Wesley Baseball Team Swinging for Fences After Shaky Start

Veteran Players Believe In Team

Infielder Adam Darling says Wesley’s baseball team has two goals this season.

Adam Darling
Photo Credit: Wesley Athletics

“Our goal is to win the conference simple as that,” he said. “After that we would like go to regionals.”

To do that will require teamwork, said pitcher Andrew Cooper.

“We expect to win the conference and in order to do that we got to play a team and play together as one,” he said.

Cooper’s strong performance as a closer has won him two awards, East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) conference pitcher of the week and the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) pitcher of the week.

He says his pregame routine is a part of his success.

“My game day routine is every game I wake up early and eat breakfast and head to the field and stretch and warm up while listening to country music,” he said.

Andrew Cooper
Photo Credit: Wesley Athletics

Cooper said the turning point of the season was the second-game doubleheader victory over Christopher Newport, and the next-day win over Salisbury.

“Christopher Newport blew us out in the first game, and in the second game we tied it up in the ninth and won in ten innings,” Cooper said.

The team didn’t even warm up for Salisbury, he said.

“We drove home five hours that night to play Salisbury the next day,” said infielder Adam Darling. “We just kind of showed up and played. We were up, gave up the lead, and we eventually got it back. We played hurt because our fourth hitter got hurt on the first play of the game.”

Players said they liked Underwood’s coaching style.

“He’s a really good coach and he cares about us on and off the field,” Cooper said. “He also pushes us to become better players, teammates and a better person in general.”

“He has a lot of heart for the game,” Darling said. “He’s a man that would do anything for you if you need anything. He understands the game so well its crazy. I’m proud to play for him.”