Spring sports 2019

West Central Tribune

2019 Prep Softball and Baseball Previews WILLMAR BASEBALL

Cardinals Reload with solid talent

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

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Willmar's Drey Dirksen is one of the top catchers in the state.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

illmar graduated five seniors from last year’s Class AAA state tournament team but don’t think the turnover means the Cardinals will be waiting another 31 years for a run to the tournament.

The Cardinals reload this year with 10 total seniors and a number of sophomores and juniors looking to make an impact after successful summers.

Drey Dirksen (Sr., C/P) is the marquee name as he readies to start a college career at Augustana but he has some unfinished business at Taunton Stadium before heading out.

“Drey is one of the top catchers in the state defensively,” said Willmar head coach Tom DeBoer, in his fifth season with the Cardinals. “He handles our pitchers extremely well and controls the running game with his outstanding arm. Offensively, his bat will produce a lot of runs this year.”

Dirksen will also contribute from the mound this year, adding a new wrinkle with one of the best fastballs in the area.

Bryan Weidemann (Sr., IF/P) will likely step in as the team’s go-to ace on the mound but Jayden Dierenfeld (Sr., OF/P) will also be an important pitcher throughout the year.

“Bryan was a part of our three-headed monster on the mound last year and looks

to lead the pitching staff. He is a fierce competitor that makes life tough for opposing hitters,” DeBoer said.

DeBoer also notes that Dierenfeld has a live fastball with movement that could make days long for opposing hitters but his defensive ability in the outfield could be the real source of frustration for Central Lakes Conference opponents.

“Jayden’s greatest strength is patrolling centerfield,” DeBoer said. “He runs down every ball in sight and has a strong arm to make any throw. Offensively, I look for Jayden to be a big contributor in the lineup.”

Caleb Owens (Sr., OF) and Andy Schultz (Sr., 1B/OF) were revelations last year, each earning an honorable mention spot on the West Central Tribune’s All-Area team and will be joined by Ashton Gregory (Jr., Utility/P), Tanner Bauman (Jr., IF/P) and Zach Courtney (Sr., 2B) to make a well-rounded lineup that’s tough to stop.

The CLC will likely be another tough conference after Rocori and Alexandria joined Willmar in the Class AAA state tournament but DeBoer is confident his team can vie for a conference and Section 6AAA title yet again.

We wish all area teams the best of luck and much success this season!

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C 2 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

WILLMAR SOFTBALL

New-look Cards back to turn tables

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

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few pitches one way instead of the other and the Willmar Cardinal softball team could have been a state tournament team. This year, they’re back to turn the tables. If they want to do so, though, they’ll have to do it with a new-look team.

Willmar brings back just two returning starters from that team that won 18 games and finished third in the Central Lakes Conference with a 10-5 record.

Those starters were key contributors, though, with Mackenzie Jones (So., P) and Ashley Prahl (Jr., OF) who provided plenty of pop offensively. Jones hit .395/.438/.543 with seven doubles, a triple, a home run, 24 RBIs and 21 runs scored as a freshman. Prahl, meanwhile, hit .333/.412/.507 with five doubles, four triples, 19 RBI and 17 runs scored.

Jones was just as valuable, if not more so, in the field. She is one of the top young pitchers in the state after pitching 121 innings and striking out 153 batters with just 14 walks and a 2.72 earned run average. She’ll have to do so without Makenna Hogan catching her pitches this year but she will likely be in contention for a second consecutive All-Area First Team honor.

MORE ON: Page 4

Willmar head coach Shannon Cayler leads the new-look 2019 Cardinals.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 C 3

Willmar sophomore pitcher Mackenzie Jones is one of the top young players in the area.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

C 4 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Willmar will be without senior shortstop Hannah Johnson, one of the top players in the area last season, after she suffered a knee injury during the basketball season. Jake Schultz / Tribune

FROM: Page 2

The unfortunate part for the Cardinals this year is they’ll be without seven starters from the 2018 team, including Jordyn Swoboda, a two-time All-Area First Teamer, and Hannah Johnson, who will miss her senior year after knee surgery. Johnson is the only senior for the Cardinals and hit .456/.522/.810 with six home runs, 28 RBI and 28 runs scored, earning All-Area First Team honors.

