Take Me Out to the Ballgame

By Chase Wignall

The Essex MIddle School baseball team is anxiously awaiting its Opening game on Wednesday, May 1 @ ADL. In the meantime, they are working hard in “Spring training”. Did you know that Joe Kelley, the Boston Red Sox pitcher was not always a star pitcher? He started as an outfielder and became a pitcher later in his college career. The EMS returning pitcher, Peter, is from Westford, and looks like he could give Old Joe Kelley a run for his money on the mound. The pitching mound is seeing some dust this preseason, as the EMS baseball team has many pitchers in its line up. If you want to see who will be the big names on the mound this season, we encourage you to come to a game.

Coach Cioffi has a strong plan for his players and he shared a little with us and said, “ To be successful, our teams need to "slow the game down". Meaning to field the ball, and don’t rush our throws. The big league diamond is a huge transition for all our players, and if they just take their time at the plate, and in the field they will succeed and become better baseball players every day”.

The mound is not the only place to see action this year. Assistant coach Lazardo has been working the players and finding their strengths at bat. He told us, “ We are excited to be working the old and new players this season”.

This new season has two teams batting for the Eagles. The A team’s roster is made up of mainly eighth graders with a few seventh graders. While the B team is filled with seventh and a few sixth graders. This year there will be talented players swinging between the two teams. Coach Cioffi said, “Our strategies are to teach everyone the basics of playing on the big league diamond. We will combine fielding skills with hitting live pitching every day. We are being more strategic in our coaching by introducing as many situations as possible, such as run downs, base running, and making good contact at the plate”. This new strategy will help the teams to have strong pitchers and hitters at each game. Last year the team won 6 and lost 6 games, so this year they plan to come out swinging.

Grab your cracker jacks and we will see you out at the field rooting for your home team.

***game schedule is on the school website under the sports tab***