Senior center fielder Nick Zingerelli kneels on the on-deck circle as he prepares for his turn in the cage. On the field, his teammates drill relay throws in the outfield during a practice. To players, individual improvements are a part of a team’s performance. 

“I’ve really been working on just being a locked-down outfielder,” Zingerelli said. “When it comes to hitting, just doing my job is my biggest focus.

As of May 13, the varsity baseball team’s overall season record is 5-16, though last season, it was 13-9. The team’s next game will be on May 15 for the first round of districts at 6:30 p.m. Many factors, according to Zingerelli, led to the team’s lower number of wins. 

“I think our team can do a little bit better at maybe focusing,” Zingerelli said. “Especially taking accountability through practices and games. Using that to focus on improving in the future helps.”

Despite their 5-16 record, players note that their team relationships help increase motivation. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, having better group cohesion can lead to improved individual and group outcomes in sports, a goal Zingerelli believes is key for the remaining season. 

“We’re all really good friends and that helps us go through the lows,” Zingerelli said. “I really like how our team dynamics are working and guys are really excited to be out there.”