Baseball is back, and FHC is ready. The freshman baseball team will have a lot of new talent the school hasn’t seen yet. The players have been working towards the spring and are ready to roll. Freshmen like Thomas Paplawsky are ecstatic towards the first game on March 29. 

“I am most excited about playing with a team of people I know,” Thomas said. “I love having the school spirit behind us going head to head against similar teams.” 

The excitement is brewing through the class of 2025. The boys have dreamt of a year like this way back in the Thornapple Valley Baseball League. However, they will also need to figure out what mistakes their team could make this year.

“We need to iron out some of the wrinkles in our fielding,” Thomas said.” We need some more synergy going, and then our lineup will be elite.”

The freshman team had its ace, Braedon Rozema, pulled up to JV. So, pitching could become a concern for FHC. For what the Rangers don’t have in pitching, they make up for in hitting. Hitters such as freshman Isaiah Wright will be a crucial part of the lineup this season. 

“We look pretty solid,” Isaiah said. “I feel like we are really going to compete at a high level this season.” 

Another freshman looking into a breakout season is Seder Middaugh. The six-foot slugger might just be another key to FHC’s lineup in hitting and pitching. 

“I am most looking forward to hitting nukes and playing ball with my friends,” Seder said. 

FHC will have to be on its “A game” with many other upcoming players from other schools. The boys will need to lock up the infield, and they need to control the ball. 

“Our district rivals are obviously FHE and FHN,” Thomas said. “There will be some X factors within there giving us a hard time, but if we come with good intensity, then we should not have too big of an issue.” 

No matter what happens this season, the boys will have one of the closest teams. With a grade as small as theirs’, everyone hangs out with everyone; chemistry might become the Rangers’ greatest weapon. 

“It is great that everyone gets along,” Isaiah said. “We can all joke around, but when we need to focus up, we are a great team.”