After a year away from the diamond, Liberty’s baseball team is hoping to get back to their winning ways this spring. After winning the district championship in 2019, Liberty has 11 seniors on this year’s roster with the same goals that head coach Andy Pitsilos always has in mind.

“First we would like to win the division, then the conference then districts, and compete in states,” said Pitsilos of team goals. “To achieve these goals we need to play fundamental, disciplined baseball with high intensity.”

Coming back for the ‘Canes are Jack Rothenhausler (3B/P), Brayden D’Amico (SS/P), Eric Ludwick (C), Devin Fletcher (P), Wyatt Marshall (OF), Blake George (2B), Parker Frey (OF/P), Sam Raineri (1B) and Brandon D’Amico (OF).

Newcomers include Nick Lees (IF/P), Hayden O’Neill (IF/P), Brandon Holzinger (P), Christian Reid (C), Jacob Sheirer (3B/OF), Connor McGlaughlin (P/1B) and Reece D’Amico (C/OF).

“If they play as a team, stay disciplined at the plate, and utilize our deep pitching staff, they can compete for conference and district titles,” Pitsilos said.

Pitsilos named Jack Rothenhausler, Brayden D’Amico, Eric Ludwick and Parker Frey as some of the top players to lead the team this year.

Again, just like everything over the past year, the primary objective is to stay healthy to keep the team on the field.

“The biggest challenges we’ll face are keeping the players safe from COVID,” said Pitsilos. “First, we don’t want them getting it and second for contact tracing. Contact tracing means quarantine and that means being off the baseball field.”