As spring sports come to an end, the baseball season at Oakdale is almost over. The team’s success was one to remember this season, as the Bears went 11-7 in the regular season, good for 4th in 3A.
The season kicked off with high expectations. Last year, the Bears went to the regional semi-finals, eventually losing to the Thomas Johnson Patriots. This motivated the team to come back better than ever.
“Last season, we felt like we could’ve gone farther, and we still had a lot more potential as a team. We just needed to work on some of the mistakes we made,” expressed senior pitcher Tyler Koshar.
The Bears started their season with four scrimmages, all against very tough opponents, such as Bethesda Chevy-Chase and Walter Johnson. The Bears were prepared for the challenge, as they came out victorious while being underdogs.
“I would say we’ve had a very successful season so far, one of the programs most winning seasons we’ve ever had. The team chemistry has been at an all-time high,” voiced Koshar.
In April, the Bears faced their rival: Urbana High School. The game would define the county standings and separate the good from the elite teams in Frederick County. It ended in a 3-2 win for the Bears after a wild extra inning from senior outfielder Will Salter. Salter threw out the winning run at home plate to guarantee an Oakdale win.
“The Urbana game was my favorite because it was our first time beating them since I’ve been in high school, and it was an overall high-energy game,” replied Koshar.
“My favorite game has to be against North Hagerstown at home because I hit a walkoff double,” asserted Senior Liam Kahn. It was another defining win where the Bears faced off against the loaded pitching staff of North Hagerstown High.
Oakdale has had key performers from all around the diamond. Senior Britton Wildasin has been a dominant pitcher, as he has a 4-1 record, an Earned Run Average (ERA) of .075, and is widely regarded as one of the top pitchers in Frederick County.
Along with pitching, hitting has been a key contributor to the Bears success, as Seniors Cole Swinimer and Mathias Long have been dominant this season. Swinimer leads the team in average, boasting a .400 average, and Long leads the team in extra base hits, tallying 11.
On Thursday, the Bears faced off in the Regional Quarterfinals against Manchester Valley. The Bears lost 4-3 in a hard fought, physical game. The inability to hit with runners in scoring position ended up costing the Bears in the long run, as they struggled with the game on the line.
While it was an unfortunate ending to a great season it’s not one to hang their heads about.
