Kenmore West Baseball Senior Spotlight 

With the 2026 Kenmore West Varsity Baseball season coming to an end, I would like to shine the spotlight on all of our hard-working seniors whose season and high school careers have come to an end. 

The first player we will be recognizing is Cameron George. Cameron is a 2-year Varsity player, tallying a total of 5 years for the Blue Devils. Cam is one of the best teammates you can be around and is always putting himself before the team day in and day out. When I asked him what he took away from his years playing for Ken West and if he had any advice for the younger players, he responded by saying, “Enjoy every moment, even the ones that seem small or ordinary, like the quiet practices, routine games, the jokes on the bench, and the big, unforgettable plays. One day, all of it will live only in your memory, so be present and take it all in. And never forget what it means to be part of a team. It’s not about individual success; it’s about sacrifice, trust, and doing what your team needs, even when it’s not what you want, because in the end, what is a team for if all you care about is your own success? The bond you build together is what you will carry with you for the rest of your life.”

The second player we will recognize is Nick Holman. Nick is one of the most energetic players you will ever meet. Once he steps foot on the field, he is riled up the whole time. Personally, I have known Nick since I was about 5 years old, and his energy does not go unnoticed. He never falls short of firing up the team and always gives the game his all, no matter what, something that will be missing in the future years of the program. Nick has worn the Kenmore West jersey for six years, including 3 years on Varsity. When asked what his favorite part of these years was, he said, “My favorite part of playing for West is all the friends and brotherhood that you make along the way. I have met so many great people while playing for West, and I will remember them all. I will also remember all the laughs and fun that I have had with all of those guys. I will never forget all of the great memories from West baseball.” 

Next, we have Matt Hoth. Matt is also a very energetic guy on the team. He is always uplifting the team and brings lots of laughs and funny moments to the team. Matt is also known as our “Interviewer” for our pre-game and post-game player interviews, which were an absolute blast to be a part of and witness throughout the year. Matt is a 4-year Kenmore West baseball player and has spet two years on Varsity. When I went up to Matt and asked him what he would miss most about playing for Kenmore West, he told me he would miss “the team energy we have every day and the great special bond I’ve made with everybody throughout the years.”   

Our next two seniors are Captains Joe Ward and Mariano Nati. Beginning with Joe, who has been with us for 6 total years and is a 3-year Varsity player, Joe is one of the best teammates and guys you can be around. He’s always been a positive role model for everyone around him and is an amazing leader on and off the field. Joe is always uplifting the team around him and is a huge part of our success this season. When I asked him what made him such a good leader, he told me that “listening to what the guys have to say allows me to be the most responsible leader I can be. With the team being as close-knit as we are, it makes my job very easy. I know that whenever I made a mistake, someone else on the team would be there to pick me up, as I would do for them. Any captain would be grateful to play with a team as supportive as we are.” I also asked him what stuck out the most about playing for West for all these years. He responded by saying, “What stood out most to me about playing for West is how the program balances competitiveness and enjoyment, while treating each as equally important. I have never played with a group of guys that have as much fun as we do playing baseball while still playing at a high level.”

Now, our other captain is Mariano Nati. Mariano has also been such a good role model on and off the field. He’s always trying to make everybody better and is always giving his team advice, even off the field, making everybody around him a better player and person. Mariano is exactly what you wish for out of a friend, a leader, and a true competitor. When I asked him the same question about how he can be a good leader, he told me, “What I did to be a good leader is I took what I learned from the leaders before me and tried to make my teammates feel what I felt in previous years.” Also, I asked what he would take away from playing for West, and he told me, “The best thing I will take away from West is true team spirit. No matter where we were in the game, we were always still cheering our teammates on.” 

Our next senior is Luke Johnson, a two-year Varsity player. Luke is a real team morale lifter, with the constant positive energy he brings to the team each day. You will always hear Luke cheering on teammates, no matter what, and always keep the mood up. 

Following Luke, we have Caiden Tyree, who is what we like to call a “black hole” in centerfield. Any time the balls hit near Caiden, everybody on the field, the bench, or in the stands knows he’s making the catch. Caiden has been one of the most reliable fielders I’ve played with, and you can always count on him to make a play. 

Finally, the last guy we have to mention is Jack Lipowski. Jack is another 2-year Varsity player for the Blue Devils. Jack has been such a great teammate during his years playing for West, and every time he shows up to the field, he is a guy you love to share the field with. Jack has given our team amazing speed on the basepaths and a constant, consistent presence in the outfield, moving around to all three spots in his senior year and always playing his role perfectly. 

As I conclude our 2026 Kenmore West Varsity Baseball Senior Spotlight. I would personally like to wish good luck to every one of these guys mentioned and say thank you for giving me so much to write about.