By Julian Bayan

The Junior Varsity Baseball Team has faced a challenging season, but their resilience and determination have been undeniable. Although their record hasn’t matched last year’s impressive 21-10 run to the CIF Regional Championships, this year’s team has shown what it means to grow stronger through adversity.

The team made it to the LA City Section finals on Wednesday May 14, playing against El Camino Real Charter High School. This was a tough final match with Elco ending in a 2-6 score. 

This final game came after a series of wins, where the Highlanders picked up momentum late in the season. Their most recent victory came against Taft High School on May 9, a hard-fought game after their earlier loss to the Toreadors just two days earlier. That game was a good demonstration of how far the team has come since the beginning of the season.

Much of the team’s progress can be credited to theory work ethic. With two games a week and practice five days a week, even during spring break, the players have committed themselves to growth. 

“We haven’t played great this season, but we definitely have improved from the start to now,” sophomore Jayce Foster said. “Our team sees less errors and better hitting, resulting in our skills being sharpened. Of course, our coaches have had a positive impact towards improving our performance.”

Head coach Matthew Matuszak has pushed the team to reach higher standards, both individually and as a group. Their consistent practice has been proven effective, especially in reducing the amount of fielding errors. 

His leadership has not only contributed to improvement in their performance but also in a stronger team culture.

“Outside of our performance, I feel that our team has grown in terms of togetherness,” sophomore Julian Silva said. “Team bonding events have made the baseball team feel more like a big family, which has positively impacted us in many ways.” 

Although the season hasn’t always gone as planned, the players’ perseverance and improved gameplay speaks volumes. No matter the outcome of the season, the team’s journey has been a testament to the value of their hard work and team work.