This year, four brave young men have stepped up and been appointed to be the leaders of the varsity baseball program, tasked with winning a 25th state championship. With these four leaders, nothing should be stopping the team from getting that ring at the end of the year. These leaders are Jake Baskin, Anthony Borja, Evan Wisnoski, and myself, Jaxon Lanclos.
Baskin is a transfer student who came in his junior year to play at St. Thomas. His main position on the field is anywhere in the outfield and he also works behind the plate as the back-up catcher should he be needed. While he sticks out on the defensive side of play, his true recognition comes from his offensive side and his ability to get RBI’s with his natural power. He led the team last year in homeruns with a total of four on the year. His willingness to put in the extra work, uplift people around him, and communicate effectively make him an excellent leader.
“My team and their support has not only been a good experience but has also made me grow as a leader,” Baskin ‘25 said.
Borja has attended St. Thomas for all four years and is without a doubt deserving to be one of the leaders of the team. Both players and coaches recognize that he is the hardest working and most disciplined member of this year’s varsity squad. This will be his second year on varsity and it should be a good one. When it comes to baseball, there is nothing that Borja takes more seriously and this is because he always wants what is best for the team. Being the first one to show up to practice is a normality as he gets other players on the team to do the same, helping those around them reach their full potential. Motivating others is one of his strongest qualities as every one of the 22 players on this year’s roster has benefited from Borja’s presence.
“Nothing in this world could feel better than that feeling of all the hard work not only me, but the team has put in at the end of the year,” Borja ‘25 said.
Wisnoski is a great leader because he not only excels on the baseball field but also in the classroom, serving as a role model for a complete student athlete to others. He is returning for his third year as a varsity member while also maintaining a perfect GPA in the classroom. Utilizing his brain power on the field is one of his strong suits, as the game often requires a little bit of extra thinking in certain situations. He makes a big impact on the field through his ability to lock in and take stuff seriously in certain moments while also raising team morale and confidence with his presence in other moments.
“Life as a student athlete can be challenging but it certainly is fun. Walking into the locker room at the end of the school day gives me a second burst of energy to be better,” Wisnoski ‘25 said.
Lastly, this will be my third year on varsity and my recent commitment to Wharton Junior College allows me to serve as a role model for younger players looking to play at the collegiate level. I function by leading by example, always giving my best effort and showing up with a positive attitude everyday as I look to inspire my teammates to do the same. My teammates have commented that I am an effective communicator, whether it be in practice or in the game. Encouraging others as well as providing constructive feedback helps to create an environment in which everyone feels valued.
“Everybody on this team brings something to the table, and that is why I think we got a real shot at winning it all this year,” Lanclos ‘25 said.
Under the leadership of these four captains, the varsity baseball team is confident it will be bringing home a state championship ring at the end of the year. All four of these leaders work extremely hard to make sure this team is performing at the highest level possible and they each bring their own traits to the table.
