Varsity Baseball Coach Jeff Willis is looking for big things out his team this year as he brings back plenty of experience from last year’s team.
Even though they finished last in the Flint Metro League in 2009, Willis can feel a different atmosphere around the dugout in his second season as head coach.
‘I know last year was my first year and we took some lumps along the way,? he said.
‘I can already feel a different buzz in the air,? he added. ‘The kids are here everyday and nobody is ever late and there is no individuality. This is definitely a team when I see this group of kids.?
Willis indicated that the players on his team’s number one goal was to have fun this season. And the only way that Willis knows how to have fun is to win.
Willis wants to exit the Flint Metro League with a title.
‘We’re definitely focused on winning the league in our last year. I would have to say that we have one of the best, if not the best, opportunity to win it this year,? said.
Out of the 16 members of the team, there are eight seniors, four juniors and four sophomores.
Willis knows he can count on the seniors he has on his roster to provide the leadership to the younger players.
‘It will be a good chance for the seniors that have been here for two or three years to let the sophomores know how it is to be done,? he said.
According to Willis, last season’s captain’s Jordan Macocha and Mitch Stefanski would be known as leaders in some capacity, even though he has yet to select his captains.
Along with Macocha, who plays shortstop, and Stephaniski, who plays second, most of the current roster had significant playing time last season under Willis, which is something that he wants to do every season.
‘We’re deep with experience at this level, which is something I was trying to do last year. I didn’t want to just build for one season, I want to reload every year instead of rebuilding every three,? he said.
He also returns three starting pitchers from last season, giving him pitching depth as long as they don’t get hit by injuries.
Also coming back is catcher Kyle Hartwick, who suffered a season ending knee injury halfway through last year. ‘He is back this year and I can already tell that he is ready to get going,? Willis said.
‘With all the experience at this level coming back and all the depth at pitching and the leadership up the middle, I think our chance is good as any (to win the FML),? he said.
He is going to need that experience early in the season as they have a very tough non-league schedule. According to Willis, they open against the defending division one state champions in Warren De La Salle, play a double header against Brother Rice and play against L’ance Creuse North from the Macomb Athletic Conference.
‘One of the reasons I loaded up the schedule was to get us ready for the Oakland Athletic Association,? said Willis. ‘I don’t know what everybody else’s non-league schedule looks like, but I would have to say that we probably have one of the toughest in the state,? he added.
The Wildcats open up at home against De La Salle on Thursday, April 1 before playing in a tournament over Spring Break.