By: BHS Sports Staff
March 6, 2025
Winter sports are officially over, and now, it is time to turn the attention to Spring sports. Baseball, softball, track, and flag football have been practicing and are ready for the weather to break favorably for some intense competition.
Baseball
Leading off our previews is the 2025 Hurricanes baseball team, which returns eight core players from last year’s squad. These returners include starting catcher Jadyn DeLuca, second-team All-CVC second baseman Gio Garst, and shortstop/pitcher Aiden Starr, who was voted First Team Northeast Ohio by local coaches. Other returners include junior Zander Rolon and seniors Collin Flanagan, Phil Banaszak, Shamus Harper, and Blake Baker.
Last season, the Hurricanes finished 6-12 (1-7 in the conference) beating Oberlin in the first round of the playoffs, only to lose to Norwayne in the Sectional Final.
Head Coach Kevin Sedlacek believes that the experience of this team will pay dividends.
“Our strength this season will be our experience playing varsity baseball. We also need to rely on the talent of Starr, who had a fantastic 2024 season and is looking to improve this Spring. Last season, he had a .520 batting average and a .650 quality at-bat average. With his leadership and an experienced team, we hope to have an exciting 2025 season,” stated an optimistic Sedlacek.
The goal is for the Hurricanes to earn splits against the top two teams in the conference, Lutheran West and Independence. This would give the Hurricanes a quick start and a bright outlook for this season.
The Hurricanes will face Rhodes in the battle of Biddulph at Brookside Park on Saturday, March 29.
Good luck, boys!
Softball
Next up is the softball team. With plans to have two teams this year, varsity and junior varsity, the hopes are high with experience and talented youth.
This year’s key players for the Lady Canes will be two varsity pitchers, Abi Cruz and Audrena Vega. Both have made great improvements since their first year and will look for continued growth to become two of the best athletes in the Chagrin Valley Conference.
Another standout star this year for the Canes will be freshman pitcher Alexa Chin, who has been tearing it up in the off-season, exceeding expectations with a chance to solidify her role in the starting lineup.
The team was able to pick up three wins last season but was also very competitive in many other games. They plan to build off of last year and improve each day on and off the field.
What is the goal? Head Coach Sarah Young emphasized it as follows: “I expect to beat our rival, Cuyahoga Heights!”
They start their season on March 27th and will host their CVC rival Cuyahoga Heights with a 4:30 start time.
Best of luck, girls!
Track
Up next is the track team, which has grown to over 60 players for this season.
Head Coach Megan Barrow is pleased with how things have been going so far.
“I’m excited to see the growth of our athletes, both individually and as a team. For track, I’m looking forward to seeing our athletes push their limits and set personal bests. After wrapping up our first-ever indoor season, I’m confident many of our returning athletes will continue to compete at a higher level this spring.”
Her team will be led by seniors Ema Bencova and Camilla Gordillo Aguliar and juniors Jarianny Dominiguez, Bella Simpson, Jamira Tate, and Kelvin Santiago. There are also more outstanding athletes returning along with some newcomers that will make an immediate impact.
“It’s exciting to see more students getting involved. Track and field is one of the most well-rounded sports a student can participate in. It helps athletes develop speed, endurance, strength, explosiveness, and coordination. This is why so many professional athletes—from NFL players to Olympic sprinters—have a background in the sport,” Barrow stated.
Good luck, track team!
Flag Football
Lastly, flag football is a new sport introduced this year. It started in Ohio in 2021 with only two teams but grew to over one hundred teams for this upcoming season. The plan is for girls flag football to become an OHSAA-sanctioned sport in the future.
Coach Barrow coaches track and flag football and is looking forward to seeing how the team grows.
“For flag football, I can’t wait to see how the team comes together, develops strategy, and competes in a growing sport. Flag football is gaining momentum, and we’re looking forward to being part of that movement. Not only is flag football growing rapidly at the high school level, but it’s growing at the collegiate level, too. More colleges are offering scholarships for female flag football players, and organizations like the NFL and RCX Sports are supporting athletes with funding.”
Her team will be led by senior Rayanna Cogburn, junior Jamira Tate, sophomore Gianna Kos, and freshmen Reese Alonso and Elisabeth Jackiewics.
Crush it, girls!
Best of luck to all Spring sports teams!
{For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.}
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 