After earning a win in their previous game, the Niles West boys varsity baseball team secured a hard-fought victory against Maine West. The game occurred on Thursday, May 13. ending with the score 8-7. In a memorable moment, this win is the Wolves’ first Central Suburban League Championship in 37 years, marking a significant milestone for the Wolves.
Reflecting as a coach is an important part in having a successful team, and coach Mitchell Stern has experience. Stren coaches baseball the way he plays. He believes the most enjoyable part of his job is watching the game while bringing his valuable experiences to the table.
“Whenever you win a game and you’re last to bat, then the kids come running onto the field because they won, that’s probably the most exciting way at winning a baseball game,” Stern said.
The team offers valuable insights into their journey and future mindsets with how important it is to keep pushing forward. Junior Andrew Lim has similar thoughts as he talks about the fluctuating score throughout the game. He highlights the ups and downs while addressing the Wolves’ previous win 37 years ago, adding extra significance to the victory they earned.
“I’m very happy for the team. It feels even better because we were down in the beginning and we came up with a walk-off win. We haven’t won a conference since 1987 so it makes it even more special to clinch yesterday,” Lim said.
Some teammates commemorate this moment, but others are already determined for more victories. Although the win is worth celebrating, Wolves are preparing for their next game. Senior Eisen Kim is already developing a winning mindset for the upcoming game against Niles North.
“It was a great feeling. At the moment, I was so happy to celebrate with everyone. But we are not finished and not satisfied enough. Niles North is next and we will need to be ready,” Kim said.
While Wolves show pride in their victory, they are already looking into the future with their upcoming challenge. With many practices ahead, they show how exciting it is to win, especially after a tough game. Next week on Wednesday, May 22nd, the Wolves will be playing against Niles North Vikings.
“We have a certain way that we like to play, so we just stuck to that specific script. They are very hardworking kids, so seeing them get the reward from it is very exciting,” Stern said.
