Masha Paul Advanced News Reporting April 16th, 2012 McDaniel Baseball Team With 16 practices in the fall,

35 games throughout the season, and practice everyday from mid February to April 29th, the baseball team at McDaniel has come together to make a memorable season for themselves. Lead by Coach David Seibert a 33rd year, the line up for this season has broken records and strengthened their bond of brotherhood in order to fight for a spot in the conference championship. Seiberts approach to practices is to not focus on conferences. Seibert says, As long as we focus on playing good baseball the other stuff will come in to play in eventually. What makes this season different from the others? This year senior pitcher Danny Snight had 41 strikeouts. Outfielder and leading hitter Pat Christopher has maintained the highest batting average on the team of .416 with 20 runs during the season thus far. Sophomore Marshall Betts gave the team six home runs this season. Christopher Longo is one of three captains this season along with Snight and Christopher. He says that players have focused on their individual strengths and weaknesses and have been working hard. Our team has been very excited about this season and our hopes are set on making the playoffs and then winning the conference, said Longo. The atmosphere is very good, everyone gets along with each other, said Hayden Athey, a center-fielder who hopes to become a starter next season. Athey as well as his teammates are working hard to maintain the bond of brotherhood among the group.

Our annual trip to the Florida invitational for spring break games really brought us together, Athey said. Before we left our record was 1 and 3 and it improved after that. It did improve. They won all eight games in Florida marking a 10-game winning streak making their mark in history for maintaing the longest winning streak the team has ever had. (TALK ABOUT THE GAME) Seibert is proud of the teams successes this season as well. Seibert said, I like to see the kids succeed, thats what gives me the greatest pleasure. In this business, since it is so competitive, winning is a big part of their success. But as a coach you just want their hard work to pay off individually and as a team. The streak unfortunately came to an end with a loss against Washington College on March 21st by only one run. But it did bring recognition to coach Seibert. The winning streak accomplishment would grant coach Seibert an award from the Centennial conference for his 400th win as a coach for baseball at McDaniel. It was an honor to receive a 400th win award, but its not as big of a deal to me. Im more focused on making sure the team is working hard this season, said Seibert. Now the team wants nothing more than to continue the season playing good baseball with the hopes of gaining a conference title. Currently the team is on a winning streak of seven games and look to play Gettysburg April 17th. With six games left in the season the team still has a chance of making the playoffs to compete for a winning title. The team holds a 7-5 conference game record and a 19-8 record overall.

Only the top four teams in the conference can compete for the title at the end of the season. They will have to push hard if they want to qualify for the conference playoffs. Longo wants to know he spent his last season at McDaniel playing good baseball. The most exciting thing about playing on this team is the friendships that we have created with each other, the lasting bond of brotherhood that is created. And of course kicking ass on the baseball field!