It’s been a full two years since the SCHS Pirates baseball team has taken an at-bat. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 baseball season was canceled, leaving many of the seniors without their final baseball season. Nevertheless, in 2021, the Pirates are preparing to step on the field once again. However, this time around, the majority of the varsity team will be completely different than two years ago, and even the spot of head coach has shifted. This year will be Coach Brad Bichel’s first season as the head coach of the Pirates baseball team, although 2020 was meant to be his introduction into the vacant head coach position. Coach Bichel is aware that the majority of his players don’t have varsity level experience, however he is confident that they will adjust quickly, with the help of some of the seniors on the team.

“It’s a big difference when you’re a sophomore going in to play JV baseball, and then playing varsity baseball your junior year. There’s definitely a learning curve,” Coach Bichel said. “I think I have a really good team, and I think my seniors are really good leaders, so I don’t anticipate them struggling at all.”

One of the few players that played on the 2019 varsity team that still remains there today is Sam Meyers. An explosive player, Meyers can do it all. With a pitch repertoire of a fastball that can reach 92 mph, a slider that can confuse the hitters, and a splitter that is downright nasty, the slinging senior is a force to be reckoned with on the mound, as well as at the plate, being the top hitter on the 2019 team. Meyers, who has already committed to continuing his baseball career with the Parkland Cobras, is ready to lead his teammates, into what he believes, could be a special season for the Pirates.

“I realize that most of the guys look up to me and I really just try to lead by example. Always hustling and giving it my all, whether it’s in practice or a game,” Meyers explained. “I’m really excited to get on the field with the group we have this year. I think we have great potential and could make a run into the postseason.”

Typically on a high school baseball team, or any sports team, the eyes will generally be on the seniors the most. Even so, someone that shouldn’t be passed up on is junior Jackson Chu. With five different pitches at his disposal, and a swing that can certainly make an impact, Chu knows that there will be lots of people watching him this year in his first full season of varsity baseball. Both a pitcher and a shortstop, the junior isn’t fond of missing his sophomore year, however he knows the potential this years’ team holds, and where it can go.

“It was pretty hard missing the 2020 season. We were going to be pretty good last year, but I’m really excited to be back on the field with my Pirate family,” Chu said. “We will still have a good chance to go far this year. Win some games, but overall, have fun.”

With a new head coach and a revamped roster, the 2021 Pirates baseball team will certainly be an interesting season. No matter the results, it’s going to be fun watching the student-athletes represent SCHS on the baseball field for the first time in two years. The SCHS varsity Pirates baseball team’s first game is on March 23 at Christian High.