The UC High Preparatory Baseball Team helps showcase younger boys’ talents and helps them to better themselves as athletes and team players before making their transition to the high school team.
Being on the preparatory team has helped many young student-athletes become more comfortable with themselves. Middle school is a very important time in an athlete’s life, as they start to grow, develop, and explore their interests and talents. This team helps them gain a better understanding of what the high school season will be like, while creating new connections with other players and the coaches. This middle school to freshman team has become characterized by their inclusivity, offering a place for younger athletes of all skill levels and experiences to come together and learn the many fundamentals of baseball.
Head varsity coach and English teacher Richard Frink said, “The whole purpose is to get them used to the uc process and what we are about. Many of the new freshmen understand the process of how we practice because all of us coaches preach the same stuff. It’s a seamless transition”
Junior Josh Kaplan said, “The younger boys can one hundred percent benefit from doing the preparatory program, because it gets their names out there to the coaches. It shows them that you are dedicated and want to be out there, while being able to be a good teammate and learn the basics of how we run University City [baseball] as a program.”
Not only does the program benefit the younger boys through building fundamental skills, but it helps them create new connections with the upperclassmen. Kaplan stated, “Being a varsity player, my role is motivating and helping the younger kids because in the long run, it’s only going to help our program be stronger than other teams and it gets them more comfortable around everyone.”
Freshman Ronan DiMaggio said, “I’ve been on this team for little over a year, and I get to gain more practice everyday. We tend to do the same routine as the high school team. Now, practicing with all the upper and underclassmen, we are used to what we do.” Having a set routine that players work on everyday helps them gain confidence during training.
Practice is a key main focus that the team shines a light on heavily. While seeing great results, the younger players get real game time that is helping each one individually. “We get plenty of extra work that has helped me become better. Playing against actual teams in games, as well as tournaments, I have been able to see a difference in the way that I play,” said Freshman Ryland Fender. It is a rewarding experience for these young players to see their skills improving every day.
DiMaggio said, “The connection this team has is great. Being with each other everyday, playing and training, has created many great friendships between players.” Camaraderie is something that is heavily shown and focused on. Not only does improvement come with playing on this team, but stronger bonds are formed and continue to grow all four years.
“It definitely builds a stronger connection between me and the younger players because the more we see their faces, the more comfortable and willing we are to help these younger guys grow and get better,” said Kaplan. “The camaraderie and building friendships and their clicks that they will be with for the next four years. When the younger kids come they will already know the other players,” said Frink
Fender said, “This program has benefited me as an individual and a team player. I learned how much it means, to not only the other players but the coaches, and why you should dedicate 110 percent of your time and effort.”