For 22 players and their team manager, the recent spring break trip to Florida was about much more than just escaping the Minnesota cold. It was a journey of firsts, intensive training, and high-level competition that left the JWP Bulldog squad with memories to last a lifetime.
The trip began with a sense of wonder as five players boarded a flight for the very first time. Upon arriving in Vero Beach, the team kicked off their stay with a high-quality meal at the Green Marlin Restaurant and Raw Bar before checking into their villas at the historic Jackie Robinson Training Complex—the former spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Bulldog boys maintained a professional-level schedule throughout the week. On Monday, March 30, the day started at dawn with a 7:30 a.m. practice followed by a focused session in the batting cages. The afternoon brought the first taste of interstate scrimmages as the Junior Varsity (JV) and Varsity squads took the field against Northmont and Edgewood, both powerhouse programs from Ohio.
Tuesday, March 31, mixed hard work with a touch of Florida magic. After the Varsity team scrimmaged Spectrum (Elk River, MN) and the JV squad faced off against Evanston (Chicago, IL), the team headed to the Atlantic Ocean. For several players who had never seen the ocean before, the hour spent on the beach was an unforgettable highlight of the trip.
Wednesday, April 1, took the players inside “Building 42,” a state-of-the-art indoor training facility at the complex, featuring a half-field and multiple batting cages. Following an afternoon scrimmage for the JV team against Chadron, the day concluded with a high-stakes evening game for Varsity against Columbia Prep—a prestigious New York City program.
Coach Jewison noted the exceptional resilience of the dual-sport athletes on the roster. Several players like Caleb Quast, Parker Gearierty, and Jaxon Wolff transitioned directly from an intense basketball state championship run to a 2:30 a.m. bus ride to the airport. While fatigue was evident in the first 48 hours, the athletes quickly shifted their mindset back to the diamond.
“I was very happy with what I saw down there with all the boys,” said Jewison. “JV scrimmaged some very difficult teams from high schools that graduate between 900 and 1,100 students. They definitely learned a lot, but they kept positive spirits throughout.” The Varsity squad showcased one of their greatest assets during the trip: pure speed. Seeing the boys utilize their athleticism against teams from across the U.S. provided valuable insights for the coaching staff.
While the trip provided plenty of fun, the mission remained clear. “This experience is never about going to Florida for a vacation,” Jewison emphasized. “It’s about having a positive experience scrimmaging teams around the U.S. We have some boys who might not ever get this experience again—to see the ocean or even Florida. We learned a lot, and we know we have room for improvement, but the spirit of this group is exactly where it needs to be.”
The team returned to Minnesota early Thursday morning, exhausted but ready to translate their spring training lessons into a successful regular season.
