After making a playoff run last year the Los Medanos Mustangs baseball team looks to return back to the postseason.
After losing key players such as All-Conference outfielder Kelly Starnes and pitcher Peter Nyznyk, the Mustangs have voids to fill but plan to do it more than one way. The team will look to returning players for leadership and red-shirt freshman to step up and perform.
Anthony D’Albora will be returning for his second year as LMC head coach. He thinks that his experience as well as his team’s will should help with the success of the season. D’Albora is liked among his players because he is laid back and has different methods.
“He seemed like he would light the way for my future in baseball,” said freshman shortstop Jeremiah Francis. The team also shares a goal of winning as a team, rather than setting individual goals.
“We have a lot of good pitchers this year, and I’m just trying to see what I can do to help out the team overall,” said pitcher and catcher Wyatt Foreman.
D’Albora recruited locally and wanted to keep the talent local.
“Our biggest challenge was to try to keep more of the local kids around,” said D’Albora.
D’Albora wants a balanced team that can perform in certain situations.
“One thing we did a great job of last year is running, we stole a lot of bases,” Said D’Albora.
D’Albora also wants his team to hit the long ball more.
“I do think our goal this fall is to get a lot stronger than we were previous seasons, and see if we can drive the ball to both sides of the field,” said D’Albora.
Even though the season is young, the team is already gelling and building great chemistry.
“I’ve never been part of a team that has such good chemistry, everyone works well together and understands each other well, it will be an exciting team to watch this year,” said Foreman.
Returning players such as shortstop Ryan Lacy help the team chemistry.
Lacy, who batted .296 and had a .392 on base percentage last year, looks forward to his leadership role and seems confidence that he can deliver.
“Everyone on the team should have a leadership role. I’ll try to be the best leader can be.”
Lacy looks to lead his team with his presence but also with his skill, which he worked in the offseason to improve.
After having success last team, the team has the same goal; to bring home a title.
“We’re just looking to work hard everyday, beat everybody on and off the field and hopefully bring home a state championship,” said Francis.