Atoms Baseball has jumped out to a 3-2 record on the season, and will look to continue their early success in their fourth district game of the season against Justice on March 29.
AHS lost the final game of the annual Ice-Breaker tournament by a final score of 10-1 against the Woodson Cavaliers on March 26, as the Atoms struggled to break out offensively despite solid defensive play.
Despite the loss, the Atoms have pulled off a 2-1 record against district opponents, and have rallied to win two games in walk off fashion. The first of which came on March 19, as the Atoms came from a 4-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning, to win by a final score of 5-4 against Rock Ridge.
“Overall I think the Atoms baseball team has played well and shown progress,” head coach Christopher Bagot said. “Our expectations are always high and we need to improve our consistency by always pushing ourselves.
“Clutch hitting in big situations has definitely been huge for us especially in our walk off wins,” sophomore Zach Plank said. “I’ve started off the season strong, I hope to continue to play well in all phases of the game and win our district.”
Plank threw two scoreless innings in the Atoms loss to the Cavaliers and batted .500 throughout the Ice-Breaker tournament, earning him the Atoms MVP award for the tournament.
Senior captains Finn Scott-Daniels and Grant Yungner have both played at their best so far this season. Yunger has a .464 OBP and has played stellar defense at third base, with Scott-Daniels dominating as the teams ace on the mound with a 1.56 ERA through nine innings pitched.
“I feel like I have improved massively on the mound from last season,” Scott-Daniels said. “I have gained velocity and accuracy which has allowed me to pitch deeper into games and play at my pace.”
The Atoms have worked and pushed themselves throughout the offseason to prepare with a new group of players this season, as the team looks to replicate its success from the 2021 season.
“I am very proud of the progress of junior catcher David Sewall. He is perhaps the most improved player in the program. He’s worked hard to improve his blocking and receiving and has had several key at bats late in games to help us win,” Bagot said.
Junior Evan Newton has also stepped up for the Atoms, with a .400 OBP through four games, while maintaining an excellent glove as a utility IF/OF.
The team has struggled to put together quality at bats against tough pitching from Hayfield and Woodson in the teams two losses. However, the Atoms are seeing improvements in all facets of the game, as the team committed zero defensive errors in their loss against Woodson.
Seniors Patrick Daconi and Tyler Plank have been a huge part of the team’s defensive improvement, becoming more consistent and reliable in corner outfield positions for the Atoms.
Plank has also been a shutdown pitcher, with an electric curveball and good fastball command that allows him to keep runners off base.
With an electric pitching staff, consistent defense, and promising young core, the Atoms will look to further their success deeper into district play.
The Atoms will face the Justice Wolves at home on March 29, as they will look to hold off the Wolves attempt for their first win of the season, and improve their record on the season to 4-2.