As the baseball season winds to a close, at first glance, it’s easy to be hopeful about the prospects for next year. After years of dismal performances, the team has clawed its way from utter ineptitude to a more respectful position in the exact middle of the league standings with a 6-8 record. 

However, the team’s surge comes with a catch: seven of 11 players will be graduating this year, and coach Gabe Kohler will be departing for another school.  

Brad Antognini, Miles Bennett-Smith, Calvin Fernandez, Andy Furillo, Michael Lewis, Edek Sher, and Tyler Trussell will all be graduating in June, throwing the future of the team into uncertainty. 

“I think that it’s going to be a major setback for us,” junior Aaron Suits said. “Our four starting pitchers are all seniors.” 

One of the biggest losses will be Bennett-Smith. With a .425 batting average, 17 hits, 20 runs, and 18 stolen bases—as many as the rest of the team combined—his loss will be keenly felt.

“Miles is one of our best athletes,” Kohler said. “We can put him in several different positions. He acts as the glue and the motivator for our team.”

Bennett-Smith was one of two players selected for the Optimist All-Star game, played in early June between the best players of the northern and southern ends of the CIF Sac-Joaquin section. Furthermore, Bennett-Smith ranks as one of the league leaders in on-base percentage. 

Furillo’s absence will also hurt the team. One of the best pitchers on the team and a powerful hitter, Furillo has racked up 16 hits, 10 runs, and 14 RBIs this season. He also has a solid .340 batting average. 

“Andy is one of our better hitters, and he’s great in terms of constant output,” Kohler said. “Some players have bad days and good days, but Andy is very consistent.”

Along with Bennett-Smith, Furillo earned a nomination for the All-Star team.

Perhaps the most serious problem posed by the graduation is the simple lack of players. Next year, the baseball team will need at least six new recruits just to field a team. However, coach Chris Millsback isn’t worried.

“There are several very athletic 8th graders who I hope will step up,” he said. 

Those who have expressed interest in playing include James Triche and Morgan Bennett-Smith. Millsback will also rely on current high-school students to join the team, but has not yet started recruiting. 

“We’re just not at that point yet. The season just ended,” he said.

Athletic director Matt Vargo similarly feels confident that enough new players will join to make the team possible. 

“We intend to have a baseball team next year,” he said. 

The school has not decided whether to hire another coach to assist Millsback.

After five years as baseball coach, Kohler will move on after this year to another as-yet-undecided school.  

“I think it’s time to be moving on,” he said, declining to go into details. 

The effects of his departure will likely be deep and far-reaching, not the least of which is losing the subtle dynamic balance between Kohler and Millsback. 

“Kohler instills more toughness and hustle,” junior Matt Akins said. “For instance, when Millsback wasn’t there, Kohler had us play without gloves for a while.”

Akins will also miss Kohler’s quirky nature. 

 “The thing that comes to mind is Kohler chasing us around in a golf cart last year. I also remember when he was pitching batting practice, he told us, ‘During this batting practice, I am going to hit you.’ Then I realized that he was using a foam ball.

“I think things will be less interesting without Kohler,” Akins said. “He keeps us on our toes.” 

Kohler fears that the players won’t receive as much individual attention with only one coach. 

 “And because our school isn’t really a baseball school, a lot of players come in needing a lot of specialized, individual instruction. With baseball, there are so many different rules. The goals and rewards are more complicated than, say, basketball and soccer.”

Beyond gameplay, the seniors will leave a deep leadership gap. 

“Whenever we get down, [Lewis is] the one who brings us up,” Suits said.

Suits feels responsible for next year’s leadership.  

“Kohler’s encouraged me to step up to the plate,” he said. “I think Matt and I will probably take on a leadership role. It’ll be tough.”