Today will be the first after school practice for the baseball program since the new varsity coaching change. Head Coach Bernard Martinez was hired this past summer.

“I feel confident, we need to focus on the present so we can be district champions,” Coach Martinez said. “I want us to be in the postseason.”

Since the new coaching change, Coach Martinez knows how he wants the practices to flow.

“The practices will be game-like situations, I want to make it an up-tempo experience,” Coach Martinez said. “I want to have situations that come with failure and success.”

Assistant Coach Bruce Gowen has observed a culture change from the players.

“Everybody seems to be a lot more focused and willing to give a little extra during practices,” Coach Gowen said.

In August, Coach Martinez made the expectation that his athletes create personal and team goals for improvement in the upcoming season.

“My main focus is to work as hard as I can and never stop during practices,” junior Jack Hanstad said. “I should never be standing around not doing anything.”

Senior Aaron Weseman says this will be the most important season for the senior players.

“I’m looking forward to making this the best season yet in Heritage baseball history,” Weseman said. “This season we have the best chance because we’re really bonding as a team and our new coach is great. As a member of the senior class, I think I speak for all of us when I say we want to make a mark on our school.”

Coach Martinez has made a quick impression on Hanstad.

“The new coach is more knowledgeable about the game and how it’s supposed to be played so I’m learning the game better,” Hanstad said.

Coach Martinez values team bonding.

“Good pitching is my favorite trait,” Coach Martinez said. “We also have competitors that want to compete, athleticism and how the team bonds.”

The first pre-season game is Feb. 9 against North Forney and the first district game is against The Colony on March 7.