Cramer’s Corner: Baseball at its Finest

While it may still look and feel like winter, the Los Altos baseball season is already underway, and the team looks better than ever.

The school has had many successful athletic teams that have gone to and even won CCS. But the recent consistency of the baseball team as well as the future outlook of the team is something that the school has not seen in a long time.

With a Division II CCS championship in ’07 and a second place finish in ’08, the ’09 season was seen as a disappointment because the team made CCS but lost in the first round.

Most of the successful baseball schools in this area tend to be private schools, who draw players from a much larger geographic region than public schools. They are closer to an all-star team that has been quickly strung together rather than a close-knit team that has played together for years. LAHS, on the other hand, has a grassroots program that started all the way back in Little League.

One of the special aspects of Los Altos baseball is the sense of community that can be found on the team. With players that have grown up side-by-side and played together their whole lives, it only makes sense that this bond would exist.

Whether it be in professional or high school sports, bad team chemistry can ruin even the most talented team, while a team that plays for the love of the game can come together and do the unexpected.

Eagles baseball is the perfect blend of charisma and talent. Players are not only teammates but friends who will stand by each other no matter what.

Throughout practice, players can be seen laughing and smiling while doing drills, giving each other tips in batting practice and getting on one another if they aren’t giving 100 percent.

During the game, a sense of seriousness is apparent to players and spectators alike. It’s as if the players know that all of their hard work and determination will pay off while they play the game.

The importance of having a team that can rely on one another both on and off the field is rarely talked about in sports but is definitely felt by players. In games the dugout is never quiet and the sense of community is more apparent than ever.

It’s impossible to tell teams how they should approach the sport, but in my opinion there is one way that is the most beneficial to the team as a whole. The coaches have created a totally effective team. They have chosen players that work together, play hard together and share the same love for the game.