America’s pastime is alive and well at Old Colony where the team is going strong with a 5-1 record.

“This is the first time in a while that going into every game, I actually legitimately expect to win every single game,” said the vocational school's senior pitcher Jake Pringle. “There are a lot of seniors with a lot of experience and a lot of good young guys coming in too.”

In his second year as head coach, Craig Lincoln would agree.

“This team seems to take it a little bit more serious,” said Lincoln. “It’s fun to be around these guys because they work so hard.”

That’s not to say last year’s team wasn’t great. Whereas two years ago, the team didn’t make it to the vocational league or the state tournaments, last year it did both.

After a year with the team, Lincoln said they’ve learned to do things efficiently.

“They know how I want things run,” he said. “They do things the right way. We get a lot out of our practice times.”

Assistant Coach Ryan Rodrigues, who volunteers with the team and is a former Cougar himself, is an asset.

“I’m not saying that I’m old, but him being 23 years old – diving out there, showing them the right way to play the game – they pick up on that on a whole other level. It’s awesome to watch,” said Lincoln.

With nine seniors, two juniors and standout underclassmen, the team is planning another trip to the playoffs.

In the first game against Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District, the team was down by three going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Senior outfielder Kyle Soares had game winning hit that pulled Old Colony ahead.

Pringle, who is headed to Newbury College to play baseball next year, has lead the team as a pitcher.

In the Cougars’ second game against Norfolk County Agricultural High School, Pringle hurled 13 strikeouts with only one hit and one walk, bringing the team to a 4-1 win.

The senior captain and “ace” pitcher, Lincoln said, “It kind of revolves around him, but it can’t be just him. He can’t win a game by himself.”

That has been one of the coach’s message to the guys this year, and they’ve listened.

“You can’t get to the bottom of our lineup and rest, ‘cause we’ve got guys who have been producing down there,” he said.

Senior catcher Jon Littles has been on base more than 90 percent of the time, and the coach describes three-sport varsity freshman Paul Soucy as a mature player.

“The younger kids are definitely stepping up the game,” said Littles. “It should be pretty good if we work hard.”

The players and coaches anticipate a good season, with the hardest team to beat being Pope John Paul II High School later in the season.

“They’re legit,” said Lincoln.

But if their practices keep going as they have, the team will have a fighting chance, said the coach.

“So far it’s been demonstrated on the field how much they put into practice.”