As the Island Trees Bulldogs baseball and lacrosse teams look forward to the spring sports season which starts on March 11, both teams have been putting in hard work during the offseason. At the start of January both teams started to ramp up their preparation for the start of the season. The baseball team holds their workouts at the high school, the lacrosse team holds theirs at the middle school. 

The baseball team started their workouts off with a bang, coming back on the first day after winter recess with early morning pitching before the start of the school day at 6:00 am. As January progresses the team continues to do more and more adding early morning infield and outfield work, late night hitting, and Saturday night practice in the high school gym. Although the early mornings are at times cold and difficult, these sessions prepare the team to be ready to perform at a high level from the start. “The ‘breakfast club’ practices not only get us ready physically, but it brings us together as a team.”, says Will Monahan, Senior 1st Baseman, LHP, and emergency 3rd baseman, who is in his 6th year with the IT Baseball program including his middle school years.

Also on Saturdays the team supports the community by assisting the IT coaching staff with their annual baseball clinic.  This clinic works with our little league youth and teaches the fundamentals of the game with some fun games mixed in.  The enitre baseball program (8th grade- 12th grade) participates in all of these practices and clinics. 

After a successful 10-5 2023 season which included a playoff berth , The men’s lacrosse team is looking to keep their success rolling  into the 2024 season. Every Wednesday the team holds open gym in the middle school gym which includes lacrosse players grade 8 to grade 12.  

The lacrosse sessions focus on teamwork, ball handling skills and conditioning. Being able to hit the field in great shape and ready to run helps the athletes be successful against other teams that may not put the time and effort in. Senior Matt Hohmann sees the difference. “We work hard so we can have the physical advantage. A lot of the teams we play have good players, but working in the offseason translates into success during the season.”, Hohmann said. 

Let’s hope both teams see great results from the early morning training, teambuilding and  conditioning.