Baseball is a sport that SPHS excels at, due to having talented players and a well-rounded coaching staff. Among these skilled athletes is sophomore Jackson Merrill, who made a huge impact on the varsity baseball team this spring.

Merrill started playing baseball at a very young age and has evolved over the years. “I was six or seven years old when my dad wanted me to start playing,” Merrill said. Throughout elementary and middle school, Merrill played for local Green Hornets teams, then transferred to Lake Shore at age twelve. His love for baseball convinced him to stick with it and begin playing for the club team, Evoshield Canes. Merrill strives to always keep improving his game on and off the field. “The only way to improve is to get stronger, work hard and never stop trying to get better,” Merrill said.

To Merrill and to most other players, baseball is a physically hard sport. However, the mental aspect of the game is what sets it apart from others. “Once you start letting yourself down, the game doesn’t seem easier anymore… you start thinking too much and you can’t do anything about it,” Merrill said.

Merrill’s success as a team player is something that his coaches are excited about, as he made first team all-county this year. “I didn’t know how to react because I haven’t been there before but overall it was very exciting for me and my family,” Merrill said. The varsity baseball team finished with a 16-6 record this season, losing in the third round of playoffs to Old Mill. “I don’t think we played bad, we just hit the ball hard right at people and they took advantage at the plate, which we really can’t do anything about,” Merrill said.

In coming years, leadership is a role that Merrill will have to pursue, with his most recent season being a success. “People will be counting on me to do well next year,” Merrill said.

Baseball is known as America’s greatest pastime, and Merrill believes that anyone who might be interested in trying the sport should give it a shot. “Just try, and if you don’t do well,  keep on trying because eventually you’ll have success while playing,” Merrill said.