Castle Guards holding ground

Bay Area baseball fans are taking note of a mounting force on the north side of the Chequamegon Bay. Donning red and black uniforms; swinging and throwing to topple home and away adversaries for three consecutive years. Protecting the diamond which resides within the Washburn Athletic Field Complex. The Washburn Castle Guards baseball team, returning from a 2023 Northern Lights Conference championship and a WIAA D4 sectional final appearance, are at it again. Undefeated and sitting atop the NLC at 3-0, with a convincing home win over its stiffest foe the Hurley Northstars already secured, the 2024 version of the ‘Guards again appears prepared to take on all comers. Head Coach David Barningham is happy with what he is seeing so far.

“I’m very pleased with our start,” he said, “but more pleased with how much better I believe we can be. We haven’t been firing on all cylinders yet. This team is capable of elite defense, deep pitching and quality hitting (throughout) the batting order. This team can go far, we just have to be in every pitch mentally.”

The coach indicated that positivity and mental focus will be key factors in the team’s improvement throughout the season, enhancing a group which is demonstrating strong hitting, pitching, defense — and has admittedly lofty goals according to Barningham.

“We have high expectations once again this season,” the coach said. “Our aims are to take the conference, win regionals and push our season at least one game further than last year — with a state appearance.”

The team, which has surprisingly found a way to get outdoors for some practices despite the uncooperative weather, will be counting on a bevy of talented returning seniors to lead the way Barningham remarked.

“Michael Haas, Alec Croteau and Brady Fleig are the leaders of this team,’ he said. “They are all seniors and four year starters. They have put a ton of work into this program and it’s really impactful for the younger guys to learn from them.”

Despite the cancellations and rescheduling of several early spring games, the Castle Guards will look to continue to protect their home field while wreaking havoc when traveling to face scheduled Northwoods opponents. Washburn plays host to the winless NLC South Shore Cardinals on April 25.