The Struthers Wildcats are getting ready with a new sense of confidence. Senior outfielder Anthony Pastella, along with teammates Drew Chizmar, Travis McMurray, Jordan Becker and Eddie Bradley, shared their thoughts on what sets this team apart from past ones and what they aim to accomplish.
Bradley believes that the Wildcats biggest advantage is their improved defense, especially with freshmen stepping up to catch the ball.
“Our defense has definitely gotten better, and I think we’re a good stealing team, we swiped like 50-60 bags last year,” he said. He’s optimistic about the offensive potential, particularly with the bottom of the lineup.
Junior Drew Chizmar talks about the importance of team chemistry and aggressive play, but he acknowledges that there is a need for consistency. “Our lineup 1-5 needs to be aggressive, we need to steal more bags and attack earlier in the count,” he explained. “We need to avoid leaving runners on the basepath and need to get them across the plate.”
Jordan Becker, a junior infielder and pitcher, shares his offensive strategy that he thinks the team should use. He states that the team needs to be able to get on baseball and trust the middle of the lineup to drive guys in. “Anthony and Eddie will lead off and get on base, while Drew, Scav, and myself will be expected to drive them in,” he said. “The key is for the bottom of the lineup to just get on base and be able to apply pressure.”
Junior Travis McMurray, the team’s catcher, notes that the addition of a solid second baseman could be the reason for an elevated defense this year. McMurray states, “We’ve got some good defenders, and I think our defense will be better overall.”
He also points out that their biggest challenges will come from facing tough conference opponents.
McMurray states, “The biggest challenge is who we play and how we work as a team on defense. Most of the freshmen can field a ball, and I believe we’re in a good spot there.”
Senior outfielder Anthony Pastella emphasizes the team’s motivation and the team’s belief in their potential. Pastella said, “We have a real chance to be the best we’ve been in a while,” he also states, “After last year’s struggles defensively, we’re confident that we can improve and compete at a high level.”
Pastella also believes that defense could be a strength, he states, “We’ll have the outfield on lock, and I think we’ll be a-lot better defensively.”
Overall, the players believe that this team’s combination of strong defense, disciplined offense, and the team’s collected drive to win can improve the chances to make the Wildcats a contender this year. With experienced players stepping up and there being new talent ready to make an impact, they’re focused on achieving their best and not only competing at a high level, but winning at a high level.
