Tosa East Baseball has had a lot of ups and downs throughout the season this year. However, over the last 8 games, Tosa East has become red hot, winning 7 of those 8.  

Longtime Tosa East Coach, Pete Schwichtenberg, believes the recent success is due to the team’s ¨Process goals.¨ These goals are set at the beginning of the season and are team-wide goals. One of the biggest process goals for this season was having over 60% quality at bats. Through this time period, Tosa East has been close to 80% quality at bats.

 In addition, Coach Schwichtenberg has ¨Nonprocess goals¨ for the team this year, with the focus being a return to sectionals. According to Coach Schwichtenberg, ¨Playoff baseball is crazy and over the last two seasons, we have lost two very close games to Whitefish Bay in the regional final.¨ Coach also added that, ¨This group is poised to find a way to get through this round and see what happens in a return to sectionals.¨ 

Junior Monty Obrien, a left handed pitcher for Tosa East, agrees that there is a special aspect to the team this year, saying, ¨I feel like this year we have more talent and drive compared to years past.¨

So how does a baseball team prepare for a successful playoff run? Coach Schwichtenberg explains that, ¨The mindset that we have going into playoffs is that we can play with anyone.¨ This statement is true, and is supported by the win against Waukesha North, who is likely to be a two seed in the playoffs. In addition, a competitive game that was ultimately lost 2-3 to the projected number one seed, Muskego, also proves Coach Schwichtenberg’s thoughts.

¨This rotation is special¨ exclaims Coach Schwichtenberg. ¨When they click on all cylinders, there is not a team in our sectional that can matchup with what we do.¨ When asked what Coach Schwitchenberg expects of the players, sophomore, Anthony Rizzo, a middle infielder for Tosa East, says, ¨Doing anything to help the team win.¨ 

This confidence in coaching and the selfless behaviors of players is what helps Tosa East Baseball succeed and continue to succeed as they gear up for playoffs.