Written by Bella Wise

With a current record of 7-2 overall and ranked second in the FAAs, the Boys Varsity Baseball team is ‘cooking’ this season (or, as Colin Lauri ‘25 put it, “the ’Cats are sizzling.”).

Despite losing five of their top pitchers due to injuries (Ollie Smith ‘26, Blake James ‘25, Jackson Koslow ‘26, Nico Stefanoni ‘25, and Ethan Shales ‘25), the Wildcats remained optimistic about the season. The team has undergone a major adjustment period, but several players have risen to the occasion. Chris Emmet ‘25, George Brown ‘29, and Brady Hollwedel ‘27 have taken the mound, while according to the captains, Hank Brown ‘27 is reportedly swinging the bat “like a bulldog,” which sounds mildly unhinged and slightly illegal, but nobody’s complaining.

A large part of the team’s success can be credited to first year Head Coach Jonathan de Marte. Coach de Marte not only brings his professional experience – such as participating in the Tokyo Olympics with Team Israel and playing for the Chicago Cubs – but also his love for the sport and player development. “I wanted to give back to a sport that gave me so much,” de Marte explained. “I’ve trained under incredible coaches and learned a lot about how to build athletes up. My goal is to help these players reach their full potential and enjoy the game.”

Coach de Marte’s impact has been undeniably effective. “Practices are way more serious, and more focused,” said Captain Brodie Moye ‘25, a member of varsity since eighth grade. “We’re locked in every day, and we all love playing for Coach.” Along with Moye, Captains Blake James and Chris Emmet help lead the team.

In a recent game on Monday, April 14 against St. Luke’s, Teddy Cooper ‘25 threw a complete game shutout (no runs) as the defense played flawlessly behind him to allow the Wildcats to obtain a 5-0 victory. 

Another highlight of the season so far was the game against Hopkins, when Captain James hit a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to break what had been a two-run game. This gave RCDS the edge to secure the victory, as they then won with a six point lead.

For the captains, this season goes beyond just the record and scoreboard. “Baseball brought me closer to people I never thought I’d be friends with. I’m going to miss playing this game with these guys,” said Moye. James added, “I’ll miss all the little things, like catch play conversations, hanging out, and the overall energy of the game.” Emmet characterized the feeling of his last time playing sports at RCDS as very bittersweet. “There’s nothing like the bond you build on a team. I’m going to miss having fun with all the dudes.”

With the FAA playoffs coming in mid May, the team’s sole focus is securing the win. “We want to win the FAA,” Emmet and James emphasized. “None of us have ever seen a baseball playoff win here, and we want to change that.” 

So, yes, “the ’Cats are sizzling” – in the dugout, on the mound, and every time they step on the field.