“We have a very young squad,” said Willmar head coach Shannon Cayler, in her eighth year with the Cardinals. “Our starting lineup looks to be mostly sophomores, a few juniors and maybe a freshman or two. Nonetheless, they are competitors who aren’t going to let their age or lack of varsity experience slow them down.”

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 C 5

BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA SOFTBALL

New Jaguars coach has

State-Tourney Pedigree

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

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new coach will join the mix for Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. And he’ll come with some state experience.

Eric Primus, who spent the last six years at Kimball, now takes over the Jaguars thing spring, hoping to improve a roster that finished 7-16 in 2018.

Under Primus’ tutelage, the Cubs went to state in 2016 and 2017 and brought the team to the Section 4A championship in 2018.

Senior Cassandra Tensen, who will play at shortstop and pitcher, will be a top returner for BBE after batting .362 last year with 25 hits and 15 runs.

“Cassandra is a player to watch because of her bat and her glove,” Primus said.

“She is the anchor in the infield. I do not see many balls getting past her.”

While replacing the bat of Kendra Schmitz (.520 average, 20 RBI, 34 hits) will be

tough, the Jaguars will try to offset that loss with senior outfielder Ally Gruber and sophomore catcher Josie Knutsen.

“Ally is our number four hitter who captains the outfield from her center field spot. She is a contact hitter who hits for power,” Primus said. “Josie is coming off a freshman year where she led the Jaguars in offense with a .545 atting average.

She has a nice throw down to second that should prevent other teams from trying to steal second.”

Other potential key contributors include seniors McKenzie Dingmann (third base), Kaylee Torgerson (left field) and Nicole Thonvold (second base/right field), juniors Dacia Herickoff (pitcher) and Kiara Quade (infield) and sophomore Abby Tensen (first base).

BBE head coach Eric Primus joins the Jaguars after coaching Kimball in recent years.

Junior Dacia Herickoff will be one of the go-to pitchers for the Jaguars this season and should contribute at the plate as well.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

C 6 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA BASEBALL

Jaguars will again be a B

Tough Out

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

BE was the kind of team you didn’t want to play last year. Sure, their 12-12 record isn’t something they’ll write poems about, but the Jaguars were never an easy out and that should be the case again this year.

BBE head coach Pat Illies returns for his eighth year with eight returning starters and five seniors who look to compete in the Central Minnesota Conference and Section 6A. Though the Jaguars bounced out of the tournament last year, they were competitive with some of the best teams in the state, including Parkers Prairie who went on to take third place in the Class A state tournament.

Payton VanBeck (Sr., P) and Jackson Peter (Jr., SS/P) headline the returners and represent the beginnings of what should be a solid pitching staff. VanBeck finished second on the team in innings pitched (31) behind Adam Jaeger, who graduated, and struck out 29 batters with a 2.26 earned run average and 1.032 WHIP. Peter also provided a strong arm, striking out 23 batters with a 2.69 ERA in 26 innings pitched.

Peter’s contributions carried over to the plate, too, where he led the team with a .408/.482/.592 slash line with a team-high 22 runs batted in and 29 hits. He also scored 21 times and hit three triples.

One player to keep an eye on is Ashton Dingmann (Fr., 1B/P), who had a big year in 2018 for being just an eighth grader. He was second on the team with a .351 batting average and added a .422 on-base percentage. Another year of growth on to his 6-foot-3 frame could mean his power numbers go up a bit but Illies and the rest of the Jaguar faithful also have their eyes on his development from the rubber.

