Known For: Always carrying the same bucket
Voted Most Likely To: “… strike out at a curveball that bounces ten feet from the pitcher’s hand”
What Your Mascot Would Be: A neon pink fluorescent unicorn
Here is a link to a playlist of all of the WT Bears’ walk-up songs!
