After a rocky start to the spring, the Birmingham Seaholm baseball team is finally finding its rhythm—and it's all thanks to a fresh face in the dugout. First-year head coach Mike Nahtygal is steering the Maples toward a turning point, and the players are taking notice.
Following an 8-1 victory over rival Birmingham Groves on April 30, the team gathered for a celebratory photo in center field. But senior Goetz had other plans. While his teammates jogged out for the picture, he hung back, grabbed the orange water bucket, and crept up behind Nahtygal. Just as the coach turned to face the photographer, Goetz struck—dumping ice water down his back. It was a moment of pure team spirit, and for Seaholm (9-10-2), it symbolized something bigger: a program on the rise.
Nahtygal is the third coach in three seasons for the Maples, who have been searching for stability. Last year, former coach John Toth Jr. led the team to its first Division 1 district title in 35 years before stepping down after a regional final loss to eventual state runner-up Brother Rice. Now, under Nahtygal, the team is learning to bounce back from adversity.
It hasn't been an easy transition. Early-season losses were marred by errors, including an 8-5 defeat to Groves on April 27. But the Maples responded in a big way, winning the next two games against their rivals—including an 18-2 blowout on April 28—to even the series. The decisive third game proved that this team has grit.
"To really come back and make a statement after giving away Game 1, when a couple of errors didn't go our way, we really showed everybody that we are here to play hard," Nahtygal said. "When we're on our game, we're a really hard team to beat."
In Game 3, Seaholm fell behind early, allowing a run in the first inning. But they settled in and exploded for five runs in the second to take control. Pitcher Ian Glass came in with the bases loaded in the fourth and escaped without allowing a run, while Ian Evert blasted a two-run home run to left-center in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead. From there, the defense locked in, holding Groves scoreless the rest of the way.
For a team that started the season searching for an identity, the Maples are now showing they have the heart and talent to compete. With a new coach at the helm and a roster that's buying in, Birmingham Seaholm baseball might just be writing its best chapter yet.