Inside the Off-Season: B-CC Baseball

Each year, the Barons field over 30 separate sports teams. Like in many competitive fields, we often take the success or failures of these programs and are quick to tie them to common reasoning. “Oh, the squad this year just doesn’t have the same talent as last year” or “Well, the division is just really competitive; if we played upstate, it would be so different.” Though in some cases these may be reasons for team play, lots of the success of our school’s programs is a result of the offseason each sport undergoes. Today we will be outlining the steps Barons Baseball takes to get ready before each and every season. 

Club Play:

Similar to many other sports, much of the B-CC baseball team play on club teams to keep themselves in shape during their time away from the spring. For the average club team, “Games fall on weekends and you practice around 3-4 times a week,” says senior pitcher Patrich Micheel. It’s essential that students eyeing the baseball team try and play year-round as “almost the entire roster plays club baseball,” says senior captain Kyle Tatelbaum. With widespread team commitment to improve and play year-round, the baseball team is able to ensure its roster makes jumps and remains competitive each and every season. 

Pre-Season Workouts:

As it gets closer to the actual season, the team begins to start its winter workout regimen. Three times per week, the team meets for an hour after school to either hit the weights or condition. Workouts provide a time when athletes can be face-to-face with their coaches and have their full ability on display. These workouts are no breeze either: “Workouts are pretty tough, new guys and vets struggle, even one of our junior captains sometimes has to step out” says Tatelbaum. Players are encouraged to work out on their own time outside of team events, but the structured lifts certainly help the team get rolling. 

Winning Formula:

Unique to baseball and a few other sports, roster spots on the team are extremely limited. The varsity squad has only 20 students rostered and with the high popularity of baseball, making the team can be extremely competitive. With this competitive nature, players are practically forced to put in their time in the offseason if they want to be back on the team the following year. With dozens of kids desperately trying to take your spot each offseason, varsity starters are incentivized to improve their craft to prevent any hard-working underclassmen from stealing their spots. Outside of club ball and team events, “I work out an additional three times a week” says Micheel. “You never know who’s on your tail, looking for their first varsity season, and that’s what makes me better.”