This season marks a unique transition for boys varsity baseball, as it is the first season in 29 years that George Ushela, who retired last year, is not standing in the dugout. Last season he acted as assistant coach for the team, after transferring the position of head coach to Kevin Diete.

However, this season, Ushela has retired from the boys varsity baseball coaching staff completely, granting Diete the ability to take the team in a new direction.

“Coach Diete is trying to get us to be more mentally tough,” Michael Phelan ’16, left fielder, said. “He wants us to play more aggressively, to be willing to lay out for a ball and to do anything it takes to get a win.”

Last season, Diete and Ushela differed in some of their coaching philosophies. They found middle ground, however, it was a sometimes a difficult dynamic for the players, Diete said.

“At times it was a little unfair for the players because they didn’t know which philosophy or strategy they were expected to follow at the time,” Diete said.

However, this season, Diete is implementing a newer philosophy and strategy for the varsity

team. His philosophy aims to better educate the players in the game of baseball and to change the culture of the team.

“This year I am all about trying to change the culture in a positive way,” Diete said. “I think in the past couple years we’ve been trying to rely on our reputation and our talent as opposed to trying to work hard and continue improving our skills to be a top program in the state.”

Along with changing the culture of the team, Jon Miranda ’16, second baseman, indicated the team’s goal in improving the overall team dynamic.

“We are trying to build team chemistry,” Miranda said. “I think with good team chemistry we will be more successful. We had previous experiences last year where we didn’t have that team chemistry and we lost a couple of games.”

As for improving skill-wise, the players are is looking to improve their hitting and to continue to strengthen pitching and defense, Diete said.

Although they are predicting tough competition this year, especially in their conference, and sectional site, the team is hopeful they will have success this season, Diete said.

“[The goal] is to win conference,” Phelan said. “I think it’s definitely an attainable goal.”