NATCHEZ — Whenever the Cathedral Green Wave baseball team struggled this season, senior Caden Poole always stayed positive.

Poole has experienced a wealth of success during his four years at Cathedral. Yet, in his final season in the green and white uniform, the Green Wave has experienced its first losing campaign in coach Craig Beesley’s tenure.

“I get mad (sometimes),” Poole said. “But I just have to stay positive.”

But Poole has made the most of it.

He has become a leader for Cathedral.

This year, the Green Wave is composed of just two seniors and a handful of freshmen and eighth graders. Due to that, Poole has made it his mission to teach the young players how to handle themselves on varsity.

“I just try to teach them to work hard, keep their heads up and stay focused in the dugout,” Poole said. “Instead of goofing off, just pay attention and just try to get better at practice everyday.”

While Poole has been a leader for Cathedral, he has dealt with issues of his own. For part of the season, Poole experienced some shoulder pain — which he doesn’t know how he messed it up.

However, despite the pain, Poole still led with a positive attitude and helped the young Green Wave team grow throughout the year, which was on display in Cathedral’s last outing against Adams County Christian School last week.

In the first two games of the three game series, the Green Wave hung with the Rebels from the first to the last inning. In Game 1, Cathedral only lost 3-2 and in Game 2, it overcame an 11-run deficit, only to fall 18-12 to ACCS.

“You can see the difference in our mentality now than it was at the beginning of the year,” Beesley said. “We have kind-of grown up a bit. That goes back to Caden’s leadership — being a consistent leader for us and not getting down on the younger guys.”

Although Beesley credited Poole for helping the Green Wave this year, Poole couldn’t take the credit. Poole gave it to all to his young teammates.

“They are doing better,” Poole said. “Especially since it is almost the end of the season. They have stepped up and have played good ball.”

With the season coming to a close, Poole said it is heartbreaking knowing this will be the last time he plays baseball for the green and white. Yet, no matter what, Poole said he is going to continue playing with a positive attitude and with a smile on his face — which is what Beesley will remember most about him.

“We only had two seniors on the team and I think nine ninth graders,” Beesley said. “For him to help guide these kids and not give up on the season when we are struggling, it means a lot to this team and me. That’s something I will remember about Caden — he is great leader for us.”