With a mix of veteran leadership and hungry underclassmen, Oak Park High School boys baseball enters the season focused on growth and long awaited success in the Coastal Canyon League.
“One thing I look forward to this year is growing as a collective and overcoming obstacles as they come,” senior Noah Goodheart said.
This season, the team is looking to focus on group development and resilience as it prepares for Coastal Canyon League. After an offseason shaped by injuries and lineup alterations, the Eagles are looking for consistency and leadership to set the tone.
For junior Aaron Berro, league matchups carry extra weight as he has played alongside and against many of the same players for years, making rivalry games especially meaningful.
“I’m looking forward to playing Agoura this year as I’ve played baseball with those kids my whole life,” Berro said. “It’s always fun competing with and against your friends, creating a less pressured and more fun environment.”
Aside from the thrill of taking on their rival Agoura, Berro also set some personal goals for the season.
“I want to get on base a ton, hit some doubles, steal bags, get a hit of a Division 1 commit and last to win all of Coastal Canyon League,” Berro said.
For senior Royce Willis, the season is especially meaningful as it’s his final chance to compete at a high school level.
“Since I’m a senior, it’s kind of my last chance to play properly, so I’m mostly looking forward to enjoying these last practices and games,” Willis said.
After multiple seasons without a league championship win, the Eagles enter the year with confidence with the renewed help of an older, more matured team thanks to a much larger senior base.
“Our team is by far the strongest I’ve seen in the last four years, and probably a lot longer than that,” Willis said. “There is definitely a reason to hope.”
As the season opens, the Eagles are prioritizing growth over immediate results, but the expectation remains to be more competitive in league play. With leadership from seniors and more motivation from underclassmen eager to prove themselves, Oak Park believes this spring could mark a turning point for the program.