He was limited to just 13 innings last year but kept a tidy 1.61 ERA and struck out seven batters while allowing 11 hits.

Dingmann is joined by fellow freshmen Will VanBeck (IF/C) and Gavin Kampsen (3B) making this a well-rounded team with young and experienced players ready to take the next step.

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BBE pitcher Thaniel Cebulla is one of four Jaguar seniors looking for a long playoff run before their high school careers are over.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 C 7

BUFFALO LAKE-HECTOR-STEWART BASEBALL

Mustangs ready to compete in

Tough League

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

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uffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart took a step in the right direction under new head coach Dylan Gass last season, winning seven games.

Now, the Mustangs are ready to compete in a top-heavy Tomahawk Conference.

BLHS went 3-4 in a conference that featured Sleepy Eye, who took second in the Class A state tournament last year, and Springfield, a perennial power. The Mustangs bring back six starters from that team, including Nathan Schultz (Sr., C) who will be tasked with providing a steady bat while managing the pitching staff.

Dylan Maiers (Jr., P/IF), Elijah Stifter (Jr., IF/P) and Ben Dornseif (Jr., P/IF) will likely be the trio to take the ball on the mound most days. Stifter is also a strong defender in the infield and leadoff man while Schultz hit .348 for the team and led with 14 runs batted in.

The team’s success will rely heavily on the team’s pitching ability. BLHS had a hard time limiting big innings and Maiers could be the guy to do it after striking out 34 batters in 28-1/3 innings last season.

YELLOW MEDICINE EAST BASEBALL

YELLOW MEDICINE EAST SOFTBALL

Sting Return with plenty of experience

Yellow Medicine East hopes to find footing

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

ellow Medicine East went 4-2 down the stretch last year and are looking to carry that trend over to this season.

The Sting bring back seven players who earned significant varsity experience last year and feel confident heading into the 2019 campaign about their prospects in a loaded Camden Conference.

“This group of young men learned a lot last year,” said ninth-year head coach Trevor Schulte. “Our players improved throughout the year last year and learned what it takes to compete and win at the varsity level. These young men are incredibly close and work hard for one another. They are eager to improve on last year and strive to compete at a high level.”

Among those returning players are juniors Carter Sneller (OF/P) and Angel Jimenez (IF/P) who hit .381 and .370, respectively. Sneller reached base at a .480 clip and scored a team-high 14 runs while Jimenez drove in 10 runs.

The Sting will miss Nick Lindstrom, Bryce Schmidt and Cole Richter, who each provided strong at-bats to the lineup, but YME can count on Dalton Andeson (Sr., IF/P), Ayden Friese (Sr., C/OF), Bennett Knapper (Sr., IF/P), Ethan Peterson (Sr., OF) and Tate Schulte (Sr., OF) to step up.

Knapper turned in a stellar season on the mound last year and will be counted on yet again. He led the team in innings pitched (32-1/3 innings), earned run average (1.73), and WHIP (1.268) while adding 25 strikeouts. It was Jimenez, though, that led the team with 27 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched.

The Sting bounced back from a slow start last year to earn a third-place finish in the conference with a 6-5 record but if YME can start strong they could make KMS and Lac qui Parle Valley sweat.

ith five starters back in the mix, Yellow Medicine East hopes to find some footing as the Sting look to climb up the Camden Conference standings.

The outfield will bring back the most experience with juniors Marley Lara and Emily Johnson, along with freshman Yansi Flores all are back in the fray.

Other returning starters include junior third baseman Megan Nordaune and sophomore infielder/catcher Cherish Hammer.

Hammer, along with senior Brynn Cherveny and junior Tiana Rupp, will look to be the Sting’s best bats.

“Brynn, Cherish and Tiana played limited games on the varsity last year but all had impressive batting stats (.400, .388 and .400 batting averages),” said YME head coach Jen Sneller. “We are hoping to utilize their bats to push our quick runners around this season.”

