Horace Baseball Embraces High Expectations Ahead of Opening Day

THE HAWKS ARE RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE PRESEASON EASTERN DAKOTA CONFERENCE (EDC) POLL IN JUST THEIR THIRD YEAR AT THE VARSITY LEVEL.

HORACE, N.D. (KVRR) –The expectations are high for Horace baseball entering the 2025 season, and the young program is embracing it all.

“We’ve definitely done our job of making sure we get better each and every year,” said senior catcher Espen Westby. “I would say that this year will just be another year of continuing to grow.”

The Horace Hawks are entering year three of varsity baseball. Year one saw Horace finish 3-16. Year two, a massive jump, finishing above .500 at 19-17 with a state tournament appearance (finishing 6th). Now, before year three even begins, the expectations are high, being ranked number one in the preseason Eastern Dakota Conference (EDC) poll.

“I wouldn’t say it adds any pressure,” said Westby, who has been with the program since year one of Varsity baseball. “I mean, we know what we have to do, and our goal is to win state. We know that being number one preseason doesn’t mean anything, so as long as we just continue to grow and keep playing baseball and play hard, we should be good.”

With a young program comes a young roster. The Hawks lose just one senior from last season’s team, meaning a lot of experience returns to the Diamond this season.

“The nicest thing we have going for our program is a lot of our younger guys have got a lot of good varsity experience,” said head coach Quinn Irey. “They kind of had to learn on the fly a little bit. I think that’s starting to pay a little bit of dividends.”

It is never a guarantee that spring sports in the Red River Valley will begin on time. But, weather permitting, the Hawks will open their season Friday in Jamestown.

“You know, we’re obviously very excited,” said junior outfielder/third baseman Cooper Fuchs. “Usually here in North Dakota you don’t get much baseball until at least maybe April. Starting out in March…we’re excited. We’re all ready to go too, all the guys are ready. We’re here to play.

Horace opens the season Friday, March 28 vs. Jamestown. It will be a doubleheader at Jack Brown Stadium with games slated to start at 4 P.M. and 6 P.M.