Varsity Boys’ Baseball Hope to Finish Season Strong, Attaining League Championship After Slow Start

DAVID TAN
Staff Writer

The varsity boys’ baseball team has come off to what they feel like is a slow start to the season with an overall record of 5-4. After the winning 2-1 in their previous league match-up against Bell Gardens on March 22, the Moors have a league record of 2-1. Their record places them second in the Almont League behind the Montebello Oilers. Despite being able to play good defense, their losses this season are attributed to poor batting skills.
“We are disappointed [that] we haven’t played better,” Head Coach Steve Gewecke said, “We need to raise our game and I think we can, it’s just a matter of whether [or not] we will.”
While the other teams in the Almont League are improving and climbing up the rankings, the Moors feel that they have to continue to work hard and improve during practice in order to defend their league title. During practice, the Moors continue to focus and work on their fundamental skills, which include hitting, fielding and the mental aspect of the game.
“We need to work on the basic fundamentals, because during the game, we think it comes [naturally] but sometimes we make mistakes with the easiest things,” captain Brandon Morales said.
Although the Moors did not have an ideal start to their season, they remain focused on defending their ninth consecutive Almont League championship. They also believe that they can make it to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs and perhaps even make another historic run to play a CIF championship game at Dodger Stadium. However, they know that they must remain mentally focused and play diligently to suceed.
“Coach [Geweke] tells us [to focus on] one game at a time; CIF will come if we play our game and that is what we have to do, “ captain Alan Rivera said.
The Moors’ next league game will be on April 12 against Schurr.