The Southwest Timberwolves take on the Lansing Lions for a much-anticipated varsity baseball game Friday April 8.

Head coach Rick Sabath is confident about his team.

“Our team has worked hard and prepared well,” he said. “We are a young team that will get better as the season goes along.”

Senior pitcher Grant LaTerza is ready to play.

“We are out to win,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if we take on Lansing or the Royals, we’re going to play hard and come out on top.”

LaTerza said that during March practice, the team was hitting home runs often.

“Expect a lot of them through out the lineup,” he said.

Be prepared for tomorrow night, with temperatures predicted to be around 50 degrees near the first pitch. A clear evening will have the boys against the elements, winds about 6 mph heading north/northwest could result in a lower number of home runs.

LaTerza knows of one player on the Lansing team to really watch out for: senior Dakota Smith, a Division I player, is one of the best on the opposing team.

“He’s a D-1 player and a MLB prospect,” LaTerza said. “But that doesn’t make a team good or tough.”

Another player rumored to be a threat is Parker Gibson, who, along with LaTerza and Smith, is on the Pre-Season All-State team. Smith has committed to the University of Kansas, while Gibson has signed on with the University of Arkansas. But, again, LaTerza feels that one good player doesn’t make up the whole team.

Tomorrow night admission is free, so bring pack members and come out in come out in T-wolf gear.

“We are the hardest-working team in the league,” LaTerza said. “We will be very fun to watch this year.”