Westside’s varsity baseball team will start their season on Thursday, March 18 against the Millard South Patriots. The team is ecstatic at the chance to play this season as Covid-19 took away their spring season last year, although they were able to play legion in the summer. Senior Brett Thorell was saddened by the fact one of his final seasons as a Warrior was canceled. He has learned that every second on the field counts and it can be taken away from you in a second. 

“I’ve been playing baseball for a long time and have always loved it. We didn’t get to play last spring and this is my last season so we’re going to make it count,” Thorell said. 

The team is looking to bounce back this season from their season being canceled last year. Assistant coach Tyler Cotten expressed his excitement as he believes that the team will be ready to compete for the season ahead. 

“We expect to be competitive this year. We lost a lot from last summer’s state runner-up team, but we’ve got a good nucleus back and some others that look ready to step up,” Cotten said. 

Last summer, after the high school season was canceled, the team competed in their American Legion Summer League. As the KB Warriors, they placed runner-up in the legion Metro Conference Tournament up against the Five Points Bank Jr. Jays from Creighton Prep.

“Last summer we made it to the state championship game and we’re hoping to carry some of that momentum into this spring.  Everyone is excited to get the season started,” Cotten said. “Our lineup will feature 3 regulars from last summer: Cole Payton, RJ Gunderson, and Dalton Bargo, along with a few others with varsity experience.”

Although head coach Otis Seals coached the team throughout the summer legion season in 2020, this season will be his first official high school season as Westside’s varsity head coach. Succeeding 13-time state champion coach Bob Greco, Seals looks to continue on with the high standard.

“Last summer, the boys just loved competing.  They worked hard in every game and just wanted to help the team win.  We are looking to carry on that team culture,” Seals said.

Carrying on culture is going to be a positive for the season ahead. If the team continues the hard work they will be back in the championship game just like last year. The team looks to keep their goals in sight as the season progresses.

“Obviously we want the state championship. That’s everyone’s goal. But as a team it’s getting better every day to go out and bring a state championship back to Westside,” junior Ty Madison said. 

Within a program that builds on the ideas of brotherhood, the team has looked throughout the offseason to continue their culture work. For Madison, the ability to have a chance to go out and play with his teammates once again means everything.

“Baseball to me means a lot. It’s more than just a game. You’re going out every day to compete with this group of guys that you call family,” Madison said. 

Westside’s varsity baseball team will be in action this Thursday on March 18th, when they play at Millard South. The Warriors also play at Omaha Burke on Friday and in a triangular on Saturday in Lincoln.