The hard work from the Warrenton Warriors baseball team paid off when the 2024 GAC North Conference awards were announced. 

Junior Austin Haas took home the most prominent award – player of the year, while Head Coach Eric Burle was awarded coach of the year. 

Haas is no stranger to being named GAC North player of the year, as he received this honor earlier in the school year for football. 

“Just to see the hard work pay off, I’m very grateful,” Haas said. “To see it happen and be able to do it in football and baseball this year was a very big accomplishment that meant a lot.” 

Haas ended his junior season ranked seventh in runs scored with 41 runs and 10th in stolen bases with 32. 

“Austin is our lead off batter and catcher, which are two huge positions for this team and the reason for our success the last several years,” Burle said.

Haas thanked his coaches and parents for helping him achieve this. He also thanked the pitchers for making him look good when they threw a strike. 

Even though Haas has won player of the year, he is looking towards next season.

“We got to stay in the winning mindset and do the best we possibly can every single time,” Haas said. “We can’t try to do too much or too little.” 

Burle will be leaning on Haas to lead the team, especially with the anticipation that it will be a younger squad next season. 

“I think having him be that senior, along with a handful of other guys, is going to be huge and he’s the right kid for it,” Burle said. “He’s got some of that natural leadership and the amount of time he puts into being a really good overall athlete shows.” 

Not only did Haas win a major conference award, but Burle also took home a big conference accolade – coach of the year. However, he credits his players for this accomplishment. 

“We had a good team, it’s pretty much all about the players,” Burle said. 

Burle led his team to a program record of 22 wins this season, as well as their fourth GAC North conference title.

Burle notes that his coaching style has changed throughout his 15-plus years coaching for the Warriors. 

“I’ve learned not to sweat a lot of the small stuff and let the team manage themselves a bit more,” Burle said. 

Burle coaches all of his players a little differently, trying to understand what their needs are to make them the best player they can be.

“[You have to] understand that with every player you’re going to coach a little differently, handle a little differently and treat a little differently,” Burle said.