After Hart brought home a district title for the first time in over 20 years last season, the Pirates will try for an encore performance with a new head coach, Kyle Weiler.
The Pirates graduated several top players from last season, including both pitchers that led Hart to that district championship - Avery Guikema and Ty Schlukebir.
However, some key bats are back, including seniors Halen Boos, Hollis Rockwell, Joseph Osorio and Logan Jorissen. Boos spent much of last season in the leadoff spot. Fellow seniors Aiden Cull and Kyle Greiner are poised for bigger roles.
“I am looking forward to being a part of this group of student-athletes and watching their knowledge of baseball grow as the season progresses, along with their own relationships amongst the team,” Weiler said.
A trio of juniors - Mason Guikema, Pascal Miller and Caden VanGelderen - will also be a big part of this year’s team.
Weiler said he hopes the Pirates handle adversity. The team fell to Whitehall by mercy rule in its first two games of the season, so bouncing back from disappointment is a skill it will have to pick up quickly.
The Pirates are not shying away from larger-school competition this year. In addition to Whitehall, they will face Ludington, Montague and Manistee in cross-division play within the West Michigan Conference. (The Wildcats are in the Pirates’ district this year, and Hart will face all three of those schools again in 2027 when it plays in the Lakes division.) Hart is also set for a doubleheader against Western Michigan Christian, a regional finalist in Division 4 a year ago.
North Muskegon is a consistently tough foe within the WMC Rivers, and Ravenna had a strong year last season as well. Of course, the Pirates’ schedule highlight comes against Shelby in May.
“I know we have talent on this team and I plan to utilize everyone to their full potential,” Weiler said.
