Not all that long ago, summer workouts for high school athletes meant a mimeographed sheet handed out by the coach in May, outlining a series of calisthenics and running drills to keep athletes in shape heading into the next school year.

Sometimes, team captains in various sports might be responsible for rounding up teammates for impromptu games or drills. For baseball players, there were also pickup games at area ballparks where teenagers gathered.

Times have changed. Many sports are now year-round in scope, and some athletes are forced to rethink family vacations and summer jobs as they seek to reach a competitive level for the upcoming season.

While most Patterson High School students continue to enjoy a summer free of homework and classes, for three-sport athlete Ricky Howard, the season has already begun.

“It can be tough to balance high school sports and a summer schedule. But I know that the only way to stay ready for my sports is to keep training, to stay in good shape,” said Howard, who plays on Patterson High’s football, wrestling and baseball teams. “I’ve been working with the baseball team this summer to get some work in on my fielding and hitting.”

Although practice will not officially start until February, Patterson High baseball players have met at the high school field since mid-June, participating in scrimmages against other local teams.

Looking to keep up the momentum in a positive direction, Patterson High baseball coach Benji Lozano initiated the offseason program, hoping his players would be better prepared.

“Because we started playing summer baseball so close to the end of the high school baseball season, a lot of these kids are still conditioned to compete,” Lozano said. “I’m asking our players — whether they were a part of last year’s varsity team or not — to get some more experience in the off-season and maybe think about trying out some positions that they might not be used to playing.”

Lozano said summer workouts can’t be mandated, but participation shows commitment, and the players know it.

For Patterson’s athletes, the summer months mean not only building strength in the weight room and honing agility and quickness, but also getting instruction and breaking down on-field situations without the pressure of facing an opponent on game day.

“This is about practicing in a relaxed environment,” Lozano said. “Scores in our summer games are not typically kept. We don’t want to overwork or overdo anything. We just want to get in about 10 to 15 games of baseball.”

Lozano doesn’t require his players to attend summer sessions. Still, many of them show up, and the coach said those who put in less work in the offseason might hobble their chances to compete.

“When you lose some seniors (to graduation), you are looking for some new players to help fill those roles from the get-go,” Lozano said. “We’re looking for hard workers and leaders.”

In previous years, coaches watched from a distance as their players went through off-season training — or didn’t. Now, they have firsthand knowledge of which players are committed to the program and which are making strides while classroom doors are closed.

“We have a total of 19 players — 12 returning varsity players and seven sophomores — practicing with us regularly this summer,” Lozano said. “We wanted to get as many athletes out on the field as possible. Having too many players is always a good problem to have.”

Offseason tournaments also give Lozano a chance to look at next year’s potential stars.

“Brian Lemmon has really helped us out this summer in the infield and as a pitcher,” Lozano said. “Another (standout) athlete would be outfielder Robert Marroquin. He’s lightning quick, giving us some speed on the base paths.”

Both Lemmon and Marroquin played on the school’s junior varsity team in the spring.

Lozano said summer ball is only the beginning, but the script for the coming spring season is already being written.

“We’ve got some key guys coming back for us next season,” Lozano said. “Our catcher, Frankie Sanchez, is continuing to improve. Gabe Gonzalez is also putting in some good work for us this summer. He’ll likely be our No. 1 starting pitcher next season. Center fielder Alex Casias will also return as a leader. And Cesar Gomez and Andrew Sciaky will be big bats in our lineup.”

While Lozano said there are different goals for different players at the team’s summer workouts, there is one common theme: action. Lozano stressed the importance of just doing something.

“We’re really trying to develop for the future,” he said. “My true focus is seeing who is committed to the team. We want to bring together players who want to compete for the varsity roles next year.”

Lozano added that coaches can spend time setting up summer practices and telling players to attend, but it remains on the athletes’ shoulders to buckle down and put in the hours that will boost them and their squads up to the next level.

“We’ve got a great group of kids practicing with the team this summer,” Lozano said. “Many of our players are working hard and showing that they are committed to the program. There are already some good battles shaping up for spots on next year’s roster.”

•Contact Marc Aceves at 892-6187 or marc@pattersonirrigator.com.