The start of the season was less than
ideal for the Atoms baseball team. The

team started with an 0-5 record, strug-
gling to hit consistently and fi eld at a

high level. The Atoms then won six of
their next seven games to even their
record on the season to 6-6.
Since that point however, the Atoms
have dropped consecutive games to
challenging opponents in both Hayfi eld
and Langley.
“When we got off to an 0-5 start, it
was tough on the players and coaches.
We knew we could perform better than

we had shown on the fi eld and in prac-
tice,” head coach Christopher Bagot

said.
The turnaround has been led by

contributions from all over the ros-
ter. From a pitching perspective, junior

Zach Plank and senior Evan Newton

have carried the load as the team’s lead-
ing arms, with signifi cant contributions

from junior Jace Colato and senior Ben
Warth as well. Plank pitched six innings
in the Atoms 5-4 win over Potomac on
April 4, allowing zero earned runs and
striking out 11.

“I have concentrated on hitting my
spots, and I feel like I have been able to
command my fastball at a higher level,
which in turn has allowed me to keep

hitters off-balanced more with my slid-
er and changeup,” Plank said.

Against Edison, Plank pitched fi ve
innings, allowing two
earned runs while
striking out seven,
before Newton came in
to close the game with a
two inning save.
Behind Plank and
Newton, the Atoms
defense has improved
immensely. Warth and
junior TK Decareau

have led the defen-
sive effort for the out-
fi eld, with senior Adam

Sobalvarro playing an
excellent utility role for

the Atoms across sever-
al positions.

“Sobalvarro has played fi ve different

positions in his second year in the pro-
gram and fi rst on varsity and became

the ‘bunt king’. He has stepped up this
year with defense and some great bunts
and at-bats this year,” Bagot said.
Another senior who has stood out for

the Atoms has been Hadi Siddique, who
has steadied the Atoms defense in right
fi eld and at fi rst base, while becoming
one of the team’s best hitters.
“We moved him up in the lineup
from 7 to 1 and has continually had
great at-bats for us, and doing so while
fasting for Ramadan
across the last 30 days,”
Bagot said.

Newton and Dec-
areau have been two of

the other best hitters
for the Atoms. In the
Atoms’ loss to Langley,
Newton had one of the
lone hits in the game
with a two RBI single.
“We have played
much better but we
have work to do and we
understand that. I have
to set the standard
with my play in games

and practice and I have tried to accom-
plish that at the plate, on the mound,

and in the fi eld,” Newton said.
The Atoms district record currently

stands at 3-4, with wins over Mt, Ver-
non, Thomas Jefferson, and Edison,

with losses to Hayfi eld twice, Justice,
and Falls Church.

AHS plays Mt. Vernon on April 24 in
an out-of-conference game, as the Atoms

look to rebound from their two game los-
ing streak. Results from the game were

not available at the time of publica-
tion, for more information, please visit

annandaleatoms.net.
The Atoms will then continue their
district schedule with games against
Falls Church on April 25 and Justice on

April 28. A key stretch of the Atoms reg-
ular season schedule looms, and they

will have to perform at the highest level
if they hope to accomplish their