Entering the spring season with a 1-1 record, the varsity baseball program is focused on improving leadership and consistency as players adjust to new roles and positions while working toward a goal of competing at states.
The season opened with a 7-5 scrimmage win against River Hill and a 12-5 loss against Poolesville. “We were winning 5-3, and they scraped together two runs and eventually hit a three-run home run coming back for 5-12,” senior Nathan Zweig said.
The team faced Northwood on Monday, March 23, ending with a 25-2 win. “Tanner Cornet pitched really well, everyone got hit spacing,” Zweig said.
Head coach Jon David Marchand said the team has emphasized an aggressive style of play early in the season, aiming to apply pressure on both offense and defense. Marchand said that identity is central to how the team approaches each game, noting that players are expected to attack in every aspect. Although the season is just beginning, the roster returns experience that could shape the team’s performance over time, giving the group a foundation to build on as the schedule progresses. “We play aggressive baseball,” Marchand said. “We attack on the offensive side and defense.”
Early challenges have already tested the foundation. A limited number of players at certain positions and a thin pitching staff have required players to take on new positions, forcing players to adjust across the field. Instead of slowing development, those changes have created opportunities for growth. Marchand said players have adapted well, learning multiple positions while gaining valuable experience. The structure of the program, where junior varsity and varsity practice together, has also accelerated that process by allowing younger players to compete alongside more experienced teammates. “Players have adjusted well and are learning multiple positions,” Marchand said.
Sophomore Joseph Edery said the team’s potential stands out as one of its best qualities. He said both JV and varsity are showing signs of progress, with younger players improving and the varsity team building toward a strong season. That improvement reflects the work put in during the offseason, when players spent time in clinics and training sessions preparing for the spring. Edery said seeing that work translate onto the field has been one of the most rewarding parts of the season so far, especially as players continue to develop and improve together. “I think the team this year has a lot more things going for it, and a lot of potential for the future,” Edery said. “JV is shaping up to have a really good season, and varsity has a lot of potential.”
Edery said that the players on both teams are improving after a lot of work before the season. “Watching my friends and I succeed after a long winter of putting work in… has been my favorite part of the season,” Edery said. “I can really see the improvement from a lot of guys.”
The team is also adjusting to a shift in leadership following the departure of last season’s captains. Marchand said new leaders have begun to emerge, with players stepping up and taking responsibility within the group. He said leadership is most effective when it comes from within the team, and that approach has helped create a competitive environment where players push one another to improve. Edery said that the environment has been a key source of motivation, as watching teammates develop has encouraged him to continue working and improving his own performance. “Leadership should come from the players,” Marchand said.
Marchand said success in the program depends on more than performance, emphasizing qualities such as effort, resilience and a willingness to improve. He said players must commit to the team and be willing to put collective goals ahead of individual ones. As the season continues, that mindset will play a key role in how the team develops and responds to challenges. “Relentlessness and never giving up are huge,” Marchand said. “You must have buy-in from the players and be willing to sacrifice personal goals for the team.”
The team’s goals remain focused on long-term success, with an emphasis on competing at a high level and making a postseason run. Marchand said the goal is to win the region and advance to the state tournament, while players remain focused on maintaining energy and continuing to improve throughout the season. As the year progresses, the team will look to turn its preparation and development into consistent performance on the field. “Win the region and go to the states is our top goal,” Marchand said.
Varsity baseball’s next game is against Magruder on March 26.
