A weekday night at McGuane Park, with the bright lights dimming from above, players scattered across the infield, your teammates chant your name and cheer you on as you step onto the plate. You lock eyes with the opposing team’s pitcher trying to read his next move, and prepare to send the ball home and get one step closer with the rest of your team to chasing the ultimate goal: a city championship.
The Jones College Prep boys baseball program, from its varsity to its junior varsity team, is in the midst of one of its best seasons in recent history, with players fueled by a desire to win alongside each other and bring home a championship for their school.
The boys varsity team has an overall record of 22-8 and a conference record of 13-1, the best in the entire conference.
“I think this is the best team I’ve been a part of here at Jones,” said varsity pitcher and third baseman Christophe De Wijkerslooth ‘27. “I’ve really liked how we’ve grown together and have fought through everything as a team.”
The team lost many top seniors last season, creating an opportunity for other players to move up in the lineup and keep the team rolling.
“I think the biggest challenge transitioning from last year was losing our catcher Ellis Alexander, who graduated last year and went to play baseball at Macalester,” said varsity pitcher and first baseman T.J. Dumas ‘27. “I think we all have really done our best to step up and play our part in getting this team to continue being successful.”
Besides just what goes on on the field, the upperclassmen, especially the juniors, needed to step up as leaders on the team.
“The seniors were really good leaders last year. They would make sure we were on equipment, make sure we were more locked in and had more energy throughout the game,” said De Wijkerslooth. “This year senior wise we only have a few guys doing that. So the sophomores and juniors have to step up a lot more, which is hard coming from a nonleadership position, and having to then lead a group of fifteen guys and always bring the energy no matter what, it’s never easy. I’d say that’s been our biggest adjustment this year.”
The varsity squad has seen many players step up with big performances to bring the team to this season’s success, including Madden Asbaty ‘28 and Macalester College commit Renzo Sansonetti ‘26.
“Renzo, Madden, and Christophe have been our three best pitchers and have ERAs above 3, and have just been really consistent for us,” said Dumas. “Christophe and Madden have batting averages of over .400 too.”
On the junior varsity side, the team has an 14-7 overall record and is undefeated in conference play with a record of 11-0.
“Whether we play a really good team, whether we play a really bad team, it doesn’t matter,” said center fielder and junior varsity captain Joaquin Arciniega ‘27. “We always try to tell our guys ‘hey, we’re playing a baseball game here’ so we need to be dialed in from the first pitch, and I think that’s actually what’s given us a lot of success.”
Players throughout their years in the program have learned to take charge of the team in order to steer it with the proper vision in mind.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned being on this team is to be loud,” said Dumas. “When commanding a large group of guys you just need to make yourself known and just pronunciate, and take charge to help the whole team out.”
The team’s commitment to competing and leaving it all out on the field allows them to stand up against any team regardless of skill gap.
“I think you just have to establish the mindset like it’s not like we’re playing major leaguers,” said Arciniega. “These kids are also high schoolers. And I think that’s the mindset you have to have going into the games.”
What brings the team so close is its collective passion for baseball and the love and care each player has for each other when they step onto the field.
“The time flies by, and I don’t want to leave the team at the end of a practice or a game, just because it’s always fun,” said De Wijkerslooth. “Everyone always has a smile on their face, even if we may be messing up or doing something. We all understand that things happen. We pick each other up, and the community’s been like no other team I’ve ever played for on any team, so it’s just been really fun.”
The varsity boys squad clinched the #1 seed in the CPL Playoffs on May 1 in a win over Simeon. With their momentum continuing on forward and their collective drive only growing with each game played, the boys baseball team is looking to go all the way to home plate.
“Season’s end the goal is a city championship, as always, it’s never going to be easy, so I think our goal right now is to take it one game at a time,” said De Wijkerslooth. “Focus on the game that day, not the game next week. And if we can do that, I believe we can beat anyone.”
