Students in Mr. Polanco’s Sports Writing and Literature interviewed student athletes at White Plains High School and wrote profile pieces about them. This article is from that collection.

Seven was not just James McDermott’s jersey number when he suited up for the White Plains High School junior varsity baseball team for the first time. It was also his grade. He was the starting JV catcher as a 12-year-old and was up and down between varsity and JV in his two years as a middle schooler in the high school program, tallying his first varsity hit before he walked through the high school doors as a student for the first time. Now, he hopes to start on varsity this year as a freshman.

“I had a great opportunity when I was in seventh grade to play up [on JV,]” McDermott said. “It was a big confidence boost and made me feel like I could keep grinding to improve my craft.”

James is a very driven player, giving his all in practice and refining his skills on his own. During White Plains High School’s baseball season in the spring, he has a game or practice every day. Although the season is only two months long, it’s compact, sometimes with three games per week. This tests the players’ durability as they balance baseball with school and relationships. James is very dedicated to his studies, so he stays up later to finish his homework for a lineup of rigorous honors classes. All of the weight training and practice James puts in during the winter offseason help him stay healthy and persevere through a season that is incredibly taxing physically and emotionally, a microcosm of the 162-game major league season.

“There’s a big time commitment, even during the winter when you might not think there would be because it is classified as a spring sport,” James said. He added, “A lot of mental preparation goes into it as well.”

He takes both his number and inspiration from Chicago Cubs’ shortstop Dansby Swanson. The Cubs are his favorite team because of his family’s connection to Chicago, and James can relate to him because they play the same position as captains of the infield.

“Dansby has a good philosophy on how the game is played and simplifying things. He’s had a lot of ups and downs through his career but has stayed strong through them,” James said.

McDermott takes his game preparation very seriously. He prioritizes his sleep and wakes up early enough to do his stretching routine. After injuring his hamstring in the summer of 2024, stretching helps him to feel mentally comfortable exerting himself physically to his full extent.

James looks fondly on his baseball experience so far and all that it has given him.

“Baseball has helped me form relationships with friends I still have today. It’s given me many fun memories and something to look forward to all the time. Having those relationships with your teammates is important to helping the team win.”

While he is unsure exactly where baseball will lead him, James is living in the moment as a freshman.

“I’m focused on having a good high school experience right now and trying to make it the best possible. Later in high school, if I decide it’s right for me, I’d like to play at a higher level.”

Whether James chooses to pursue baseball in college and beyond, the work ethic he has developed through the sport and the relationships he’s built will help him find success in his future endeavors.

(Author’s note: Yes, we’re brothers.)