Despite a challenging game schedule, with games against some of the toughest competition in the nation, the Whitman baseball team is working hard to break out of a deep rut of consecutive losses.

Coming off a 2011 season with a final NWC record of 4-16, the team has already been showing some grit against tough opponents this spring. Their NWC record is currently 2-1 after a couple of wins against the University of Puget Sound last weekend; their overall record is 2-13.

“It seems like we’re having another typical Whitman year, but it’s anything but. Last year, we were playing the same teams and not even competing. This year we just ended a four-game series with one of the best teams in the nation, and, to be honest, should have won at least two of the games,” said junior Chris Andrews, who transferred to Whitman in order to play baseball after a year at Santa Clara University.

After seeing such progress already this year, the team remains highly optimistic.

“We’ve got them right where we want them, we’ve finally solidified a lineup, and people are starting to figure out their roles,” said sophomore infielder and captain Cam Young.

Though in his third year coaching at Whitman, this is the first that coach Jared Holowaty has had a full team of his own recruited players.

“We’re all rising players. We’re so young; everyone’s up and coming,” said Coach Holowaty.

The team is motivated to change the trend that Whitman baseball has fallen into.

“As a young team we’re definitely trying to shatter the preconceived notions that everyone has about Whitman baseball. When archives assistants write that we shouldn’t get funding I think that fuels us,” said sophomore pitcher Tristan Gavin.

The team has set high goals for themselves, and sees them as realistic.

“We’ve got the guys–– we’re a scrappy bunch––but we definitely have the ability to win. It’s all a matter of execution,” said Andrews.