Brian Bosco, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, bwb5310@psu.edu
As spring approaches, the warmer weather shines light on the coaches and players on the Brandywine Baseball team.
After a disappointing end to the 2015 season, the Lions look forward to a fresh start as they have a new mentality and are preparing for the road to a championship. The new year has meant new players along with a pitching coach who is ready to push these players to their limits.
Head coach Bill Haines along with assistant coach Toby MacCart plan to lead the team to success, and this year they have new strategies that will help accomplish their goals. The Brandywine baseball team lost in the semi-finals of the 2015 playoffs to Penn State Beaver. Key changes for the 2016 season were made after that loss.
“Personally, my goal is for my team to buy into the new culture and way of coaching I have developed through some minor changes,” Haines said. “They may not even notice some of the small changes but hopefully will see the big impacts. My goal is to always have my team come together and play together for one another. One of my big motto’s for this year’s team is ‘STRONGER TOGETHER.’”
Improvement comes by players working together.
“If we establish a culture from the beginning with the thought of doing everything we can to be successful and play as hard as we can for every one of our teammates then we will be very successful and win a lot of games.” Haines said.
Coach MacCart is the new pitching coach for the team, and is a crucial part of this reconstruction process.
“Self-belief is the most important factor,” MacCart said. “If a player believes he can have success, then that will provide all of the motivation to continue to improve. If the team struggles, so will player attitudes and that will affect how we finish the season. If we believe in ourselves and in each other we will find success on and off the field.”
It is clear that the coaching staff is dedicated to this team, however it will be up to the individual players to work on their own aspects of the game, and better the team as a whole. With a team of mostly underclassman, it will be up to the seniors to help instill this new culture into the younger players, and ensure the Brandywine Baseball program is headed in the right direction for years to come.