To say that Valparaiso High School Baseball is stocked with senior leaders this year would be an understatement. The varsity roster hosts an almost unbelievable 11 seniors ready to make a dent in the DAC.
Head Coach, Todd Evans, says this experience has expectations high for a run at a memorable season.
“With eleven seniors on the team this year, as juniors and sophomores last year, I think the foundation is there to build upon and have a good season,” Evans said following Valpo’s 2-0 win over New Prairie (3-5 overall) Friday night.
But the business of a senior year and senior commitments means focus and preparation is put at a priority this year. One senior in particular, had exactly one month between his final prep basketball game and opening day.
“As soon as basketball season ended, I was in the cages Monday morning in the fieldhouse, 5:30 A.M., just taking cuts and getting my arm back,” senior centerfielder Evan Walls said Friday night.
Walls is just as much a leader in baseball as he was in basketball. He is one of 3 captains on the baseball team, along with fellow classmates Max Roberts and Jack Healy. The seniors know how important it is to win the Duneland Athletic Conference, in which the school has been members of since its inaugural season in 1970.
Coach Evans feels the same way as the players.
“Our goal every year is to be as competitive in the DAC as possible, and hopefully win that… To win the DAC would be a testament to our kids’ hard work starting in October.”
He even compared postseason to a portion of a typical Thanksgiving Day meal.
“Obviously, after that (the DAC), it’s to win the sectional and, as we say this year, after that everything is gravy.”
“We are looking forward to having that gravy.”
The Vikings are already 3-1 (4-1 overall) in the DAC, and four of the next six games for Valpo are against DAC opponents.