As the season progresses, the Selma High Varsity Baseball team builds confidence fueled by the strong leadership, faith, and commitment by all players competing together. Sonny Rivera, a three year varsity player who also plays third base and pitches, prepares himself and the team to all head in the same direction as they go further into the season.
His mindset before the game is centered on staying poised.
“I try to stay calm and trust in God that He’s going to let my athletic abilities show,” he said. “Also trust yourself, you’re the guy to make a play,” Sonny explained.
That balance and self-confidence has helped handle that pressure. However, when with his team, he has full faith in all of them and the pressure, he finds ways to deal with it “by trusting I can do this and to do it for my team and that God got’s me.”
That focus paid off in the team’s victory against Sierra Pacific 8-1, on Tuesday, February 24th. The team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, controlling the game and believing in one another as they finished the game. The game was compact and full of action.
“It felt like a little monkey was off our back,” he shared.
The win gave the team a boost of momentum and belief in what they can accomplish as they prepare for the season.
The team later faced a 4-6 loss against Lemoore on Friday, February 27th. The fight and effort however remained strong until the final out.
“We battled and gave it all we had,” said Sonny. Even in a defeat, the team showed that they can compete in a close, action-packed game.
With those goals of leading the team into the playoffs and having a great season, faith and leadership remains the focus. Trusting each other, and embracing pressure as part of the game. The team continues to push forward. As the season continues, varsity baseball is staying united, confident, and ready to compete every inning as a team.
