de Toledo’s baseball team looks drastically different from last season without the presence of last year’s senior stars.
The team performed exceptionally well last season, finishing with a record of 16-11-1. Due to the roster’s significant changes, concerns have been rising between the team and coaches. While the freshman class has some much-needed talent, their lack of experience with the team is a current concern that will likely diminish over time. The lack of a starting rotation of pitchers and power hitters has players curious about what the season holds.
The hopes of making the playoffs are grim, but there is one player who has all of the hope that this team needs.
Ben R (‘25) has played baseball all four years at de Toledo. He has been with the team through its highest highs and lowest lows. Ben has seen the team change consistently over the years, but this year is very different for him. He has always been part of the team’s playoff runs, but the team’s streak is in jeopardy this year. With the season approaching, Ben tells us his concerns for the season and how he plans to be a leader throughout the team’s struggles.
The Interview:
Prowler: How do you feel about how you guys performed as a team last year?
Ben: I think that we were great last year. James H. (‘24), Jake S (’24) and Keller S. (‘24) were a massive help, and the underclassmen such as Jona M. (‘26), Kadyn M. (‘26), and Zander F. (‘27) were significant parts of the team’s success. We finally beat Milken, our rival, by two games, which was massive for us. We finally showed that we have what it takes to beat them. We didn’t win the division, but it’s okay because we still made the playoffs.
Prowler: What do you think are the team’s strengths and weaknesses going into the season?
Ben: Our main weakness may be our overall starting pitching because we have a little bit of depth, but we don’t have a good number of stars. Many of them are experienced like me, but unlike most people in the rotation, I could be more experienced with pitching. Our strength is just knowing each other and knowing what each person can do and how they can contribute. This can hopefully contribute to our team’s chemistry and will be a defining factor in how we will perform this year.
Prowler: What role do you plan on playing through the team’s potential struggles?
Ben: I want to be a team leader, someone that everybody can come to for help. I want to be someone who can give advice to anybody who’s struggling and someone open to receiving advice. I want to listen to that advice and be the best leader that this team needs. I want to be a team player; I want to be a big part of this team’s success. Hopefully, Shayne M. (‘25) and I can lead this team to the playoffs, and I hope that we can show that even with a drastically different team, we can be leaders no matter where we end up.
