As the professional baseball regular season begins, the varsity baseball team’s season will start to close as they look to go deep in the playoffs, including getting past the Class 8A regional semifinals, where they have lost the past two years.

The team lead District 9 this season with a 17-6 record, the best in school history over 23 games. The team started off strong, including a 3-0 win against Lyman on Feb. 12 with pitchers Joe Sheridan and Bailey Wendel combining for 16 strikeouts and pitching a no-hitter.

“It’s been a good season so far, but we eventually know it will come to an end,” Sheridan said. “We have come together more as a team this year than any other year and we’re hoping to make a long playoff trip.”

Throughout March, the team went on a 10 game win-streak, and shut out district opponents Lake Howell, Evans and Winter Springs, including a 9-2 win against Lake Howell on March 1 to start the streak, with pitcher Travis Hosterman pitching eight strikeouts over four innings and second baseman Austin Thompson recording two RBI’s. The longest win-streak in school history was 11 games in 2014.

“We’re definitely ready to start the playoffs,” head coach Jered Goodwin said. “We played well last month, the seniors have been phenomenal, and practices have been great. Everyone has been looking good and it’s been fun.”

Throughout his nine years as head coach, Goodwin has been to the playoffs six times in his tenure with three seniors already claiming district titles, which the team hopes to expand on.

“As seniors, we’ve enjoyed every moment of this season because we know the road is coming to an end and we’re going to miss it,” Hosterman said. “It’s been special and only time will tell for a long run in the playoffs.”

However, for freshmen Riley Greene and Vaughn Grissom, there is still a long road ahead.

“I understand I still have three years here, but it would be awesome to see the seniors go out on top for their last year and we’re all working really hard to make sure that happens,” Greene said.

Although University (Orange City), who beat the team last year in the regional semifinals, will be back in the playoffs this year, the team does not have one specific team to focus on in the playoffs.

“We just want to beat everyone, simple as that,” Hosterman said. “We’ve worked so hard to get to this point and we’re not only playing as teammates, but as brothers.”

The team will play Evans next in the district semifinals on Tuesday, April 19 at 4:30 p.m. at Lake Howell High School.

“Playoff baseball is funny because one bad hop or one missed play could mean your season is over,” Goodwin said. “We’re just going to play like we have done in the past in order to make that huge playoff run.”