The Lakeland Hawks (9-14, 4-4) baseball team concluded their season on May 6, finishing third in the league for the third consecutive season. A hard-fought game resulted in a loss against Sandpoint High School, which spoiled the Hawk’s state hopes.
It is safe to say that this season was a rollercoaster of success and letdowns, but that does not take away from all the improvement the Hawks had this season. Despite their best efforts, the Hawks fell to the Bulldogs with a final score of 8-5.
“We didn’t hit the ball well, and Sandpoint was able to do that. At the end of the day it just came down to fundamental factors,” senior Colin Killian said. “But the guys will have to be able to learn and move on from it, looking towards next season.”
While the season ended with this playoff loss, the Hawks have much to be proud of. Their dedication, teamwork, and perseverance were evident in every game they played. The game was a testament to the Hawks’ determination and skill throughout the season, as they demonstrated their ability to score runs and battle against their opponents regardless of the scoreboard.
Like many sports, injuries were apparent this season and stopped a few of LHS’ top athletes from playing at the position they know best. Injuries are constantly another thing that harms a team’s ability, and the Hawks are too familiar with this.
Though there are numerous seniors leaving the program, they have faith in their younger teammates and the team’s future. This year and in the past, the underclassmen have greatly impacted the success of LHS baseball, and they are expected to continue doing so. Though there were not at the start, at the end of the season, seven sophomores accompanied the varsity team.
The team’s confidence moving forward is also largely due to the new addition of Al Bevacqua as a head coach.
“They need to trust in Coach Bevacqua’s play style and instructions because he has the capability to take them all the way,” Roan Reilly said.
Unlike in the past, practices were much more hands-on and intense, and they were truly coached, which helped everybody improve.
Senior Raiston Ellwood led the team in batting average with .356, and following behind him was Taylor with an average of .348. Kevin Slover led the Hawks with the top on-base percentage at .527, followed by Taylor with .476. Sophomore Cash Lund was in the number one spot for stolen bases with 14 the entire season.
As the Hawks look to the future, they can build upon the experiences and lessons learned this season. The team will undoubtedly return stronger and more united than ever, ready to take on new challenges in the years to come. Regardless of the season’s outcome, the Hawks have improved from the 2023 season, where they only won 4 out of their 19 games, and were ranked last in the 4A IEL.
“Never giving up will always be the mindset,” Sophomore Jace Taylor said.
