After traveling to the Dominican Republic, the baseball team wasn’t quite ready to spend some time at home as they traveled to Virginia on
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend where they went 1-3 against Apprentice School and Tufts.

“Even though it’s early in the year, I think we are getting better each and every game so far,” said
Connor Hoagland, new to the Spartans lineup this season.

In their first matchup against Apprentice on Thursday, March 14, the Spartans played even through two innings, however they couldn’t
hold the Builders back over the final seven innings, starting off their season with a loss.

Hoagland had an impressive debut for the Spartans as they started off hot scoring in each of the first
three innings. The Spartans scored six runs on 11 hits as they fell 10-6.

Hoagland went 4-for-4, getting a double and two RBI, while teammates Macyn Clifford and Ryan
Zielinski each recorded two hits.

Zielinski singled to start off the game, landing him at second on an error, sending him to third on a groundout by senior Cameron Curler. Hoagland then hit a single up the middle to give the Spartans the 1-0 lead, however it was quickly diminished
when the Builders gained a 4-0 advantage, as two batters got on base and two came around to
score, then added a pair of runs.

The Builders then maintained the lead the rest of the game. Even though the Spartans came in hot
in the ninth inning after Hoagland doubled home Zielinski.

Four Spartans shared time on the mound. Senior Pat Riley went 2 innings giving up four earned runs. Ethan Hanson, Geoff Brisco and
Conner Johnson each saw playing time as well.

The following day, the Spartans earned its first win, after scoring five runs in the forth inning alone.

Earning the win on the mound was Adam Greenlese who only allowed six hits over seven innings with just two earned runs. The Spartans scoredw nine runs on 12 hits and had nine walks. Hoagland finished with a pair of hits, a pair of
runs and two RBI.

While the first three innings were scoreless, the Spartans blasted through five runs in the fourth and
wouldn’t let go of the lead.

The Spartans weren’t so lucky in their next matchup hours later against Tufts as they fell 13-4.

Zielinski went 2-for-5 while Matt McNamee knocked in two RBI, however it wasn’t enough to pull off the victory.

In the top of the second, the Jumbos got on the board with one unearned run. Derek Osborne gave
a walk to Tuft’s James Howard, who was then followed by a double by Matt Luciani. The first run was then brought in to start off the Jumbo’s
rampage against the Spartans.

“I think we lost a little focus after having a big outburst in game one,” Hoagland said. “It’s aways tough to play three games in 24 hours. It’s a
challenge to stay both mentally and physically, but we learned a lot.”

The following day, the Spartans faced off against the Jumbos one more time, seeking revenge. Unfortunately, the outcome was very similar.

In the 14-4 loss, the Spartans took a 4-2 lead to start things off. They earned four runs on three hits, but gave up four errors. This allowed Tufts to score eight unanswered runs. After losing the lead, the
Spartans went on to have a scoreless final six innings, only getting one hit the rest of the game.

Tyler Lord finished 1-for-3 with two driven in. Riley took the loss, as he allowed three earned runs in four innings pitched.

“We have to throw more strikes,” said junior Ethan Macura. “We need to pound the strike zone and let the fielders make the players behind us.”

Starting their season at 1-3, the Spartans will travel to Norton, Mass. where they will face off against St. Joseph’s (Maine) at 1 p.m.

“We are growing as a team. We have to keep going out and playing hard like we have (in Virginia)”
Macura said, “and we will have a chance to win a lot of games.”