The Urbana Hawks baseball team has wrapped up their first three scrimmages of the preseason, finishing with a 1–2 record that only hints at the progress happening beneath the surface. With a roster anchored by a motivated junior class, the Hawks have used these early matchups to sharpen their fundamentals, test their depth, and build the chemistry that will define their season. Their lone win came in a well‑executed outing where Urbana’s pitching staff controlled the pace and the offense delivered timely hits. The two losses, though tough, revealed a team learning how to respond to adversity—something the players say is already shaping their identity.
Junior player relief pitcher Kiegan Rupinta said the biggest lesson from the early scrimmages has been the importance of consistency. “Every rep matters,” he said. “You can’t take a pitch off, not in practice and definitely not in a game. The season goes fast, and the little things add up.” Rupinta added that the scrimmages helped him grow into a more confident player. “Earlier in the year I’d hesitate, but now I trust my reads, trust my swing, and trust the work I’ve put in.” One moment that stuck with him came during a late‑game push in a scrimmage Urbana ultimately lost. “We were down, but the dugout refused to quit,” he said. “We didn’t win, but that energy — that belief — felt like something special.”
Fellow senior DJ Staub said the early games taught him to focus on what he can control. “Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way, but you can always control your effort and attitude.” McIver said his biggest growth came mentally. “I learned how to reset after mistakes instead of letting them snowball.” He pointed to a tight defensive scrimmage as a defining moment. “It felt like playoff baseball even though it didn’t count,” he said. “Everyone locked in. That intensity showed what we’re capable of.”
Junior leader starting pitcher Landon Lee said the scrimmages reinforced what leadership means to him. “I learned that leadership isn’t about being the loudest guy—it’s about showing up consistently and doing things the right way,” he said. Lee believes his biggest improvement came at the plate, where he focused on quality at-bats rather than big swings.
He recalled a practice where everything seemed to click. “Defense, communication, energy—it all came together,” he said. “It felt like the moment we became a real team.” All three juniors spoke passionately about what this group means to them. Rupinta described the team as “family,” McIver said it gave him “a place to belong and people who push you to be better,” and Lee summed it up simply: “It meant pride.” Wearing Urbana across your chest isn’t something you take lightly.” The bond inside the locker room, they agreed, has been one of the strongest parts of the season. Rupinta called it “real—no cliques, no drama,” McIver said it was “one of the strongest I’ve been part of,” and Lee described it as “tight… you could feel it every time we stepped on the field.”
With the regular season approaching, the Hawks believe the lessons learned in these early scrimmages will pay off when the games start to count. The record may read 1–2, but the growth, chemistry, and leadership emerging from this junior‑led group suggest Urbana is trending in the right direction—and ready to turn early challenges into long‑term success.
