by Ani Janakiraman ’26
Regardless of what sports we played when we were younger, I am certain that they were all enjoyable. For me, playing little league baseball for nearly seven years was one of the most thrilling and entertaining experiences of my life. After a long Saturday game in the hot sun, going to the snack shack with your teammates and watching your friends’ games would always be an awesome way to spend your weekend.
At the high school level, I have observed that baseball at Bellarmine differs greatly from little league baseball in several distinct ways. Baseball requires patience, resilience, dedication, strategy, and effective conditioning. For the three Bellarmine teams (Frosh, JV, and Varsity), their dedication to reaching their goals has led to their success this season, but there are also some goals they have yet to conquer. This week, I interviewed two players, Michael Moriarty ’23 from the varsity team and Luke Canabou ’26 from the Freshman team.
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Michael Moriarty ’23:
Q: When did you start playing baseball?
A: “I started playing when I was around 4 years old. I got back to the U.S. from Japan and joined a local tee-ball league and continued little league from then on.”
Q: What impact has baseball had on your life?
A: “My life has revolved around baseball. Especially because I played travel ball, and then middle school, to high school baseball.”
Q: What do you like about Bellarmine baseball specifically?
A: “I like a variety of things about Bellarmine baseball. I love the community, players, and coaches, because we are like a family with a close-knit bond. There is a very supportive coaching staff. Coach Bacosa brings a lot of intelligence that has revolutionized my mind set of the game, and Coach Sutton is a phenomenal coach that brings a lot of energy and brings the team together.”
Q: Do you guys have any specific goals for this season?
A: “As a team, we want to win WCAL, CCS, and the Boras tournament. Our team has the skill and talent to reach all these goals.”
Q: What has been your biggest improvement from freshman year up till now?
A: “I started as a small 5-foot 4 catcher, and after covid I became 6 foot 1, and then switched positions from catcher to pitcher, going to weight room and figuring out my role on the field. Through more hard work, I was also able to increase my velocity too.”
Q: How has this current season been going so far?
A: “The team has immense talent, and we are like brothers, so success has generated from that. We’ve put a lot of victories on the board, but we aren’t done yet. This year we lost a lot of seniors that had leadership presence like John Damazonio, but by forming together as a team and coming into our roles, we’ve made up for it.”
Q: Do you have any advice to younger baseball players?
A: “Love of the game is everything in a sport like baseball. There is not a lot of need for physicality, no matter where you are, or who you are, you can still be successful because maintaining love of the game and working hard can take you anywhere.”
Q: Are you looking forward to any specific games this season?
A: “The big three are always competitive games [Mitty, Saint Francis, and Valley]. We’re looking forward to competing and battling throughout the year.”
Luke Canabou ’26:
Q: How has the season been going for the freshman team?
A: “It’s been going well. We have a 4-2-1 record currently, and we’ve played some good teams, so we’ve been competing with them. However, we have a hard schedule coming up with three games in four days.
Q: What has been the most memorable moment in your baseball career?
A: “Little league all-stars. We made sectionals in California, and we were down by 3 and in top 7 inning, and I hit a grand slam to go up by a run. That was definitely a pretty cool moment I won’t forget.”
Q: What do you like about the freshman team?
A: “I like being able to compete against other schools that are really good. Competition pushes you and makes you a better player, and we also have a great bond on the team.”
Q: Who are your favorite MLB players?
A: “Mike Trout and Jacob DeGrom.”
Q: What are some goals that you want to achieve by the end of the season?
A: “As a team, we want to win WCAL because it would be a great achievement for us. Individually, I want to improve overall as a player.
Q: Is there anything that separates Bell baseball from travel ball?
A: “Yes. Firstly, the level of competition because the players are stronger and a lot better. Secondly, the team bond, as I’ve made some good friends, and after games, we get dinner together as a team.”
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So, there we have it folks! In the coming weeks, look out for these Bells on the diamond. The Frosh, JV, and Varsity have important games coming up against some strong teams, but both Michael and Luke have goals to win WCAL, and through the team’s effort, commitment, and resilience, the goal is achievable. Good luck to all the teams, and Go Bells!
Ani is a writer for the Bell Online. He covers sports and various club activities.