Image source: Hammond Baseball

By Eli Glenn

Sports Editor

Hammond Baseball had high hopes this season. The program is changing with new Head Coach Collin Miller being brought in, and despite the loss of many key players, the team knows what it’s capable of. Some of the top returners for this year were Seniors Chase Endres and Manny Powell, as well as Juniors Nathaniel Wilk and Jaques (Quez) Boudreau. 

Spirits started off high for the Golden Bears with a dominant win in their home opener, where they blew out Oakland Mills 16-0. Another win to highlight this year came from defeating the defending 3A State Champs; River Hill. In his first ever Varsity Start, Junior Jackson Wilder threw a complete game and held the Hawks to 1 run, as Hammond edged out the 2-1 victory.

The Golden Bears finished the season with a record of 7-10, finishing as the #4 seed in their region and thus being awarded a home playoff game against Southern High School. Unfortunately the Bulldogs came out swinging, putting up a 10 spot in the top of the first inning. The Bears outscored them by a score of 4-3 in the following 6 innings but their efforts weren’t enough as The Golden Bears lost 13-4.

Senior Captain Chase Endres came in with high hopes for the Golden Bears this year. “My personal goals are to make first team all county and have a good season all around hitting and catching.” Last year Endres was the team MVP while also being awarded Second Team All County and he looks to improve on that. Junior Captain Nathaniel Wilk who was also Second Team All County last year had aspirations of “winning the region and having over a .500 record.” 

Hammond Baseball has had shares of success, winning in the first round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons. Newly instated Head Coach Miller’s goal is to “be one of the top teams in the region. The goal can be daunting with the teams that are in our region but I believe this team is up for the challenge.” Coach Miller’s college coaching experience led the Golden Bears to their third consecutive home playoff game.

The loss of players can take a toll on a team, especially the loss of two starting pitchers in Hammond’s case, but the team had faith in their young arms to make an impact. Promising pichers Jacques (Quez) Boudreau and Charles Moskov looked to fill that role. Both players were coming off strong varsity campaigns last season and were ready to step up and take more prominent roles in the pitching staff.

Despite a devastating loss, there’s plenty of hope for next year with a now seasoned coaching staff coming back to continue and build up the program. The Golden Bears look to stay focused this offseason and fill the shoes of the strong Senior core who are graduating.