Loaded with four returning starting seniors and a much improved junior class, varsity baseball is off to a 6-2 start this spring.

After losing their season opener to Pinewood Christian Academy 6-2, the Eagles defeated Trinity Christian School of Sharpsburg twice, Trinity Christian School of Dublin, and the Westfield School. The team’s only other loss was to Tattnall Square Academy.

They beat Young Americans Christian School in both games of a double-header last night, 16-0 and 8-3.

“I’m very excited to see what else our team has to show. These first few games have shown me that our pitchers all attack the strike zone well, our defense is fundamentally sound and our offense really works the other team’s defense too and does a great job of putting the ball in play,” Coach Chance Reynolds said.

This year’s team is anchored by 4 returning seniors: Nathan Lischer, Jonathan Hefner, John Mitchell, and Douglas Bradley. A fift

h senior, Holden Parker, rejoined the team this year after an extended hiatus.

Several of the seniors have already shown leadership by stepping into new positions on the field in order to help out the team. Bradley – who started at first base last year – volunteered to fill in at catcher, and Mitchell moved from second base to left field.

Lischer worked hard to earn his spot as an ace pitcher, and Hefner’s pitching, defense, and hitting continue to lift the team.

Parker, who is playing varsity for the first time and has done yeoman’s work as a designated hitter, has become a leader for the younger players through his unfailingly positive attitude.

“I think we all have really good team chemistry that will make us a better team, and we’ve finished strong in all the other sports this year, so that gives us motivation to finish the baseball season on a strong note as well,” Mitchell said.

The team’s biggest rival is Tattnall, which won the state championship title the past two years. Reynolds is confident that this year’s team is focused and ready to take on the challenge and be the first squad to bring home a state title since 2007.

Reynolds said that he teaches his players that if they set small goals for themselves, then success will follow.

“It doesn’t matter what the other teams do, we work hard everyday to do three things: be a great teammate, do our best everyday, and get better every single day. If we do these simple things we will improve in a big way,” Reynolds said.

In addition to the team’s five seniors, the varsity squad includes six juniors: Connor Collins (pitcher and infield), Conner Corbitt (center field), Jacob Culclasure (right field), Austin Devenney (second base), Jackson Burgess (third base), and Clayton Montgomery (pitcher). There are also five sophomores: Jackson Pyles (pitcher and infield), Jack Peterson (catcher), James Mitchell (infield), Will Herndon (outfield), and George Lind (pitcher), and there is one freshman, Josh Davis (infield).

In addition to Reynolds, the varsity squad also is coached by Bill Meeks, Hunter Stiles, and Blake Thomas.

The Eagles take on the Trojans again tonight, March 25, at 7 p.m. at Tattnall.