Varsity baseball loses heartbreaker to end season

Junior Josh Erd and senior AJ Grainger hug it out on senior night.

Photo by Tyler Buzy

Junior Josh Erd and senior AJ Grainger hug it out on senior night.

Varsity baseball finished the season with a record of 14-3 and fell short to BCC 4-3 on May 12 in the first round of the playoffs. 

The team overall was quite pleased with their regular season with wins against Paint Branch, Blair twice, Watkins Mill, Clarksburg, Seneca Valley, Whitman, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Einstein, Poolesville, Gaithersburg, Northwood and Quince Orchard. They lost to Whitman, BCC and Churchill. Despite a great regular season, the team was disappointed with how their season ended. 

The team lost on May 12 against BCC in the first round of the playoffs. Senior pitcher Liam Miller pitched a gem in his last ever high school baseball game, as he pitched five solid innings to keep the game tied at three. Senior Brady Weiss also had a quality game as he helped his team bring the bats as he notched a double. Miller was happy with how he pitched, but he knew his team needed to help him out and get runs. “Yeah I pitched well but obviously we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted and it was a very sad way to end the season and my high school career,” Miller said.

Senior Rob Carpenter was unable to play in the first round of playoffs due to an illness. Next year Carpenter is taking his talents to Rochester, N.Y., and will be attending and playing baseball at RIT. Carpenter was not happy with being sidelined during this big first round matchup, but he knows that now he is able to focus on getting ready for his freshman year season. “I am looking forward to going on with my career and playing at RIT but the Wootton baseball team will forever have a special place in my heart,” Carpenter said. 

Senior Dason Miller has been playing alongside Carpenter and Miller for years before playing on the school team, so he has gotten a full taste of their skill. He has also created a great bond with them throughout their playing careers. “It definitely is a little sad to see these boys moving onto their next chapter and it’s unfortunate that it had to end like this, but I know we will remain close friends throughout the college years and hopefully we have a team reunion in the years to come,” Miller said.  

Junior Brandon Son knew that this game against BCC was going to be a challenge but he believed in his teammates to get the job done. Although it is a sad ending, Son is  looking forward to his senior season next year. Son will be one of the expected captains next year, so he will have to lead the team along with the other captains. “I am looking forward to using my voice and helping out the players next year. I truly believe that this is a team that could compete for states next year, and I think all of my teammates have that same goal,”  Son said.