Marek Krystofolski ’25 winding up for his pitch during preseason.
3/26 – Phillips Academy: 5, Andover High: 6
Andover Baseball battled Andover High in a tightly contested scrimmage, narrowly losing in the final innings. The game marked the team’s first test since returning from spring break and preseason training in Florida.
Co-Captain Robert Brown ’25 praised Andover’s offense for remaining composed, and minimizing strikeouts. He also added that defensively, the team excelled, committing only one error and minimizing free bases.
“The pitching staff did pretty well overall in Florida. We had some issues with walks, but today we did a good job minimizing free bases. The fielders also did a great job minimizing errors… And the team did well minimizing strikeouts — we only had one or two today. We put the bat on the ball, hit it hard, found holes,” said Brown.
Though the offense started slowly, Andover found its rhythm in the later innings, stringing together key hits. Jun An ’27’s extended plate appearance proved a turning point, shifting momentum. Leadership and buy-in from both new and returning players have been central to the team’s progress under Head Coach Kevin Graber (KG).
“The younger guys have been asking questions, trying to understand the team’s philosophy and really buying into the program… KG emphasizes that a lot: the only way to succeed is for everyone to buy in 100 percent. And we’ve fostered an environment where that’s happening — everyone is all in,” said Brown.
Co-Captain Luke Gallo ’25 noted the team’s growth, particularly among younger players. While early missed opportunities were evident, the team improved as the game progressed, which Gallo views as a positive.
“Our strength was that we got better as the game went on. There was a lot of growth, especially from the younger guys… Some of the weaknesses? We didn’t start the game as strong as we would’ve liked. There were definitely some offensive situations we didn’t capitalize on,” said Gallo.
A highlight of the day came from Rishvith Kandru ’25’s perfect inning on the mound, igniting energy in the dugout. Gallo emphasized how moments like these fuel the team’s collective drive.
“The most memorable play was Rishvith’s inning on the mound. No hits, no runs, just pounded the strike zone from start to finish. It was awesome to see him go out and really deal for the team — and also for himself,” said Gallo.
Gallo sees mastering fundamentals as a key focus for the season. He believes bunting, base running, and mental composure are areas needing improvement before official games.
“Bunting and base running are big parts of our program… Another thing is just playing more aggressively and having fun with it instead of being afraid to make mistakes… we need to work on staying in control, taking a deep breath, and staying focused on what we need to do to win,” said Gallo.
Rishi Rane ’25 echoed these takeaways, noting that while consistency is a work in progress, the team is starting to string together hits and play with purpose. He highlighted how situational hitting drills in practice have translated to success on the field.
“Our coaches set up drills and game-like scenarios with specific numbers of outs, and I think over the last few games, our hitters have done a great job delivering in those moments and keeping their approach consistent,” said Rane.
Andover Baseball’s regular season begins next week as the team looks to carry its scrimmage momentum into official competition.
