An inside look into the baseball team
The Niles North baseball season started in late February, with the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams each playing many games, winning one game apiece. After many games were delayed because of poor March weather, the season will successfully continue through the end of the spring, with visitors encouraged to come and watch.
At the time of the interviews below, the Varsity record was 1-16, while the JV record was 1-10. Several JV players, Spencer Pearl, Connor Neidfelt, and Quinn Tratt gave their exclusive opinions on the teams. Here’s an inside look at their points of view.
Quinn Tratt; second baseman (JV)
Q: How is the JV team? “We have a good core, a lot of heart. It’s [baseball] is just really fun. It’s very fun going out there, playing on our team.”
Q: What problems are there with the team? “There are some errors; definitely some things we can work on… We don’t play the greatest, [although] we go out there and try our best every day.”
Q: How is Varsity doing? “Varsity has a lot of good players. They have a good outfield; infield, they can work on. I haven’t been really watching them, so I can’t say how good they are.”
Q: How does the JV team get along? “Most of us get along well; we’re a team – that’s the only way I can put it.”
Q: What are your predictions for this year’s MLB season? “I think that the Cubs have a decent chance [of winning the MLB Playoffs]. I’d say the Astros or the Padres have the best chance of winning the World Series.”
Connor Neidfelt; pitcher, sometimes first/third baseman (JV)
Q: How good is the JV team, 1-10?“I’ll probably give it a 2.4…. we’re not great”
Q: How many games have you won? “We’ve won one game. We would’ve won a second game, but it got canceled.”
Q: How is Varsity doing? “I think Varsity is good, except they don’t win very many games…. They’ve one like two games; I’m not entirely sure, though.”
Spencer Pearl; catcher, sometimes third baseman
Q: How do you think the JV team is doing? “We’re not doing that great; it’s a rough season.”
Q: Do you think the team is going to do better? “I think a couple of years after I graduate, maybe.”
Q: Who are the stars on the team? “On a good day, we’ve got me behind the dish, Mason pitching, Connor – third, Emilio – short, Jeremiah at second, Jaden or Jacob at first, and then in the outfield we’ve got David… [and] Timmy.”
Q: Do you have any other opinions about the team? “My opinion is that we need to start playing better.”
Q: How do you like playing on the team? “It’s fun at times, but it’s not fun losing. [Overall], it’s fun; it’s a good experience.”
Q: Will you do it next year? “Maybe.”
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Yoni Soloveychik is a sophomore at Niles North. This is his second year writing for NSN and he likes a lot of different things.