RallyNorth.net

Hillies hungry after long, cold winter

Friday, March, 28 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

Trips into opposing gyms or rinks got so annoying, Steve Lesiczka just stopped going.

"Really, I love to go to games," said Lesiczka, a Haverhill High senior. "All that losing, it just got to be too much."

As the spring season approaches, Lesiczka and his baseball teammates find themselves in a perfect position to do a little "annoying" of their own.

Stacked with nine returning starters and all three top pitchers back, Haverhill baseball has a chance to restore some pride.

Forget the 1-10 football season, the 3-17 campaign on the hardwood and the 6-11-3 struggles on ice.

Haverhill baseball is back, ready to be a legitimate Merrimack Valley Conference and possible Division 1 North contender.

"We're definitely excited," added Lesiczka. "If we play to our potential, we can turn the losing around very quickly."

With a few exceptions, it's been a tough year for the boys wearing Brown and Gold.

"Just walking around our own school, people have been all over us," said University of Vermont-bound pitcher Leif Sorenson, a hockey player during the winter. "We've all taken our share of the hits. You try to ignore what the other kids are saying, but it's tough. Kids can be brutal."

Sorenson, a side-arming righty, is one of the prime reasons for the optimism.

He had a 4-1 record with a 1.53 ERA a year ago. He anchors a three-man starting rotation that rivals Tewksbury for the league's best.

Classmate Sean Hayden (4-4, 47 Ks in 47<1/3> innings) and junior Taylor Robinson (6-0, 1.99 ERA) round out the talented trio.

The players know their first priority is to shake the attitude that currently hovers over the Shoe City.

"It was tough in hockey, because we were looking to qualify for the States," said Sorenson. "We had the players like we've won with in the past. But we just couldn't find a way to win.

"Maybe we have to learn to win. Winning is contagious. And losing is too. But I think with baseball we'll be fine."

The Hillies come in off two straight 13-8 seasons and last spring's 14-7 campaign. Right now, coach Chip Dunn is focused on fighting overconfidence more than anything else.

"No team in our league just gives you games," said Dunn. "You have to go out and prove it. You have to do it on the field."

If Dunn's message isn't sinking in, all the players have to do is harken back to the past couple seasons.

"Losing just wasn't fun," said Sorenson. "I was especially upset with hockey. But maybe we can just use it, and all the rest of the problems, as a rallying cry."