After a successful 2021 season, the baseball team, coached by head coach Matt Lynch and assistant coach Anthony Lucido, is ready to knock their 22 games of the season out of the park.

The captains of the team are seniors Gerald Bissell, Jake Haggard, and Max Joy, who have each been on the team throughout their time at Benjamin. Sophomore Nick Banner stated their ability to lead by example
and created a positive environment.

“Our captains are very straightforward and are great leaders. They will hold you accountable for the mistakes but also build you up. They will always praise you for something good. They are great examples to
learn from and they unite the team as one. My role on the team as an
underclassmen is to learn. As the seniors and juniors have more experience at the higher level, I want to take a more learning role and watch what they do as they have more experience, ” he said.

The team won their first game of the season against Lincoln Park Academy on Feb. 23 with a score of 10-5. After a few tough losses against Saint Andrew’s and Palm Beach Central, the boys were able to bounce back for consecutive wins against Pine Crest and Saint John Paul II
Academy.

Bissell hopes that the team has the ability to make it to the district
championships and plans to do what he can to help them do accomplish
this goal.

“I think my biggest goal of the season is to help lead the team to districts. I’ve been apart of teams my whole career here at Benjamin that we’re too good to get knocked out of the playoffs early. This year is no different, and there is plenty of talent to make it far,” he added.

With these goals come challenges for the team, and Coach Lucido has found a few difficulties with the first few weeks of the season; however, he
is confident that the team can find a way to pull it all together for a successful next few weeks.

“We’ve struggled in the first act of our season going into spring break. We still have a lot of work to do and are learning more everyday about what this team is made of though I believe if the team buys in to what we are doing and comes together behind our common goal: the sky is the limit.” he said.

While the team hopes to have a successful season in terms of wins and losses, they are already having success with the close dynamic that has been created.

“Our team dynamics this year are very close. On and off the field, we get along really well, and I think that translates into us playing good baseball,” said Bissell.

Banner noted the positivity that the team has brought him throughout his time at Benjamin.

“I’m most looking forward to the bonds and friendships I create with these group of guys. This group of guys will see me progress through the
ups and downs that come. These guys will be life-long friends and I can’t
wait to create such a great bond with my teammates,” he said.

The team is more determined than ever, practicing five times a week with optional batting practices on the weekends. The team believes success comes with dedication, a motto they will live by for the entirety of the season.