This year, Westwood High School’s boys of summer come from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Entering their 2024 season, the Westwood Warriors boasted many student-athletes from the SRPMIC on both the varsity and junior varsity baseball teams.

Seniors Bobby Maez and Marcus Lasiloo headline this year’s varsity team for Westwood. “I’d like to continue to play at the next level in college and make it to the pros,” said Lasiloo. This season, Lasiloo has been throwing heat from the pitcher’s mound for Westwood with ease. In the game against Carl Hayden on February 28, Lasiloo’s pitch count was 36, helping to secure the victory for the Warriors to the tune of 13-2.

A pitch count is a statistic that is tracked for all professional and developing pitchers. For example, if a pitcher were to get injured, the pitch count helps monitor the player’s rehabilitation process as they return from the injury. Also, a pitch count can be utilized to train and develop a pitcher’s stamina to ensure they do not exhaust themselves quickly and can last into the late innings of a game.

Maez also has been showcasing stellar work on the mound this season. In his most recent play against Gila Ridge’s varsity team, Maez hurled 27 pitches to help seal the victory for Westwood 6-4.

Both Maez and Lasiloo will be recognized at this year’s Westwood Senior Night on April 28 during their final home game of the regular season, against Maricopa High School. “I think we have a good shot at making the playoffs,” said Maez.

Currently, the varsity Warriors are No. 3 in their conference standings and are 21st overall in their 6A state division. Earlier in the season, the varsity Warriors went 3-0 in the Diamondbacks Chase Your Dreams Baseball Classic hosted at North High School. The Warriors defeated the South Mountain Jaguars 25-2 on February 21. Over the following two days they defeated the North Mustangs 13-1 and finished the tournament by defeating Raymond S. Kellis 7-1.

The winning ways for Westwood have also extended to this year’s JV team. In an effort to ensure that the student-athletes are prepared to make the leap to the varsity level, the coaching staff at Westwood has had their underclassmen receive practice and playing time at the varsity level to further refine their talents.

Entering his junior year, Jacob Andrews has shown he is ready for playing ball not only at the varsity level, but at the collegiate level as well. In the contest against Carl Hayden’s JV team on February 28, the Warriors never stopped and crushed Carl Hayden 20-0.

A sophomore this year, speedster Justin Andrews has been showcasing his tendency to always make contact with the ball. When he’s not performing double plays to get his opponents out, he spends all of his time soaking up knowledge from his upperclassmen.

Generations of student-athletes in the SRPMIC have been part of the legacy of baseball at Westwood. This season’s fantastic play from Marcus Lasiloo, Bobby Maez, Jacob Andrews and Justin Andrews is another fine example of how SRPMIC student-athletes can shine both in the classroom and on the diamond.