The Fieldston Boys Varsity Baseball season came to an end on Monday with a loss to the Stony Brook School in the semifinals of the NYSAIS playoffs. While the lack of a championship is disappointing for a program that holds itself to high standards, this past season was, nonetheless, successful. The team finished in third place in the Ivy Preparatory League, riding big wins against Horace Mann (by a score of 18-0) and Trinity (by a score of 15-5) en route to the playoffs and the program’s second straight semi-finals appearance.
Although they didn’t play their first game until March, many players spent the winter working out in the JV gym before school on Thursdays. In the offseason, the team also continued a longstanding Fieldston Baseball tradition: the designing of the team’s hats by the seniors. This year’s hats featured the messages “Welcome to the nest” and “OTF” on the home and away caps, respectively. Senior Declan Semler described the messages, saying, “OTF—only the family—is a motto that runs through the baseball program. It doesn’t matter what’s going on outside of the program; it’s only about us. It’s sometimes about you, it’s sometimes about me, but it’s always about us.” The motto is emblematic of the camaraderie that a tight-knit sports team provides and embodies the connection that the players have with one another. That connection was especially important this year, as the team welcomed eight new players into the family. New friendships had to form and team dynamics had to develop. Luckily, the bonding began early on with the team’s annual spring trip to Florida.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was nearly every player’s first time on the trip. The team spent the time well, honing in on their game to the tune of seven hours of baseball a day, on average. They also went through head coach Tony Marro’s rigorous “swamp day” conditioning. Said Semler, “It’s dog days you’re going through together down there. But it’s special because you’re going through it all together.” From a team bonding perspective, Semler described, “We all came together in our toughest times because we had each other. It was a really special moment to see that team chemistry come alive.”
The team’s chemistry and culture were on full display in the first round of the playoffs, where the squad dominated in a 9-0 upset win over the Rye Country Day School. “It was unbelievable because we weren’t supposed to win that game. But we came out there guns blazing. It was one of the most fun games I’ve ever been a part of,” recounted Semler. It wasn’t just the players on the field who had an impact, though: “The bench came alive. I’ve never felt so much love and support standing in the batter’s box before,” Semler said.
Unfortunately, all seasons must come to an end, which means the finale to a number of players’ Fieldston Baseball careers. Although the baseball team doesn’t appoint any captains—a tradition started by the first group of seniors coached by Marro—this year’s team was led by an impressive and resilient group of seniors. Semler anchored the team’s lineup, spending the whole season hitting third while also providing quality innings on the mound. Jackson Fauvre pitched every week and dominated opposing hitters with his three-pitch combo, culminating in seven scoreless innings of playoff work. Caiden Steincamp started the season on the sideline with an ACL injury but stuck with the team during every practice and game before contributing with much-needed relief innings at the end of the year. Charlie Berlin was a stabilizing force in the outfield and provided solid defense all season, not to mention his elite long toss.
The future of Fieldston Baseball looks solid too. The Eagles will return eight out of nine members from their batting lineup and will have a slew of upperclassmen to lead the team next year. The team’s special culture will continue to guide the program in its quest for a championship. For now, the bats and gloves will be put aside, as the quiet gym of winter workouts and the blazing sun of Florida are months in the future.
See you next year, Fieldston Baseball.
