After a year full of injuries and inconsistent play last season, the varsity baseball team is looking to bounce back this season by leaning on veterans and young talent.

After a season that saw the team finish just under a .500 record, this year’s seniors and great talent coming up look to put FHC baseball back on the map.

“The team’s goals this year compared to last year will be to emphasize making the routine plays 100% of the time,” senior Matthew Mittlestadt said. “We have to play for the team and not ourselves.”

Last season saw a hot start for the boys in green and white, but conference teams like Forest Hills Northern and Grand Rapids Christian dominated the OK White all year. A bitter taste is left in the mouth of returning players this season after an opening-round loss in districts to end last season on a drought. This year, all the juniors from last year’s team are returning to the lineup card along with sophomore Carson Custer, who came onto the scene late in the season for the varsity squad. As a freshman, Carson had some great starts and a couple of relief opportunities. This season, the sophomore version of Custer will look to build off of that progress from last season and bring some more confidence to the mound.  

“Our loss last season in the first round of the playoffs was really disappointing,” Carson said. “It gave us a chip on our shoulder for this season and everyone on varsity believes we can go far.”

In the batter’s box, a lot of experienced players are returning to the lineup. Every single senior on the squad played on last year’s team with some great players in the mix. Seniors Joe Seurynck and Beau Coughlin bring some of the power to the lineup. Meanwhile, Matthew and fellow senior Joe Robertson bring speed, contact, and most importantly, on-base percentage into the equation. Altogether, this squad looks to do big things this season and finally bring back some great play on the diamond to FHC. 

“The team is looking really solid already and I’m excited for what’s to come with this squad,” Matthew said.

The boys’ first games will be next Monday, March 28, at FHC against East Kentwood. The doubleheader will consist of two 5-inning games and will start at 4:15 PM.