Old Rochester baseball looks to hit all the bases this season
Zachary Mendes finishes a pitch at a Friday, April 24 game against Somerset-Berkley High School. Photos by Mari Huglin 
Vieira practices swings before heading up to bat. 
Connor Nelson warms up his arms before batting. 
Players in the dugout chat before the game starts. 
Benjamin Wesoly watches the game from the dugout. 
Pinto throws a ball from the outfield. 
Pitcher Zachary Mendes and catcher Raposo meet at the mound. 
Zachary Mendes throws a pitch. 
Raposo settles down behind the plate. 
Connor Nelson throws the ball to first baseman Benjamin Wesoly. 
An outfielder throws the ball infield after a play. 
Two outfielders go for a fly ball. 
Connelly swings and hits a fly ball. 
Connelly gets to first base safely. 
Benjamin Wesoly winds up to bat. 
Connelly looks to steal second base. 
Vieira wacthes for a pitch intensely. 
Guiness, the 2 year old long hair German Shepard, enjoys the game while cheering on the Bulldogs.
Zachary Mendes finishes a pitch at a Friday, April 24 game against Somerset-Berkley High School. Photos by Mari Huglin
Vieira practices swings before heading up to bat.
Connor Nelson warms up his arms before batting.
Players in the dugout chat before the game starts.
Benjamin Wesoly watches the game from the dugout.
Pinto throws a ball from the outfield.
Pitcher Zachary Mendes and catcher Raposo meet at the mound.
Zachary Mendes throws a pitch.
Raposo settles down behind the plate.
Connor Nelson throws the ball to first baseman Benjamin Wesoly.
An outfielder throws the ball infield after a play.
Two outfielders go for a fly ball.
Connelly swings and hits a fly ball.
Connelly gets to first base safely.
Benjamin Wesoly winds up to bat.
Connelly looks to steal second base.
Vieira wacthes for a pitch intensely.
Guiness, the 2 year old long hair German Shepard, enjoys the game while cheering on the Bulldogs.
ROCHESTER — With a record of 7-4, Old Rochester Regional High School’s varsity baseball team aims to make it to the playoffs this year.
Last year, the team did not make it to the state tournament, but Head Coach Steve Carvalho is aiming for wins.
“Our goal is to keep improving, to play the game the right way with these kids,” Carvalho said.
The team is made up of many returning players alongside a few new sophomores taking starting positions.
Carvalho said the team has a strong defense, but he wants the team to improve on being more strategic when players get up to bat.
“We've been very young the last few years and been a little overwhelmed at times, but our offense is always a pride,” he said.
Carvalho said he thinks Apponequet Regional High School, Dighton-Rehoboth High School and Seekonk High School will be the fiercest competition this season.
“We're going to keep doing our best and keep our nose to the grindstone and play Bulldog baseball,” Carvalho said.
Senior captains Benjamin Wesoly, Logen Pinto and Zachary Mendes said they are excited to take on the responsibility of being captains this year.
Wesoly, a pitcher and baseman from Rochester, said he is feeling good about the team this year.
“We've had a few hiccups, a few rough games, but I think for the most part team chemistry has been great,” Wesoly said.
He said one of the strongest aspects of their team is how close and supportive everyone is. Wesoly said they have strong bonds and are able to give constructive criticism.
Mendes, the starting pitcher from Rochester, said the team communicates well with each other.
“No one's afraid to tell someone you're doing this wrong or you're doing this right, so I'd say we're definitely very good on communication and that helps a lot,” Mendes said.
The captains said the team hangs out a lot in the evenings and share many jokes with each other out on the field.
The captains’ main goal for the season is to make it to the tournament, something they have been striving for since the beginning of senior year.
“I think we just have to stay confident and not get our heads,” Pinto said.
