The rich, long tradition of Pace High School baseball continued as the 13th Annual Pace Baseball Banquet on February 6 celebrated the start of the 2016 season. JV and varsity players, their families, and their friends dressed up in their finest clothes for an evening of dinner and dancing to honor the players and the Spartan baseball tradition.
Thomas Duffin, Pace varsity baseball coach, welcomed guests to the banquet and thanked all the family members, Pace alumni, and other individuals who have contributed vastly to the baseball program over the years. Following dinner, the 2015-2016 JV and varsity baseball players were called on stage and introduced one by one by their coaches.
Duffin, Pace alumnus (C/O 1985), who has coached Pace baseball for 23 years, said that he expects a lot out of this year’s team, and his sentiment is shared by his players.
“I feel very strongly about our team this year,” said senior third baseman and pitcher Jonathan Ledesma. “We worked very hard in the summer and during the fall; we meshed and worked really well together as a team. I know we have our coaches behind us the whole way, so I feel we’re going very far in the playoffs this year.”
The varsity team has been living up to their legacy so far this season, with a 4-2 overall record and 2-0 district record, including a 5-1 win over Mater Lakes High School on February 19 and a 13-11 win over Immaculata-La Salle High School on February 23. Their next home games will be against American High School on March 3 and against Miami Springs High School on March 4, both games at 7p.m. at the Pace baseball field.