State Championships in 2018 and 2022 and a Final Four appearance last season, Deposit-Hancock baseball has a loaded trophy case and is looking to add to it over the next couple weeks as they approach Sectionals and that's why the Eagles are our latest Amphenol Team of the Week.

On top of Class D in 2018 and again in 2022, but last season, the Eagles dynasty had a bit of a hiccup.

"Lack of hitting is what made us ultimately end up losing," said senior center fielder Thomas Reis. "So I feel like this year we've just all focused on hitting in practice."

D-H was shut out by eventual state Champs, Chapel Field Christian.

"When we lose, I think we just hate it so much to lose that we don't want that feeling to happen again," said senior first baseman and pitcher Zech Begeal. "Last year, having that happen, having us losing in the semis, just drives us even more to be better this year."

With a 15-2 record, they have been better, averaging OVER 10 runs per contest with Blake Fortunato and Thomas Reis leading the way with a batting average over .500.

"Going up to the plate with an approach and no matter what, I have to find a way to help my teammates out," said D-H head coach Ryan Smith. "If we just play routine baseball, finish games, play all seven innings, great things can happen."

And as good as their numbers are in the box, they might be better on the mound. Fortunato shoving a 1.50 ERA.

"I think we both trust our defense 100% no matter what," Fortunato said. "We're going out there to throw strikes and we trust our defense to do whatever it takes to get outs."

The other half of the "we" in that sentence is Zech Begeal who is boasting an astounding 0.262 ERA with only six hits over 27 innings. But he makes it sound a little easier than it is.

"My style is just I just go out there and throw strikes," Begeal said. "I just try to throw strikes as much as I can, you know, hit corners or stuff like that. I have more walks than he does 'cause I don't like trying to get people to have a hit and just trusting the fielders and that's about it."

And to these guys, that's all it takes, scoring runs and getting outs. Something they've done better than anyone in Section IV Class D this season, earning the top seed in the playoffs.

"We've just gone out and done our job every single game," Reis said. "We've had some bumps in the road. We've lost a couple of games, but I feel like we've bounced back properly each time and I feel like we're in a good spot right now."

And keeping their minds on the task at hand.

"We got to go get it and work hard for everything," Fortunato said. "It's not going to be given at all."

"Playing dh ball and play the best we can," Begeal said.

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