Spring break has finally dawned for Sedona students, yet Scorpions baseball is hard at work. Sedona is currently 1-2 this season with its win coming against Mayer High school on March. 1.

“We are in the rebuilding process because we lost five starters from last season,” Sedona coach Pedro Ortega said. “However, we have a young core that is going to be great in the near future.”

“This is the core that won the junior high championship so they are familiar with our system.”

The Scorpions are 0-1 in conference play, placing them at fourth in the 2A Central region.

“It is very early but I am very excited for our season,” Ortega said. “I think we are going to compete and do well in the end.”

Ortega described the Scorpions as a close knit bunch both on and off the field.

“They have been playing together for several years, so there is a lot of camaraderie within this group,” Ortega said. “They are a very close team, so I think this season will be very exciting.”

Ryan Zimmerman is the Scorpions’ lone senior this year.

“Coaching a team without many seniors is challenging but it is also rewarding,” Ortega said. “It is very fun to me though, because I know these kids and they know what to expect under me.”

Juniors Jake Hobson and Cooper Barber round out Sedona’s upperclassmen.

“It is tough to compete because we basically have a junior varsity team competing at the varsity level,” Ortega said. “We are trying to get them up to speed as soon as possible and it has been working out.”

Ortega’s scheme emphasizes players’ speed and baserunning abilities.

“We are a fast, athletic team and we are getting smart,” Ortega said. “We stole 17 bases in one game already, so we look to steal once we reach the base.”

The Scorpions are always on the attack, anxiously awaiting stolen base opportunities and chances to exploit the lapses of other teams.

“We are not satisfied until we score, so we emphasize the importance of advancing bases every game,” Ortega said. “The game is more fun when players move and everyone is engaged.”

So far, this Scorpions squad has heisted 24 bases with 12 separate players.

The Scorpions are currently batting .373 and have registered 21 runs.

“Right now we are a combination of power and contact, so we are in a solid position moving forward,” Ortega said. “We have a good power hitters in the middle along with baserunners surrounding them.”

Sophomore Nate Ross has served as Sedona’s Swiss army knife and leads the Scorpions in batting with his .636 average and seven hits and one double.

“The season is young but Nate Ross has been playing well for us,” Ortega said. “Nate has a big role as he bats third and alternates between pitcher and third baseman.”

“We have not yet reached our potential, but we have a powerful lineup,” Ortega said. “We are trending in the right direction.”

Though the Scorpions are fielding a young lineup, expectations from their coach remain high.

“Our goals remain the same every year, you have to win your division and go from there,” Ortega said.

The Scorpions return to the field on Monday, March 18, when Sedona plays the Winslow Bulldogs.

For Ortega, coaching the Scorpions has been about getting to know the players and getting their absolute best.

“The players are getting bigger and stronger on the regular so I look forward to watching them blossom this season,” Ortega said.

The first pitch is slated for 4 p.m.

Sedona’s next home game is Thursday, March 21, when the Scorpions host Heritage Academy.

“We are practicing Monday through Thursday this week because we have a game Monday,” Ortega said.

The first pitch is slated for 3:45 p.m.

Sedona’s senior night is Monday, April 22, when the Scorpions host North Pointe Preparatory Academy.

Last season, the Scorpions ended the year ranked 22nd in the state.