COVID-19 has changed sports for a lot of high school athletes and teams. For some, it may have hindered a chance at playing at a higher level in college, but for others like the BSM boys’ baseball team, it may give them time to learn and become better for the later season.

At the moment, the BSM boys’ baseball team is scheduled to play in the summer. The change was made after the BSM football season was pushed to spring, which has since been shifted back to fall.

This year the Red Knights have seven seniors and a number of underclassmen. Since only four of the returning players have been on varsity in the past, the team is looking forward to practicing. With the extra time between now and the start of the season, senior second baseman Will Feyereisn thinks it’s a good time to improve together. “We have talent; if we put the hard work in and people are willing to not mess around, then I think we can go pretty far,” Feyereisn said.

While some people are worried about losing star players like Tulane-commit Blake Mahmood and Creighton-commit Zach Carden, senior pitcher Myles Wahlquist is very confident in the new talent on the team. ”It’ll be tough having some young blood this year, but we want that championship and we want our redemption,” Wahlquist said.

The redemption wanted by Wahlquist and the rest of the team came after a heartbreaking defeat against St. Thomas Academy for the state title in 2019. As one of only the remaining players from the past team, Wahlquist feels it is his duty to help bring the team to its former glory. “We’re hungry, and we are gonna teach these [new varsity players] how to eat, and you’ll see us back at Target Field,” Wahlquist said.

The team is allowed to practice officially from October 5-24 with special precautions for COVID-19. The spring practice sessions have not been officially scheduled, but will most likely follow the guidelines of the fall sessions. Provided that the MSHSL does not change the current schedule, the baseball season will officially start in May and end in July.