![Wayland Historical Society Executive Director Scarlett Hoey explains the history of the Cochituate Gatehouse.
"The exterior is still a nice monument to remember buildings [involved in] water history," Hoey said. "We all drink lots of water, and it's such an important resource that we kind of take for granted nowadays."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_2024-1200x800.jpg)
Coming into the 2026 season, the varsity baseball team is looking to build off last year’s success with their first playoff appearance since 2022. Last year, the team lost nine seniors, leaving some room for other players to fill. Either way, the team will look different, as there are only two returning seniors this year.
After the 2025 season’s 10-10 regular season record and a playoff appearance, the team’s goal is to reach the playoffs again. This year, there is a large junior and freshman class in the baseball program. Despite the underclassmen filled team, senior captain Albin Valdez is feeling optimistic.
“I know we have a young team this year, but hopefully we can get something out of it,” Valdez said. “Hopefully, we’re able to continue the same success as last year, make the playoffs [and] hopefully do some damage.”
Along with a playoff appearance, development is also a goal for the team.
“We are looking to compete each and every day, and just try to get better, better every single day,” head coach Chris Fay said.
With many key players leaving, Fay said that he is looking for younger players to step up. One of the key seniors from last year was Owen Finnegan, who is now playing college baseball at Lesley University.
“They [(the seniors)] played the game the right way,” Fay said. “Now, it’s the underclassmen, and it’s their time, and it’s their team now to step up and take us to the next level.”
Despite the team being younger, Fay emphasized that many of the players have great chemistry with each other.
“Many of these kids have been playing together since they were five, six years old,” Fay said. “They’ve all learned baseball together.”
Through club and town baseball, some of the members of the team have come up together, especially members of the junior class, which has nine in the program this year.
Last year, junior captain Mikey Johansson led all Wayland juniors with a batting average of 0.328, while junior captain Joey Fay finished the 2025 season with a 2.07 ERA through 27 innings pitched.
C. Fay believes that Wayland can take on any team in the Dual County League (DCL).
“I think as a team that can compete with anyone in the DCL,” Fay said.
The team opens its season on Wednesday, April 1, against Framingham High School. The full schedule can be found on Arbiter.
