The Malden High baseball season is on its way with practices starting the week of March 18th at 3:00 in Pine Banks. This year, the team will be led by senior captains Ryan Coggswell, Ezechiel Noelsaint, and Jake Simpson.
Last year, the team went 11-8-1 which qualified them for the State Tournament but took a loss in the first round to Bishop Feeham 10-2. The team’s biggest accomplishment last year was their win in the East Boston Strike Out Cancer Tournament, after beating Watertown 1-0 in the finals. The trophy won from this tournament can be seen outside the main office on Coach Stephen Freker’s desk.
This season, Coach Freker is looking forward to “facing new challenges and believing that they could compete in the Greater Boston League.” With this group of senior captains, Freker believes Their leadership and skills keep us on the right track, we expect more of the same this year.”
Extending outside the GBL, Freker aims at snaping a longstanding streak just as the team did last season regarding the State Tournament. “Last year we qualified for the State Tournament for the first time in 12 years and we hope to make it two years in a row for the first time in almost 20 years,” stated Freker. Coach Freker hopes to set a foundation for the team to make states every year.
Freshman Ryan Bowdridge hopes to have quite a productive first season and has set some lofty goals to achieve by hitting with a batting average over .450, 100 strikeouts as a pitcher, and 25 or more stolen bases. He hopes for the captains to come to practice and “set the tone at practice and at games.” Bowdridge also hopes that the “community comes and supports us during games.” As it is the last high school baseball season for all three captains, the team hopes to uphold a strong sense of pride and determination.
If you want to go support the team, they will play two scrimmages on Saturday, March 23rd at Rotondi Field. The first game at 8:30 pits the Golden Tornados against the Mystic Valley Charter School with the second coming at 10:00 where they will face Malden Catholic.
