As spring sports transition into full-swing, the varsity baseball team has taken the mound and is staring down the upcoming league season with high hopes. The Tigers return the majority of their team from last year, however, with the league championship success of the 2015 season and the rebuilding year of the 2016 season, it is anyone’s guess as to how the team will perform this spring.

The Tigers took first place in the Capital Valley Conference in 2015, only to follow that with a 7-19 record and a last-place standing in 2016.

Of the Tigers’ 19 losses last year, nine were decided by two runs or fewer, meaning that a few plays made all the difference between a middle-tier seat in the CVC standings and a hunt for a position in playoffs.

Senior shortstop Colton Borowiak said that the team’s practices have been centered around increasing offensive efficiency in specific situations and remaining focused at all times.

“So far, we have been working on situational hitting; what to do in certain scenarios when you are up at bat,” Borowiak said. “We didn’t hit many runs when we were up to bat last year, and that was a problem with us. Also, we have been working on staying focused all throughout practice. [Coach Lance Fischer] is trying to keep us to sustain our focus the entire practice – to finish practice how we would finish a game.”

Finishing games will definitely be necessary for the Tigers to have a chance at a playoff spot this year.

Of the top four teams in the CVC last year, only Oakmont has not returned a majority of its players this season, but even they have young talent that could be dangerous, especially in a rivalry game. The rest – Del Campo, Bella Vista, and Whitney – all return most of their talent and production.

RHS, however, is not without its share of returning talent. Seniors Cameron Anderson, Jay Razzano and Nick Tucker, all top batters last year, offer valuable experience at the plate, and junior Lucas Gather is returning to the mound to bring starting experience at pitcher.

The team has already displayed potential as they went 2-0 in their first week with wins against Del Oro (5-4) and Casa Roble (7-2). The Tigers totaled 15 hits between the two games.

Unfortunately for them, the next four games resulted in losses – River Valley, Woodcreek, Nevada Union and Vista Del Lago all managed to beat the Tigers.
The boys begin CVC league play tomorrow against the 3-2 Del Campo Cougars.