The spring of 2018 certainly was one in which the Windsor Owls baseball team finished below expectations. The Owls finished the season 5-17.

Early last season, a big hole was left in the lineup when projected No. 1 starting pitcher and shortstop Connor Hartmann was sidelined due to a back injury. However, perhaps no area left more to be desired than the team’s offense. This was evidenced by the fact that the team’s leader in RBI’s drove in just nine runs all spring.

“Our biggest priority is working on our offense and being able to push runs across. It was a big problem last year,”  Hartmann said.

For a team that struggled so much last season, the expectations could not be much higher. With Hartmann and recent St. Charles Community College signee Chase Beard healthy, the Owls pitching staff should keep the Owls in most games.

“The biggest difference between last year and this year is it’s a whole new environment. Everyone is invested in what’s going on and I think it will allow everyone to play up to their potential,” Hartmann said.

Not only do the Owls look forward to a better season, they also have something to finally call their ‘home’. The all-turf field is nearing completion, so the Owls are hopeful to play on it soon. The Owls will no longer play their home games at the Rock Memorial field.

“It’s going to be a big change,” senior Justin Van Etten, who recently signed to play at Lindenwood University-Belleville, said.

Last year, the weather allowed the Owls to play only one home game last season.

“I think the improvement is already happening, just the attitude and the desire at practice shows a lot more than it did last year,” varsity assistant coach  Randy Green said.

The team is improving more and more each day. 

“The attitude, desire, the fun, and the talent–it’s everything. I has just seemed to increase positively this year,” Green said.

The Owls begin their season on Friday at 4:15pm at St. Charles West.