With a sub-.500 record in 4A Region III District 20 and the season now over, Kashmere’s baseball team learned far more than wins and losses this spring.
While most high school programs build fundamentals years before opening day, at Kashmere, players were picking up the rules and rhythm of the game in real time. With only four returning players and a roster full of newcomers, the Rams weren’t just trying to win games; they were laying the foundation for a program, one pitch at a time.
“I usually start building from the catcher position and work up to the pitchers, then go up the middle with a shortstop, second baseman, and centerfielder,” said head coach James Laster. “But I knew coming into this year it would be a challenge not having many players with the skill set to compete at a high level.”
With few youth baseball programs in the area, Laster faces an uphill battle. For many players, their first real exposure to the sport doesn’t come until high school.
“Because of this, most of our kids lean toward basketball and football rather than baseball,” said Laster.
Senior shortstop Kyon Cook admitted he had early doubts after realizing how many teammates were new to the game.
“I was a little skeptical about how this season would play out,” said Cook. “But I had faith in them. I felt that if we practiced enough, we would improve and become a better team overall.”
The real challenge showed up on the field, where even the basics couldn’t be taken for granted and mistakes became opportunities for growth.
“I call it Baseball 101,” said Laster. “It’s about teaching the rules of the game and the fundamentals every day, including fielding, hand-eye coordination, hitting, bunting, and situational play. You have to put more time into the basics to get them ready for game play.”
Senior left fielder Mario Moncada said staying resilient was one of the toughest parts.
“Even when the team felt discouraged, we pushed ourselves to stay positive, keep our heads up, and finish every game with pride,” said Moncada. “One of the biggest challenges for me was learning to play the outfield and knowing when to come up or stay back on fly balls. But through consistent practice, I improved a lot.”
As the learning curve steepened, leadership became critical.
“I’ve taken on a leadership role with my teammates,” said Cook, the only returning starter. “Since many of them are new to the game, I try to teach them their positions in a way they can understand and grow from, while also helping them stay confident, even when they make mistakes.”
Senior centerfielder Kevin Joe Jr. emphasized keeping the team focused.
“After tough losses, I kept my teammates motivated by focusing on our growth and what we needed to improve rather than the result,” said Joe. “I reminded them that mistakes are part of learning. I stayed positive by highlighting what we did well and led by example to keep our energy up.”
“I call it Baseball 101. It’s about teaching the rules of the game and the fundamentals every day, including fielding, hand-eye coordination, hitting, bunting, and situational play. You have to put more time into the basics to get them ready for game play.”
James Laster
Kashmere’s challenges extend beyond experience. A lack of youth baseball programs, combined with the demands of being a smaller 4A school, forces many athletes to split time across multiple sports.
“The lack of youth baseball puts a lot on the coach,” said Laster. “We’re building players from scratch rather than developing kids with some experience. By the time they gain the skills and understanding of the game, it’s usually their junior or senior year, and then they’re gone.”
That reality makes it difficult to build continuity, especially when off-season development is limited.
Moncada balanced baseball, soccer, and band.
“Between soccer and band, I barely had time for anything else,” said Moncada. “I was constantly juggling practices, making it hard to fully commit to baseball.”
Joe faced a similar challenge while participating in football, wrestling, and track.
“Football and wrestling didn’t interfere as much,” said Joe. “Track overlapped with baseball, so I had to manage my time carefully.”
Despite the obstacles, players kept showing up, often driven by more than the scoreboard.
“I wanted to join the baseball team because of my girlfriend,” said Moncada. “She plays softball and used to ask me to practice with her every day after school. One day, she suggested I try out. I was hesitant, but I gave it a shot.”
“What kept me coming back, through the toughest parts of the season, were my friends,” he added. “No matter the score, we were united in our goal to prove ourselves as great student-athletes.”
For Kashmere baseball, success isn’t defined by wins and losses. It’s measured by growth, effort, and opportunity.
“Success for this team goes beyond the scoreboard,” said Laster. “It’s about all four seniors being accepted to a university and continuing their education. Winning in sports is great, but winning in life comes from earning a degree and being able to take care of yourself and your family.”
