Road to 219

What does 219 even mean? It’s the number of miles Moeller High School is from Canal Park, where the Ohio Baseball State Final Four is played. Last year, the Moeller Baseball team fell just short of this after being one game away and losing to Mason in the Regional Final. Since then, the Crusaders have been putting in work, day in and day out.

Moeller’s baseball season started back in September. You read that right…September! High School Baseball is played in the Spring but starting in September, the baseball program was already going four days a week. It shows how bad they want it. As we enter early March, baseball tryouts have been completed and the teams are set. It is go time. This could be the best baseball team to ever come through Moeller High School. The question is, will they live up to the expectations?

With teams set and daily practices underway, the road to Canal Park starts now. Senior leadership is incredible and veterans on the team are including and helping the young first years wonderfully. A great example is the Christenson Brothers. Connor and Carter are both members of the Varsity baseball team; Connor is a senior and Carter a sophomore.

Carter, who is already committed to West Virginia, says, “I expect to win state. It feels good to be playing with a bunch of good leaders and my brother Connor. The change of pace in practice and the environment is completely different than freshman ball last year.”  On the other hand, Connor, the Air Force Commit says, “Last years loss was a fluke, but it happened. And this year we are returning with a potential starting line-up of nine seniors, over ten returning guys and over twelve D1 commits. The team chemistry will be top notch. I am excited to play with my brother, Carter, and I have had to push him a lot, but I hope he gets his chances.” Connor expects nothing less than state, just like the rest of the team.

The first scrimmage is in about two weeks against Lakota East at home, and the first real game is Saturday, March 25th  at Mason High School against Strongsville. Be there to support the Crusader baseball team as they begin their road to 219.

Charlie Niehaus