<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4VSEkw_0sK64uSz00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4VSEkw_0sK64uSz00" width="1200" height="600" >TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — 1A baseball and softball teams are few and far between in the Gem State, but one of them is right here in our backyard.Lighthouse Christian School in Twin Falls is one of two 1A schools in the Magic Valley that offer baseball to its student body and when the school added the team last year many of the players on the roster had a similar story.“I’ve played baseball my whole life, then when I got to high school I stopped playing because Lighthouse didn’t have baseball, but last year they added it so I got to play again,” said Karsten Sweesy, a junior pitcher and corner infielder.Most 1A school have no problem fielding 8-man football teams, but 9-man baseball teams are super rare despite being only one more person on the field.“We have the talent we have the boys, we had the want. There are obstacles we have to jump through such as facilities, but the community around us has been really great in dealing with Legacy Fields out there and Coach Tyler at Canyon Ridge High School really helps us out on getting us indoor time and stuff like that so it’s been really good and the community has been really helpful to us,” said head coach Edward Wood.Facilities aren’t the only challenge, as travel for the Lions is another one of the biggest struggles they face. In 1A baseball there are not enough teams for local conferences so Lighthouse travels to schools as far as three and a half hours away to play conference games. This can make the student part of student-athlete a lot more difficult.“It’s definitely a challenge, but we have great teammates that are even smarter than some of us so they can help us out with homework. The teachers are very compliant and they help us a lot with homework that we need to get in, so overall it’s hard, but it’s not impossible,” said Justice Schrader, a senior pitcher, catcher and outfielder.Teachers understanding what these kids go through and how long their days can be is a huge boost for them both physically and mentally, which is extra important in year two for the program as this is their first full season against varsity competition, and the team has made big strides year to year“We all kind of grew as players, in the first year we were all kind of new at the sport because a lot of us haven’t played for awhile because the school didn’t have a team and we came into a good staff and we had a good community, grown a good culture and second year we all came into it and bought in,” said Kai DeMoor, a junior shortstop, centerfielder and pitcher.Lighthouse wasn’t able to just field a team of nine this year, but they have plenty of reserves as well as the roster is 17-deep which is unprecedented for a 1A baseball team. And the players also believe a state championship could be in the cards.“Not just get there, but win it. I think we have one of the most well-rounded teams in the state and we have a bunch of good guys this year and we have a good coaching staff and we have what it takes to win,” said Camden Boyd, a senior infielder and pitcher.Lighthouse Christian has got off to a good start this year and just this past week they faced their nearest conference opponent in Glenns Ferry and still have a month’s worth of games before getting to district and state tournament time.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Lighthouse Christian School baseball enters year two ready for challenges

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — 1A baseball and softball teams are few and far between in the Gem State, but one of them is right here in our backyard. Lighthouse Christian School in Twin Falls is one of two 1A schools in the Magic Valley that offer baseball to its student body and when the school added the team last year many of the players on the roster had a similar story.

Lighthouse Christian School baseball enters year two ready for challenges

Comments / 0