We're just a week into the Section IV baseball season. Still, our latest Amphenol Aerospace Team of the Week, the Owego baseball squad, is feeling good and is optimistic that their good start will turn into a great season.

Two games into the season and as good a record as you can ask for at 2-0.

"Good start, but we're focused on each game," said senior catcher Ben Rollison. "We put those games behind us, we're ready for the next games."

And how did the River Hawks get there so far? Well, stellar pitching. Owego has given up a total of four runs this year, only two of which have been earned.

"Which is kind of what we've expected too," said head coach Nick Wegmann. "We knew we were going to have some strong arms coming out of the bullpen, which is a huge advantage and a benefit to us, especially in high school baseball."

At the forefront of that staff has been Conlan Taylor, who struck out 11 in his season debut.

"A lot of fastballs, you know, they weren't catching up to it," Taylor said. "So we stuck with what worked and just kept hitting spots of fastballs and Ben was calling a great game for me too"

On the flip side, the offense has been solid, scoring eight runs against SV and three against Windsor.

"We'll just be fighting in the box every pitch," Rollison said. "We got nine guys ready to fight, every single pitch. Be ready to get a hit. Be ready to take a walk, get hit by a pitch, whatever it takes to get on base so we can get 90 feet closer to scoring a run."

Something OFA has struggled to do in the playoffs, last year, getting bounced by eventual state runner-ups, Lansing.

"Our last two years we lost the game two to nothing against Oneonta, and the last year, we lost one to nothing," Wegmann said. "So tight ball games. But then it comes down to if we can execute the little things that could potentially be the difference in the game."

But right now, the River Hawks have their eyes set on their next series against Seton Catholic Central rather than the Section IV Class A playoffs.

"Successful season, it's not about individual success for me, it's winning as a team," Rollison said. "We obviously want to go out and win sectionals, but right now we're looking at the next game and the next game after that."

To nominate an Athlete of the Week or Team of the Week, email [email protected]