Cedar Park baseball has struggled in the past, fighting hard to overcome all obstacles in their way. The talent has always been present but sometimes the team falls short of expectations. This year is no exception with the guys having another hurdle to overcome; inexperience. With only four returning starters, the guys lost half of their team and the chemistry that they had.

     “We were all close friends and had been on varsity for two years,” Charlie Seesselberg, senior first basemen, said. “Right now [the chemistry] is not that great.”

     The guy’s lack of familiarity with each other showed on the field in their first few games. They gave up 33 runs and lost two of three games which makes this year a rebuilding season. However, this isn’t the first time the Timberwolves had a rough start to the season. 

     “[Last season was] frustrating because we had a lot of talent but fell short,” Nathan Thornhill, senior pitcher, said.

     What they do have going for them is the hard work the team is willing to put in. In the offseason alone they lifted weights and ran nearly every day. The grueling workouts made the team stronger and fast which will translate on the field. They also have diversity within the team.

     “[Our strength is] depth. We have lots of players that can play different positions,” Seesselberg said.

     That ability for players to be switched in and out can be deadly against unsuspecting teams. It could be the key to taking down the Georgetown Eagles, the first district game of the season and the one team that the Timberwolves haven’t been able to defeat in the past four years.

     “Our biggest opponent is probably Georgetown because they’re always good and have strong players,” Thornhill said. “They’re also the first game of district.”

     The team has also improved since the start of the season. Their offense has gotten better by working on their batting skills and their practices have become more serious.  The more the guys play together, the more they’re likely to gel on the field.

     “As the season goes on and we become better friends I think [the chemistry on the field] will improve greatly,” Seesselberg said.

     Their main goal for the season is the same as most other sports – playoffs. Last season they went 7-7, barely missing the fourth spot to advance.

     “It was disappointing. We started off well but didn’t finish off how we wanted,” Collin Raddack, senior center fielder, said.

     With that as motivation, the guys are more then willing to put in the extra effort to be the best and make it to playoffs. The team may be young, but they are willing to listen to each other to improve. There are six seniors leading the team, guiding the underclassmen in playing varsity ball. The team last year fell short of expectations driving them to be the best this year.

     “We’re about the same [as we were last year] but we play better as a team so hopefully we’ll end up further along,” Raddack said.  

     The team has high hopes for the season, wanting to make it to playoffs and maybe even the state championship. The seniors are looking to leave the team with a winning season and start living up to their potential. They continue to grow and work hard to exceed expectations and reach their full potential.