Linfield’s varsity baseball team welcomed four talented freshmen into their ranks this season.
Coach Scott Brosius, who has coached the Linfield team for eight years, said, “We have some younger players assuming greater roles offensively and defensively.”
Christopher Haddeland, senior pitcher, said of the group of freshmen, “I think they blend in with the team very well too… they are great players and fun to be around.”
One of the freshmen on the team is pitcher Harrison Reece, who has strong command of his pitches and will play an important role on the team this season.
Reece said he is looking forward to “carrying on the tradition” and upholding the “respect and class of the team.”
Reece emphasized that the team did not make him feel like a freshman, but treated him with the same respect as anyone else.
Of Reece, Haddeland said he has “done very well and he has lots of potential. I expect a lot from him.”
Ryan Ross has been playing baseball for as long as he can remember and is both an infielder and outfielder.
Brosius said of him, “He has a very solid swing and has the ability to play multiple positions.”
Of his experience on the baseball team, Ross said, “It’s been extremely fun learning the game as I progress to a higher level of play. This is a great opportunity to become a better player and learn the game more.”
Coach Brosius called Brady Rediger a “do it all player who can play anywhere on the field.”
Rediger has played baseball since the age of 5 and came to Linfield to play baseball.
Speaking of his teammates, Rediger said, “Many of them have taken me under their wing and have been great role models on how to act on and off the field.”
Jake Gellos shares catching duties with Chance Laboda, his coach described him as a reliable defender with a strong arm.
The team has been playing well, they are 9-5 this season.
Coach Brosius said, “I believe the strength of our team will be pitching and defense, along with the ability to generate runs offensively with a talented lineup of hitters.
They recently won one of three games against the University of Puget Sound on the weekend of Feb. 28 and have a three-game home series against Lewis & Clark scheduled for March 7 and 8.