Gardner Baseball is in the new era debut season after taking a break from college planned five years ago. The team has three wins in 2024, focusing on developing skills and understanding of athletes who may not have competed since the minor leagues.
Now the same team is competing for a spot in the state championship, doubled their total wins and restored Wildcats baseball.
Gardner Baseball completely restarted its plan last season. Coach Tony Sylvester is committed to building a baseball concept for multi-sports athletes who make up teams.
Children from football, basketball and so on are the foundations of athletes. Still, they still need to fine-tune their skills to apply for diamonds on the go.
The vast amount of work and practical basics in the cage have led to the Wildcats’ revival this season.
"I always told them that we are a group of athletes trying to be baseball players, right?" Sylvester said. "It's a team sport that's completely devoted to anything, and I think the results show. ”
Gardner (7-8, 6-6 mid-term D) has beaten the team they struggled a year ago. They sit in the middle of the mid-range league game. To start the season, they even handed over to Bromfield, who led the league with a 12-1 (10-1 MWD), the only loss.
The Wildcats have a strong roster, including senior Miguel Batista, junior Andrew Beauregard, Cam Gamache and Gerard Cameron and sophomore Brian Niemi.
The team is new to playing against each other, but soon builds a bond that mimics lifelong friendships.
The biggest difference that wildcats notice is their strategic capabilities. At first, the main task was to participate in the sport.
Now, the point is to figure out the pitch they want to play and the smart foundation running and other higher IQ playbacks to take them to the next level. After the hardships of 2024, the players are sure to be ready to get it after this new mission.
"We've gone through failure (season), so we know the feeling of losing, and now this season we know the feeling of winning, so we're working on that feeling."
Their offense is particularly improved. Sylvester noted that the team went from scoring less than two per game to more than six games this year.
The Wildcats have three games left, including Friday (4 p.m.) against Ayer-Shirley. The Wildcats can still win the playoffs by winning two of the three games.
"I've been telling my boys in recent weeks that every game from now on is the most important game," Sylvester said.
The Wildcats have a season to be proud of regardless of the rest of the season. Rebuilding for a year is not easy, don't mind the full program restart. After they performed this spring, there is no doubt that Gardner Baseball is back and heading towards a brighter future.