With winter sports wrapping up and the spring season underway, the Blue Zone highlights performances by first-year Blue Devils:
Track and field: Braelyn Baker
As the indoor track and field season comes to a close, an outstanding freshman season by Braelyn Baker will go into the Duke record books. Individually, the freshman will finish the season with two team-bests, a 23.38 in the 200m and 52.94 in the 400m, good for second and fourth in school history, respectively. Both marks were set at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational, and Baker was honored the following week as the ACC Women’s Indoor Freshman of the Week. The Carnation, Wash., native was also instrumental in the 4x400m relay team, which notched a school-record 3:31.88 and a gold-medal at the ACC Indoor Championships. Look out for Baker to continue to make waves throughout her Duke career.
Baseball: Henry Zatkowski
Henry Zatkowski arrived in Durham as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher from Maryland, and he quickly made his way onto the mound in Duke’s rotation. The freshman has seen 12 innings of action, fifth-highest on the team, and already leads with 19 strikeouts. The Clarksville, Md., native has also posted a 1.67 WHIP on the season, most recently striking out the side in the final inning against Cal to clinch the win in the Blue Devils’ first ACC series of the year.
Women’s tennis: Irina Balus
In just her first season with the Blue Devils, Balus has been on a tear. The freshman started the 2025 season in the No. 2 position for the team, but has since moved up to the top spot after starting the season 7-0. The Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, native climbed to eighth in the ITA National Single rankings after a three-set victory over ninth-ranked Luciana Perry of Ohio St., and now sits at No. 13. In doubles, Balus has teamed up with senior Ellie Coleman to post a 7-4 record on their season, and the pair sits at No. 14 nationally as ACC play continues.
Men’s lacrosse: Ben McCarthy
A former Inside Lacrosse five-star recruit out of Haverford School in Pennsylvania, Ben McCarthy has slowly taken over the reins of the faceoff position for Duke. Tasked with filling the shoes of former star Jake Naso, McCarthy has slowly come into form, and currently boasts a 40-75 mark from the spot on the year. The Newtown Square, Pa., native has also scored twice on three shots and tallied 24 ground balls, with the latter being second-best for the seventh-ranked Blue Devils so far this season.
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