Webutuck honors seniors, faces losses

AMENIA — The student athletes on the Webutuck varsity baseball team thanked their senior players for their dedication to the team with a Senior Recognition Ceremony before their game against Rhinebeck on Wednesday, May 15.

With the game set for 4:15 p.m., the team gathered at Beekman Park in Amenia for the special ceremony. After speaking briefly about each player, Webutuck Coach Tyler Albrecht invited the seniors to step forward where they greeted their parents on the baseball mound with a rose.

“It was nice to see so many friends, parents, teachers and other students come out and support these guys on an emotional day,” Albrecht remarked. “I coached most of these guys from their sophomore year, so to see them grow as individuals and ball players has been rewarding on my part. Despite the tough season, these seniors toughed it out day after day and kept working hard — I respected and appreciated that.”

Though they lost with a final score of 6-4, the Webutuck Warriors battled the Rhinebeck Hawks throughout the game. Webutuck seniors Shane Watson, Brandon Cappella, Stone Scasso and TroiHunter Cookingham had multiple hits. While he was unable to bat due to an injury, Webutuck senior William Ford played catcher.

For a team that went 1-11 this year, Albrecht said the players could have easily pointed fingers at one another, but they ultimately decided to focus on the team aspect of the game.

The Warriors kicked off the following week with a game against the Dover Dragons on Monday, May 20. Beginning at 7 p.m. at Beekman Park, the competition started with a special pre-game event with varsity players inviting younger players on the Amenia and Millerton Youth Baseball League teams onto the field.

Having brainstormed the idea early in the season, Albrecht recalled the positive experience that he and his varsity players had coaching the players during the Young Warriors Baseball Camp program. 

“I thought what better way to end our season than have them join us under the lights to start the game off,” Albrecht said.

“My whole message about this game was for the youth,” Albrecht said. “In order to build a program, it’s important to remember the ones who are going to play for you in the coming years. Being a smaller school, selection is limited. The more kids I have playing baseball throughout their youth will only entail player growth and development for when they start playing modified and then eventually playing for me at the varsity level.”

According to Albrecht, the Dover Dragons turned out to be an aggressive team that took advantage of the Webutuck pitchers’ mistakes and hit the ball hard to all parts of the field. 

Watson led the offense, going two hits out of three times at bat. Coming down to the final out of the game, Albrecht called a time out and pulled Watson aside to impart some final wisdom.

“I told him, ‘Think about this moment right now,’” Albrecht said. “‘Enjoy it, don’t overdo it and have fun in your last at bat here at Webutuck.’”

Watson proceeded to smash a double to the fence.

By game’s end, Dover defeated Webutuck with a final score of 15-4.