Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Coach: Paul Lambrecht, first year
Last year: 4-13 (2-8 CL)
Key returning players: Jordan Gladney (Sr., SS); Josh Arenz (Sr., CF); Delfino Moya (Sr., P/CF); Wayland Holland (Sr., P)
Former Bowsher coach Paul Lambrecht has a rebuilding project on his hands at Waite, and he's already making progress.
He's got 31 kids in his program, but only about 10 had played in a real baseball game before this season.
There are five pitchers on the roster: Delfino Moya, Wayland Holland, Zerius McGowan, Bryce Jennings and Duncan Holland.
As far as the batting order is concerned, they are, according to Lambrecht, "still mixing things around."
Zy'kale Hayworth is the first baseman, Zach Harrington plays second base, Jordan Gladney is the shortstop and Kaden Bates plays third. Wayland Holland is the catcher.
Phoenix Contos plays left fielder, Zerias McGowan is the right fielder and Moya and Josh Arenz will split time in center.
"My subs are three freshmen and two guys that haven't played a lot of baseball," Lambrecht said.
He has been working to get kids out for the team at the school, and things are certainly improving in that regard.
"Our wrestling program at Waite is very strong,” Lambrecht said. “The kids are disciplined. Bryce Jennings and Phoenix Contos, I reached out to them and said, 'I need you to come out and show these kids how to work, and help us reset the culture. Wayland hasn't been on the team before, and I talked to him, and he brought his brother. Any kid that looked athletic, I said to them, 'Come out and play baseball.'"
Lambrecht also talked about getting kids playing the sport again when they're younger.
"I'm looking forward to building this program up,” he said. “Toledo has no youth baseball. I talked to some coaches and hopefully we'll be bringing it back. Once a week over the summer, opening the fields, things like that."
The team has come a long way after having to forfeit some games last year when it didn't have enough players to field a team.
"Our goals are to go .500 in the City League and win two games that we're not supposed to win,” he said. “We want to increase participation. I've just worked by talking to kids in the hallways (at school). We had that warm spell in October and November, asked kids to come out, and they stuck around."
