By: Patrick Galvin
SEATTLE - The O’Dea baseball team is gearing up for a strong showing in the 2024 WIAA spring baseball season, led by senior Isaiah Nolan, who brings leadership and experience to the team. Nolan played a key role in the team's 3rd place finish in the 2023 season, being the starting shortstop and earning 2nd team all-metro honors for the Irish.
Nolan, now acknowledged as a leader and captain by his teammates, had to earn this position over time. Looking back on his freshman year, where he was one of the few freshmen on the O’Dea varsity baseball team, Nolan shared, “It was a great experience, being around all older guys playing baseball really helped my game mature." He added, "It was also a great experience to see what leadership and the O’Dea way is really like."
"The O’Dea way" stands for a goal pursued by all O’Dea teams, emphasizing excellence, brotherhood, and unity. Nolan actively encourages his teammates to embrace this and recognize its positive impact on leading the team.
Nolan attributes his current leadership skills to the diverse experiences he gained at an early age. He explained, "Getting to see all these different ways or strategies to lead a team at such a young age gives me a whole selection to lead in the best way possible now."
Nolan tries to contribute and use all of these things today in his leadership process. He has been working very hard at not only becoming a great baseball player since freshman year but also a leader.
In a conversation with senior outfielder Davis Downer, he emphasized Nolan's crucial role in the team's success this year. Downer noted, "He has a key role because of the importance a senior leader has on the team. The leadership could bring us to a chance at the state championship and keep the team in the right mindset to be able to stay together & win together."
Senior leadership proves essential when aiming for significant achievements like a state championship. Reflecting on the past season, Downer remarked, "Last year we didn’t really have a senior leader, so we weren't always on the same page." Downer himself embraces the role of a respected leader, stating, "I’m also going to use what I have to help lead this team, the more leaders, the better!"
Downer believes that Nolan's experience, combined with that of others, will propel the team back to the state championship. He expressed optimism, saying, "His experience and others will be able to bring us back to the state championship where we will be able to compete & successfully fight for a chance at it. Last year was our first year doing so, and this year the experience will play a key factor in our run at the state championship."
Despite rigorous training and preparation, Downer emphasized the importance of experience, stating, "Having experience is probably the most important role a team can have. Especially when it comes to the state rounds and seeing who wants it bad enough."
As the state awaits the outcome on May 25, the question remains: Will Isaiah Nolan and his experience be enough to lead the O’Dea baseball team to its first state championship in baseball since 2014? The seniors at O’Dea are determined, but the ultimate test lies in whether their leadership has what it takes.
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