Boys Baseball Scoops Up Winning Streak After Tough Season Start

Coach Saverio Nardone gives a speech to the team during a huddle. *Photo: Arielle Dorset*

By ZOË RAY and JACKLYN TSIPKIS

Cheer and excitement roared through the air as Varsity Baseball defeated James Madison High School 9-5 on Thursday, March 30 at McGuire Fields in Bergen Beach. The Hornets were happy to catch that first win in their gloves.

“We did great,” sophomore Rui Edelman said after the game. “I have a lot of confidence in everybody here.”

The team started off strong with Senior Captain Luke Blozy scoring the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Junior Captain Isaiah Shivers then hit a home run in the top of the third, and by the 7th inning, the Hornets had solidified their victory, with junior Michael Silverstein striking out Madison’s final batter with a nasty curveball.

A 10-0 win against Brooklyn Tech on April 3 was one of the season’s highlights. *Photo: Continental Studios*

“I just wanted to get a win for my guys,” said Silverstein. “They deserve it.”

His teammates could feel his passion from the dugout.

“Michael's last strikeout was awesome,” said Edelman. “He’s really battled back since last year.”

Even though the team gained a victory, they still felt they had much to improve on, especially after their first two games.

Eli Powers pitches against Brooklyn Tech on May 5. *Photo: Joan Huang*

“We could have played better, but to get the first win feels pretty good,” said Shivers.

The Hornets faced off against John Jay High School at McGuire Fields on March 23, starting the season with a 7-0 defeat. But the boys took it in stride.

“It was a tough loss, but I know we’re gonna battle back as a team,” said Shivers. “We’re gonna come in tomorrow, practice, chin up. We’ll forget about it and be ready to come out next game and get a W.”

Mr. Saverio Nardone, the team’s head coach, has seen their progress and motivation amplify since last year’s disappointing 5-9 finish.

“It’s improved tenfold,” said Mr. Nardone. “The culture has started to improve and the entire program is starting to get back to where we were, that’s what we truly feel.”

Since that turnaround third game, the team has enjoyed a series of win streaks, finishing the regular season 11-5, third in the division and headed to the playoffs.

“We’re going to chase greatness every single day and not focus on anything outside of the task at hand,” said Mr. Nardone. “We would like to win the division. We want to go 1 and 0 every day, win the tournament that we were a part of, and have an opportunity to compete for a championship.”

“We’re the underdogs,” junior Nobel McMurry said, “No one really believes in us. We just have that drive to get better and keep going.”

“Every game, man, we’re looking forward to every game,” said senior Joshua John. “We're just gonna take it one game at a time.”