Sebastian Edwards leads Zebras to success at the plate and on the mound

Lincoln High baseball senior Sebastian Edwards is one of the top players for the Zebras and has been playing the sport he loves since he was 3 years old. Edwards is currently leading the Zebras in batting average at .487 with 14 runs batted in and has hit five home runs, which is tied for 14th most in the state and tied for fourth most in the Sac-Joaquin Section. On the mound, Edwards has shined with 48 strikeouts and an earned run average of 0.74. The Zebras are currently on a nine-game winning streak and are off to their best 16-game start since 2018. "This season has been great so far and I've worked hard to get to this point of success and I can't wait to see how this season unfolds," Edwards said. The only other Zebras player with a lower earned run average than Edwards is fellow senior Ariah Dirmeyer at 0.41, who also pitched on the Lincoln varsity team last season. "I have learned a lot over the years I've played with Sebastian, especially recently during the off-season and of course during the regular season," Dirmeyer said. "He is always looking out for his teammates pointing out little things and even having talks about mechanics or different ways we can improve. I know he is super passionate and loves the game and when he plays, we can all see it. I think that really gets us hyped up and makes us want to back him up being there for him." Edwards recently threw a complete game no-hitter with 13 strikeouts in a 10-0 win against Rio Linda on March 31. Pitching a no-hitter is a feat so rare and it hasn't been done in at least the last 15 years by a Lincoln player. The Zebras have gone through six head coaches during that time frame. "Sebastian is a special player, he has all the tools to succeed at the next level, and it has been fun watching him to this point," Lincoln coach Mike Allen said. "I'm excited to see what he accomplishes at the next couple levels. His love for the game and his teammates shows through his actions day in and day out. Sebastian is already a great player today, but he is so coachable at the same time. We connect before and after every inning, on the normal stuff, batters, results, approach, but then physical stuff too, which is a lot to process, but when we put a plan together he goes out and executes." Edwards realized he had a talent for baseball around age nine and shortly after starting at Lincoln High School, he was brought up to varsity his freshman year for 11 games. The Zebras finished the 2019 season with a 13-14 record, losing to Woodcreek High in the first round of the section playoffs. For Edwards, playing as a freshman helped him mature as a player. He had a 0.46 earned run average and only gave up one run in 15.1 innings pitched. "I'd say that playing on varsity since my freshman year really forced me to learn the game and play at a high level," Edwards said. "I really enjoy pitching because there is nothing more satisfying than watching a hitter watch a fastball down the middle or making a hitter buckle on a slider." Prior to his sophomore year, Edwards committed to Sacramento State University where he will start playing in 2023. "I got the opportunity to commit after a showcase in San Francisco," Edwards said. "I was talking to other schools and had other interests but I felt a connection with Sac State and felt the most comfortable with the coaching staff. I'm looking forward to playing great competition from all over the nation and I plan to major in business." Unfortunately, his sophomore season was canceled five games in and while Edwards was fortunate enough to train during the time away from competition, he faced struggles his junior year with injuries. "Yes I have gone through some struggles but baseball has always been my way of escaping and it's where I feel most comfortable." Since last season, Edwards said he has improved on his off-speed pitch and now has a higher velocity. Another aspect about Edwards that makes him impressive is how he uses his size to his advantage. He is one of the tallest players on the team at six feet, four inches. "It's definitely easier to throw with higher velocity and it comes in handy with bat speed and strength," Edwards said. "I love throwing my fastball because I get a lot of swings and misses and I love seeing how hard I can throw it each time." Edwards is looking to finish out the 2022 season on a high note as the Zebras have nine more league games before a potential trip to the section playoffs. "My biggest goal of the season would be to win the league and play well in the playoffs," Edwards said.