The Portage varsity baseball team is off to a 7-2 start and has high expectations for the duration of the season as the squad attempts to uphold the program’s tradition of success. PortageLife.com recently photographed each of the Indians and asked them to share their favorite aspect of being a part of the PHS baseball program.
Chris Klenk
Grade: Junior
Position: Catcher
“My favorite part of the Portage baseball team is knowing how far the program has come and being part of what could be the start of the pinnacle for the school. It is unique because every person brings something different to the team, but we click with diversity.”
Kevin Jones
Grade: Junior
Position: Pitcher/Outfield
“My favorite aspect of being a part of the program is the team chemistry. Everyone gets along and has fun.”
Jacob Bearss
Grade: Junior
Position: Pitcher
“I think it’s about the tradition of the past few years. Each year we’ve been one of the best teams in the sectional, making it to the sectional championship. It’s a good team to play on.”
Eric Mesarch
Grade: Senior
Position: First base
“My favorite part of being a part of the Portage baseball program is that we are very successful and have great camaraderie. We are all like brothers on and off the field and support each other all the time. Playing for Portage is unique because our program is one with a lot of pride.”
Tyler Soberg
Grade: Senior
Position: Third base
“My favorite aspect is definitely the chemistry that we have as a team, because there is no better feeling than knowing that your team has your back. Playing for Portage is unique because the coaching staff is great along with the players on the field. All of those aspects make me feel lucky to play Portage baseball.”
C.J. Haupt
Grade: Senior
Position: Centerfield/Shortstop
“Being a part of a winning tradition and being able to continue that tradition is one of my favorite parts. Also, being able to be with my best friends every day playing the game I love is awesome. What’s unique about us is that we are so close as a team and we always have each other’s backs no matter what.”
Sam Schest
Grade: Junior
Position: Shortstop
“I feel like we’re all like best friends. We all work together; it’s fun every day, playing baseball with your friends, which we’ve all played together for so many years.”
Anthony Samano
Grade: Senior
Position: Outfield
“My favorite aspect of being a part of the Portage baseball program is the ability to have fun but knowing when it’s time to be serious. Playing for Portage is unique because we have been playing together since we first started playing the game and have an indescribable relationship with one another.”
Ty Kniola
Grade: Senior
Position: Pitcher
“My favorite aspect of playing for Portage is the tradition and class. Playing for Portage is unique because we’re not a team, we’re a family and everyone has each other’s back from the coaches to the players.”
Patrick Derr
Grade: Senior
Position: Second base
“I’d definitely say team chemistry. We’re all so close, on and off the field, which definitely makes it unique. We have a good time, anywhere we are together.”
John Velez
Grade: Junior
Position: Pitcher
“My favorite part of the Portage program is waking up every morning knowing that people look up to me in my school. I play baseball because I love the game and know that I give my 100 percent every time I step on the field to make my team succeed and enjoy the game because at the end of the day, it’s all about heart.”
Tyler Retherford
Grade: Senior
Position: Pitcher
“My favorite part is being with my closest friends and playing baseball. What’s unique about playing for Portage is the fact that we’re a team and will never quit.”
Blake Logsdon
Grade: Junior
Position: Outfield
“We are a family and play as a family.”
Peter Psomadelis
Grade: Junior
Position: Outfield
“We just have great communication. We’re good together, we work really well together. We know how to have fun and we’ll always be there for each other. We know how to win.”
Joey Roman
Grade: Junior
Position: Outfield
“We just have more fun together. We already have like a special bond because of the Tennessee trip. We already knew each other before we even got the team together.”
Alec Coates
Grade: Junior
Position: First base
“My favorite part of being a part of the program is playing with the kids I’ve grown up with and played with since I was little. It’s unique because we know how to have fun, but when it comes to game time, it’s all serious.”
Justin Newcomb
Grade: Senior
Position: Outfield
“My favorite aspect of playing for the Portage baseball program is that we’re like a family. There is nothing that can come between us. I know other teams say, “oh, we’re so close,” but no team is as close as we are.”
Tim Pirowski
Position: Head Coach
“I think just winning helps [build the tradition.] After about year four, once we started winning and beating teams like Crown Point and La Porte, when they were really good, that kind of changed things. When we beat La Porte four years ago to take second place outright in the conference, a lot of the guys saw that they can beat anybody, if we can work hard, we can do this.”
Click here for a full gallery of individual photos of the Portage baseball players.