WHS baseball avoids shutout in preseason matchup

By Matt Pascarella

In preparation for the start of the regular season, Windham varsity baseball played Monmouth Academy at Windham High School on Monday, April 20. Monmouth Academy scored a run early but then crossed the plate several times. Windham scored a run in the fifth inning and lost, 16-1.

Windham senior Cameron Damon bunts during a preseason
varsity baseball game against Monmouth Academy at
Windham High School on Monday, April 20.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

Freshman Sullivan Nappi said mental errors and being unprepared led to the loss. The team thought Monmouth Academy wasn’t as good as they were and Windham was unprepared for the game. He said if they were more energetic in the dugout, cheered each other on and picked each other up, they might have turned things around. Little things, little plays need work. They have moments on the field where they connect as a team, but more moments when they do not. He said that he wants the team to win more games than they did last year.

Monmouth Academy scored a run in the first inning, but Eagle defense sent three batters back to the dugout in the second inning.

In the fourth inning, sophomore Mason Rulman hustled and reached first after a dropped third strike. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it home.

“We made a bunch of errors and mental mistakes, just not smart baseball,” said Rulman. “We need to clean things up, we need to clean up the errors and come to practice everyday ready work hard, it’ll show in the game. I thought our approach at the plate was good, we were all swinging the bats, and our pitchers pitched good. We could have changed our mindset; you are never out of the game; anything can happen in baseball. Last year we weren’t very good, my goal is to turn it around (this year).”

In the fifth inning, Windham freshman Matthew Morgan singled. Sophomore Justin Saunders reached first base on an error, and Morgan scored.

“I don’t think we really pulled anything from today as far as positives,” said Windham varsity baseball coach Chris Doughty. “The only thing I learned today was we didn’t show up ready to play. We thought we were going to have a scrimmage against a Class C team and dominate them. It’s time for everybody to just wake up. If we act and play like we did today, we’re not going to go very far. We got a lot of talent, but talent only takes you so far – culture, competitiveness, that’s what really separates good teams from bad teams. Hopefully they take a little bit of a lesson from this and build a little fire in their bellies and come back ... ready to play baseball. We’re going to find out who wants to be a part of the culture we want to build and who wants to watch from the sidelines.” <