Here at Chapman, athletes are never “just athletes.” Chapman students work hard on and off the field, pushed not just to be better players, but people. For the baseball team, this is no different.

“Our expectations are to be community leaders, to represent our school, family and themselves in a positive manner,” Head Coach Steven Fusaro said. “Our kids do not play if they are failing a class and are expected to do their best in the classroom. Off the field, the coaches and our players coach our next generation of Chapman baseball players through our Carolina Prowl teams.”

Carolina Prowl teams are a way for the Chapman boys to do what they love while helping out others around them.

“Currently we have  8U, 9U, and 10U baseball teams that we coach during the week and on the weekends,” Fusaro said. “This level of community service really helps our kids grow as mentors, as leaders, as coaches and, hopefully, as fathers one day. In return, it also helps our program by teaching the boys in our community the expectations that we have for our program both on and off the field.”

The players agree that, for the team, it’s more than just a game that you leave on the field.

“If you don’t get your work done, you get in trouble,” Sophomore Nelson Crooke said. “Whether it’s in the classroom, weight room or on the field, we’re pushed to work hard. Everything is worked to perfection to help us win games in the future.”

The coaches aren’t the only ones pushing each other; the teammates form a connection that carries into the real world.

“Being a part of the team has allowed me to meet a lot of different people,” Junior Konnor Harris said. “I’ve met some of my closest friends through this game and this team. Without these people around me, I may not have become the motivated person I am today.”

This season, the expectations are no different as people, and as players, they are expected to achieve the same level of greatness.

“We have a special team this year,” Harris said. “We’re still going to have to work really hard to progress throughout the season, but I believe it’s going to be a good year.”

“Our expectation since I took over the program is to win the State Championship,” Fusaro said. “As a player, I had the opportunity to play in a State Championship with Chapman and we lost. Our goal is to win every Championship that is up for grabs. Our seniors have prepared for this year since they were in 3rd grade. Our program is full of kids who expect to compete with anyone in the state and we feel that we have prepared ourselves to be great, and we will continue to humbly work to accomplish our goals,” Fusaro said.

Win or lose, on or off the field, the morals of the Chapman Baseball team remain steady.

“In everything that we do we try to embody the Bible verse Matthew 23:12 – ‘Those who praise themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be praised’,” Fusaro said. “We have 23:12 on the back of our hats and as part of our Twitter handle to remind ourselves constantly of this. We will not be outworked, we will be prepared, we will do the right thing on and off the field, and we will be humble. If we take care of these things the winning and the praise will come.”

To see the season’s schedule, click here.