By: Aggie Rieger

Thursday, March 17, the sun was high, the clouds were white and the sky was blue. Sitting on a hill above the baseball field, spectators basked in the sun as the Oak Park baseball team participated in a scrimmage.

“This is great baseball playing weather,” said Dave Naylor, spectator and grandfather of two players. “[It feels] good, exhilarating. It just gives you a high to see them play.”

Students supported the players as well.

“I enjoy it a lot,” said senior Kassie Vargas. “It’s just baseball weather, who doesn’t want to watch baseball.”

The event was the second and final in the “Blue and White” series, according to head coach Troy Andrews. Andrews split the five seniors on the team and they chose players, dividing the team into two even teams.

“[Senior] Wells had the first pick and he took [Junior Nick] Elmore first. I was either going to do hitting or pitching as the foundation. Elmore is a hitter, so I went with pitching,” said senior Jacob Dowell, who plays in the outfield and pitches.

The team participates in scrimmages as a form of practice, their first competition is Monday, March 21 at Legacy Park.

“I think it’ll go well. I’m definitely going to be there,” Vargas said.

Others are positive also.

“If they can win a few games we’ll be happy,” said parent and spectator Tracy Andrews.

According to players and parents, the scrimmage showed some promise.

“[The scrimmage went] very well, a lot of things were accomplished. They were better into it, more aggressive, the hitters did very well today,” said assistant coach Clifton Glidewell.

Players are excited to play as well.

“I love it because we’ve been working all winter and early spring,” said junior Jacob Stump, starting first baseman. “We’re still a little rusty, we just have to see more live pitches.” 

That is what scrimmages are all about.

“We’re making good progress right now. We’re definitely not at game level now, but we’re getting there,” Dowell said.

According to Stump and Dowell, their experiences on the team have been good this year.

“We’re just bonding really well,” Dowell said.

“We’re getting a lot more done in these practices than a few years ago,” Stump said, “We’re getting more done in less time.”

Spectators could pick up on this.

“I feel this year’s the best they’ve looked since he’s [senior Austin Stephenson] been on the team,” said parent Dennis Stephenson, “My observation is that people seem like they want to be there, there’s a willingness to win and it seems they do a really good job at coaching.

Others agreed.

“[It was] pretty good. We still have a long way to go. We’ve got a lot of young people who still have a lot to learn, a lot to learn,” Coach Andrews said, “Now we see today what we have to work on in the next few days.”

According to Dowell and coaches, pitching needs to be improved. Still, players, coaches and spectators alike left the field “hopeful,” according to Coach Andrews.