Photo by Alec Vick ’15 — The Brophy Baseball team takes ground balls as they practice on Wednesday Feb. 18.
By Andrew Howard ’17
THE ROUNDUP
After a state championship appearance in 2012, Brophy’s baseball team has not made it past the first round of the playoffs since.
The team hopes to break that trend this year.
It is made up of 12 juniors and nine seniors, and will look to the leadership of returning players.
“A goal each and every day this season is to get one percent better,” said head coach Mr. Tom Succow.
Mr. Succow said that this is the first time in a while that everyone on the team is talented and can play well.
“Our team goals this year are to be the hardest working team in the state and to get past the first round of playoffs because that has been our dagger the past couple years,” said Chris Ashton ’15.
This year only three players are pitchers only, which means a majority of players on the team will play in the field.
“This year I look for Chris Ashton and Fred Erlandson (’15) to have good seasons for us on the mound,” Mr. Succow said.
Chad McClanahan ’16, who played varsity as a sophomore, looks to have a big year, and has already received a college offer from Grand Canyon University.
Hunter Parks ’16, who recorded five saves as a sophomore, is looking to improve as a pitcher and also a position player.
After losing many seniors from last year’s team, especially pitcher and center fielder Ryan Castellani ’14 who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies, the team looks to have a junior heavy lineup.
“We are looking for seniors to provide good leadership, we also have some junior leaders who played varsity as sophomores,” Mr. Succow said.
This year’s team will have to focus more on playing as a team.
“This year we don’t really have that stand out star. Our goal is to be a much harder working team and have stronger team chemistry than last year. Playing as a single unit is going to be very important to our success this year,” Ashton said.
