Baseball is not just about bats and balls. It is a game that tests both physical and mental capabilities. In the game of inches the slightest change in the winds or in the curve of a pitch can make the difference between a strikeout and a homerun. Having a positive mindset and imagining the win is equally as important — a factor that the Cardinals’ JV baseball team didn’t seem to realize during preseason.

    The Cardinals crashed and burned during preseason with a 1-5 record, but there is nowhere to go but up from this point. “We played tough competition, and it was good practice for us,” sophomore shortstop and co-captain Chris Chen said. “We learned a lot about ourselves as a team from our mistakes, and now we can translate that to our season games.”

    Helping the team transition to league play, the Cardinals are looking to their new coach. Although this is Mike Torrise’s first year coaching at Lowell, he has been coaching baseball since 1988. He has coached baseball all over the Bay Area, from Lincoln and Burton to Cappuccino and French American International School.

    “Our coach this year really knows what he’s doing and teaching,” sophomore centerfield Robbie Pollard said. “It’s good to have a coach that knows baseball.”

    Not only does Torrise have an extensive resume, but his coaching method also complements the team’s positive focus. “I’m working with not only a gifted bunch of athletes, but also a caring bunch of guys who look out for each other and will go the extra mile,” Torrise said. “They should be having a good time playing baseball and being teenagers.”

    After learning from their downward preseason spiral, the Cardinals have flown off to a much better league start with a 3-0 record. On March 17, Lowell faced the Lincoln Mustangs and came out victorious, 11-7.

    Although Torisse called the win “a team effort” and all the players were on the top of their toes, freshman first base Edward King shined in the game, stealing six bases and scoring two runs.

    Chin, sophomore first base and co-captain Ryan Ho, and sophomore catcher Charley August all scored two runs apiece.

    The March 19 face-off with Washington at McCoppin was too late for press.

    On March 12, the Cardinals faced off with the Balboa Buccaneers and defeated them 13-10.

    Both teams were evenly matched at hitting, with Balboa averaging one to two runs per inning. The Cardinals, however, took the lead with a powerful five-run third inning. Freshman left fielder Phil Raucci hit a double with the bases loaded.

    Torisse admitted that Balboa was “able to peck their way” through ten evenly spread out runs in the game, but the Cardinals’ pitching, particularly that of freshman Sam Mallonee, eventually blocked Balboa.   

    On March 9, the Cardinals faced their first city competition against Galileo, beating them 7-2.

    Lowell was ahead of Galileo 2-0 in the second inning, but it was in the third where the Cardinals solidified their win. Ho ripped a two-run triple, ending the three-run inning 5-0.  
“He knocked that ball way out of the field,” Torrise said. “It was probably the farthest ball I’ve ever seen hit by a junior varsity player.”

    The Cardinals’ pitching was in top form as well. Chin pitched for five solid innings, managing ten strikeouts and giving up only two runs. With the score 5-2, Lowell added another two runs and scorched Galileo, ending the game 7-2.

    Lowell’s league victories are the opposite of their preseason performance. One factor for the young team’s early losing streak was inexperience. “We made a lot of simple errors that shouldn’t have happened that just added up,” Chen said. “We weren’t hitting as well as we should have and we dropped balls we shouldn’t have.”

    Another reason why the Cardinals tumbled down so hard during their preseason was because they were not mentally confident going into the games. “The skills are always important,” Chen said. “But if you’re not mentally focused, then it’s impossible to win. A lot of the guys let the other teams get into their heads, and if we think we can’t win, then why even try?”  

    Now that the Cardinals have learned the importance of staying positive, they are determined to prevent mental lapses from happening again. “If we focus and we don’t mess with our own heads, there’s nothing we can’t do,” Chen said.     

    In keeping with the Cardinals’ newfound mental confidence, sophomore outfielder David Go is regarded as the “heart and soul of the team” by Chen not because of his pitching or hitting skills, but because he is a great encourager. “I cheer for us when we’re down and I try to keep everyone’s spirits up,” Go said.   

    Now that the Cardinal players have attained a new sense of hope and assurance, they have set high expectations for themselves. “I expect blood, sweat, tears and a championship,” August said. “ Nothing less. I also want us to enjoy ourselves and play some savage baseball. Win or lose, we keep our heads up.”

    Come see the Lowell junior varsity baseball players on Monday, April 7 at 3:30 in McCoppin Field.