The quiet focus before a pitch is regularly broken by the crack of the bat and cheers from the dugout and stands. In Lakewood, baseball is more than just a game; it is a bond forged through the countless hours on the field and in the weight room. Behind every win, loss, and highlight play is a group of teammates who have grown into something more than just a team — they’ve become a brotherhood.
The program is led by a strong coaching staff, including head coach Grant Graves, a class of 2011 Lakewood alumnus.
“I had an incredible experience with the people leading our program and a team full of guys who cared about what we were doing,” Graves said. “We were coached and believed in, and it gave me motivation to come back and create that same environment.”
The Rangers are coming off last year’s strong season in which they reached the regional semifinals before losing to Walsh Jesuit High School, 7-0. While the loss ended their run, it sparked a new sense of determination and motivation in the team. This year, they are hungry for more.
However, an important lesson from their Coach is not looking too far ahead. “It’s overwhelming to think about the end goal. It’s more important to focus on your effort day in and day out,” Graves said. “You can’t get to where you want to be without first focusing on what you need to do in the immediate process.”
Graves emphasizes to the boys the importance of being the best player they can be, both physically and mentally. Even with the stress of maintaining and exceeding last year’s standard, they must zone in now to succeed later.
Senior Drew Jones echoed this sentiment. “Looking at last season changes nothing. We didn’t get to where we wanted, and we are coming back even hungrier on that road to states,” Jones said.
The team’s dedication is clear both on the field and in the weight room, and is reflected in the collegiate recruitments of the team. Lakewood currently has six seniors committed to playing baseball at the collegiate level:
Cooper Russell (Brown University); Nick Hart (Marietta College); Drew Jones (Bowling Green State University); Kenny Laidley (Thiel College); Freddie Showers (Terra State Community College); and Jack Dowell (Bluffton University).
The team’s leadership, both from students and coaches, drives the culture and standards of each member of the roster. “I believe a lot of our culture and expectations are set by the players in terms of the off-season, playing in the summer, and then their dedication in the weight room,” Graves said.
A key component of the team’s success is strength and conditioning coach Jimmy Gajewski, a 2010 Lakewood alumnus who returned in 2023 to assist his alma mater’s sports teams.
“Their consistency, their compliance, attention to detail, and their effort — all of it sort of makes them my gold standard of how I want every program to be and embody,” Gajaweski said.
Senior Nick Hart noted that the team’s bond was further strengthened with team trips. “Especially after the trip to Myrtle Beach, we really all got connected as a team,” Hart said. “That carried into the postseason, making our energy in the dugout much stronger and helping us through our wins.”
As the seniors enter their final season, the pressure is on to lead the team through the season. They want to have as much of an impact on the underclassmen as the seniors before them did.
“We want to set an example of what this program should be —what hard work is, how to compete, and the true impact and importance of showing up,” senior Cooper Russell said.
Lakewood Baseball aims to represent the city of Lakewood with pride.“This is such a unique and wonderful place to live,” Graves said. “I think we’ll continue to have success, as long as we just continue to know where we are from and who we represent.”
These boys have an exciting season ahead of them, representing both Lakewood High School and the community. Be sure to support the team throughout their coming season.
