After winning district last year, the Wildcat baseball team has set even bigger goals.

“Our goal is the same every year,” sophomore Trey Strickland said. “We want to win state.”

Before the Wildcats make it state, they have to make it to the playoffs.

“I want us to be district champs,” sophomore Christopher Dagley said. “That will advance us to playoffs.”

Senior Tyler Diaz has the same goal.

“My goal is to be the best player I can be,” Diaz said. “This being my senior year, I would like to advance to state.”

With Coach Tim Vannatta taking over the leadership role, the Wildcats have adjusted to his coaching.

“Coach Vannatta has given me new opportunities,” Strickland said. “He set goals for me to reach by the end of the season.”

The Wildcats opened their district season playing Windthorst on March 15.

“Windthorst has a good long program,” head baseball Coach Tim Vannatta said. “They are our toughest opponent.”

The Wildcats lost to Windthorst. Coach Vannatta said that it’s the little things they messed up on.

“We aren’t ready to play on the first pitch,” Coach Vannatta said. “We need to work on the little things.”

Coach Vannatta said the Wildcats have made progressed since the beginning of the season.

“The team has been doing a lot better since the beginning of the season,” said Coach Vannatta. “We need to work on our mental stability. It tends to get the best of us.”

The Wildcats only lost two starters who graduated.

“Our strength is we have a lot of returning starters,” assistant Coach Tyler Owen said. “They went three rounds deep last year.”

Coach Owen said although the team works together, they can be hard on themselves.

“At times we can be our own worst enemy,” Coach Owen said.