By Sam Ehsani (March 18, 2004)

The beginning of spring means the fresh smell of grass and the return of another Mason baseball season. Five returning starters will take the lead for the Mustangs against tough division rivals. Head coach Adam Amerine’s team is run by the two captains, former Second Team All District senior first baseman/pitcher Joseph Mauro and junior catcher William Straub. Other returning starters are senior centerfielder Josh Sadtler, senior shortstop Andrew Yancey, and sophomore John Schwangel. 

According to Amerine, the Mustangs will be dependent on their "defensive strength." Anchoring the talented defense will be Sadtler positioned at centerfield and Andrew Yancey at shortstop.

Their batting lineup is strengthened with the power hitting of Yancey, Matt Foley, and William Straub. With the loss of Andy Kelz and Nick Herwitt, the team will be forced to look to other players. Kelz was a First Team All District first baseman and was also an honorable mention for All-Region. Meanwhile, Herwitt was a Second Team All District player. 

Amerine believes that the team will have a "fairly successful" season. When they go up against Clarke and Strasburg it will be a match for the ages. Clarke ended up the state semifinalist last year, and Strasburg is a perennial powerhouse. Mason was ranked fifth out of seven other schools in the Bull Run district last year, completing the season with a record of six and nine. They struggled to make it to the playoffs and ended up losing in the first round to former rival Brentsville. 

On the unfortunate side, a few issues have been plaguing the baseball team. There are reports that a former starting pitcher has quit the squad for personal reasons. Injuries have also been a problem, like Andrew Yancey’s trouble with bicep tendinitis. Despite other minor injuries, the Mustangs are still looking to be optimistic. Their opening match will be at Falls Church High School on March 19 at 6 p.m.. The first district game will be against Strasburg on April 16^th.