The varsity baseball season is underway, with fresh faces and strong leaders

With a new season underway, the Potomac Falls baseball team steps to the plate once again. Under the leadership of head coach Joe Terango and assistant coaches Scott Meyer and JT Page, the team hopes to improve on their previous 9-9 record by getting ahead of their opponents early on in the game. Senior, captain, and starting catcher Andrew Gerhart hopes to do this  by putting pressure on the other teams.

“Last year, we had a really solid year and to improve on last year, I think we are trying to focus on scoring runs early and the game and get in control of the game early,” said Gerhart.

In addition to being pulled up to varsity during his freshman year, Gerhart has been a starter on the team for the past three years. While his role as catcher has stayed the same, leading the team as catcher in almost every game since he was on the team, he has also taken on a new role this year: captain.

“I hope to impact the team by being a positive teammate and creating an environment [that’s] not only about winning, but getting better than the day before,” said Gerhart.

Gerhart isn’t the only strong senior leader on the team, he says he can always look to senior Aris Canellos to help carry the team.

“Aris has always been a positive and hard working member of the program and does a good job at relaying his experience and positive mentality to others on the team,” said Gerhart.

While Gerhart plans to play baseball at Mary Washington next fall and Canellos will be attending James Madison University, the team will be left in the hands of juniors Trent Weidman, Frank Ellingwood, and Nate Savino.

Savino is no stranger to leading his team. The 6’3” pitcher has been on varsity since is freshman year, and his baseball career isn’t ending at Panther Park. In two years, Savino will step up to the mound of Davenport Field at the University of Virginia.

“I’m excited,” said Savino. While he doesn’t currently know people on the team, Savino says he will welcome the opportunity to make friends.

At the season’s home opener on March 15 against Riverside, Savino had 18 strikeouts and got on base two out of the three times he was at bat. Savino says that his goal for the night was to start the season off well.

“I was really happy with my performance,” said Savino. “It was just a good team win.”

Savino isn’t the only player on the mound, however. Sophomore Alec Lewendowski got a taste of what it was like being on varsity last season, when he was pulled up to pitch during the playoffs. While Lewendowski has worn the white varsity hat before, he says it’s different now that he’s a full-time member of the team.

“At the end of last year, it was about the playoff rounds, it was all about just beating the next team. Now, it’s not so much about that; it’s about learning the intricacies of varsity baseball,” said Lewendowski. “This year, it’s about preparing for the season. There’s a bunch of different stuff you have to do.”

In addition to Lewendowski, sophomore Liam Best also joined varsity at the end of last season, and is now a full time member of the team. Lewendowski, Best, and returning varisty member sophomore Matthew Weber make up what what they call “The Sophomore Squad.”

“It’s great, I ride to school with Matt and Liam in the morning, we’re super close. It’s fun to see them up on varsity and have my friend group out there,” said Lewendowski. He has also spent a lot of time hitting with Gerhart and Canellos. “It’s fun to bring the whole team together.”