PREVIEW: Poly’s baseball and softball teams gear up for the new season ahead.
By Kayla Iles, Staff Writer
Spring sports have arrived, and Poly’s baseball and softball teams are turning up the intensity in practice to prepare for this season. Boys’ baseball kicked off its season with tournaments and scrimmages. They have been practicing since early October 2015 and have competed in a few non-league tournaments and games. These tournaments helped the team practice important strategies and fielding, while also contributing to team bonding. The team began to play against league opponents, such as Canyon Springs, Valley View, Rancho Verde, Arlington, and John W. North. The boys have high hopes for, “winning a league title,” Matthew Knight (12) explained. The goal for this season is to “put Poly baseball back on the map and make a run in playoffs. This year is going to be a fun journey…and we have worked harder than ever to be successful,” Knight stated.
The girls’ softball teams have also kicked off their season. Like boys’ baseball, the girls have participated in tournaments and scrimmages for preseason practice since October. “The team has grown a lot since October, and our pitching and defense have come along really well. I am confident we’ll win a lot of games this season,” Erica Limon (12) expressed. This year’s team is composed primarily of younger players but does include seniors who have already committed to colleges. There is a total of six freshmen and one sophomore who play aggressively and contribute to the overall success of the team.
The softball teams have also started league games. They play against the same schools as the baseball team and plan “to go undefeated in league and far in CIF because the bond [they] have is unbreakable,” Limon noted.
Both teams hope to bring home a league title for Poly and strive to go far in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).