After a 15-5 overall record, 10-4 in their conference, the FVHS varsity baseball team fought their way into the state playoffs. The team had a strong performance to make it to the final four last season, but they have had to overcome obstacles this season in order to sneak into the playoffs. 

The University of North Carolina committed senior HL Smith knows how tough it’s been this season, but he credits his teammates for their hard work. 

“It’s been a struggle getting here because we lost our Campbell committed catcher Andrew Keller due to Tommy John surgery, and we had to replace him with two sophomores, a junior, and a senior. It’s very hard work getting brought up when you haven’t played much at all and our senior Nick Webb has been working his tail off all year to fill the gap. Hopefully, he can keep it up through the playoffs,” Smith said. 

Senior JJ Dobson expected the team to be where they are, and he knows the team can do well.

“I have high expectations for the playoffs. We are a really good team that can beat anybody on any given day if we play the way we know we can. In order for us to go far, we need to have a lot of energy and be behind each other supporting one another because there’s going to be adversity. It’s just about how well we can overcome it,” said Dobson.

Senior Bobby Osborn also has high expectations for the rest of the tournament. 

“I think that we will go to the final four. Wake Forest is going to be tough to beat but we’ve worked hard everyday during practice, and I know that we are better,” Osborn said.

During the first game against Ashley High School, junior Brian Oakley hit two home runs in the first and third inning.

“My mindset was to get our team back in the game, and their pitcher gave me two pitches that I could drive far out. The team’s mindset is just to do our best, have fun, and just play the game we’ve all loved since we were kids,” said Oakley.

Overall, the varsity baseball team has high expectations for the rest of the tournament. Come out and support the Bengals at their next tournament game on Thursday, May 11, against Wake Forest Cougars in Wake Forest.