Infielder/catcher Lauren McCosh, infielder Jasmyne Jacobson and utility player Hannah Stark are slated to be some of the speedsters the Sting look to incorporate to improve an offense that averaged just 3.6 runs per game in 2018.

“They’re all quick on the bases with great gloves,” Sneller said. “We are hopeful that they will fill in the spots opened from our graduated seniors from last season.”

On the rubber, the Sting will go from one Cobb to the next as junior Emily Cobb will take over for her older sister, Hailey. “(Emily’s) been doing really well at indoor practices and we anticipate the majority of our innings to be thrown by her this season,” Sneller said.

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C 8 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

BENSON BASEBALL

Braves look to Rack Up Wins

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

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new man is at the helm of the Benson Braves and he gets a solid returning core of players looking to rack up wins in 2019.

Mark Grussing takes over the Braves and will utilize five returning starters, including three seniors. Matthew Ebnet (Sr., P/IF), Matthew Goossen (Sr., P/OF/IF) and Jared Knutson (Sr., P/C/IF) will try to leave their mark and turn around a program that has had its moments in recent years.

Knutson is one of their returning on-base men, after reaching base at a .368 clip last season.

The Braves stuck with teams like BOLD, Minnewaska and KMS last year and will try to flip the script this year, but they’ll need to rack up the hits to do so.

“We return a good nucleus from last year’s team,” Grussing said. “We struggled to score runs last year so that will be an area that needs improvement. We are looking to form an identity as a team that has fun, plays hard and gets better every day.”

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 C 9

BENSON SOFTBALL

Benson is hoping to slug its way

Up The Standings

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

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ith two of its top hitters back from a year ago, Benson is hoping to slug its way up the standings after a 8-10 campaign in 2018.

While the Braves will miss All-Area honorable mention Liz Staton (.424 average, 18 RBI, 21 runs), junior center fielder Kaitlyn Berreau will look to fill the void. A year ago, Berreau had a team-high .439 average and .513 on-base percentage to go with three home runs, six doubles, 22 runs and 19 RBI. Junior catcher Abby Lundebrek also looks to be a big factor on offense after hitting .338 with 19 RBI in 2018.

“Kaitlyn and Abby have a full year of experience hitting at this level and I would predict that this year will even be better for them at the plate,” said Benson head coach Barb Schwarz, who enters her fourth season at the helm.

Senior Miranda Wieber (second base), junior Hannah Andrews (right field) and sophomores Zoe Doscher (third base) and Rachel Berens (second base/shortstop) all return as starters. Doscher will also be a key cog as one of the Braves’ pitchers.

“Zoe will be taking over some of the pitching responsibilities, which should help us defensively up the middle,” Schwarz said.

Finishing 7-7 in the West Central Conference last spring, Benson’s efforts will also depend on newcomers like junior pitcher Calley Miller as well as sophomores Marissa Connelly (third base) and Ellie Moesenthin (outfield).

These young ladies can have a huge impact on the upcoming season coming off a solid year on JV preparing and getting ready for their role,” Schwarz said. “Calley has a calm consistency to her approach on the mound. Marrissa supplies some speed and grit while Ellie brings some more range to the outfield.”

Schwarz continued, “We have a lot of competition within our program, which pushes the players to work hard to earn a position on the field.”

CENTRAL MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL BASEBALL

Bluejays rely on New Coach, New Players C

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

entral Minnesota Christian School looks brand new entering the 2019 season thanks to a new head coach and a number of new players on the field.

Jordon Daugherty takes over as the head coach of the Bluejays and he’ll have just three starters back from a team that went 4-9 a year ago. Three of those wins came in Camden Conference play and they’ll look to swipe some from tough area competitors in the coming year.

Jay Marcus (Jr., C/SS/CF/P), Tucker Dehmlow (Jr., C/P/SS) and Braden Swart (Jr., 3B) represent the only returning starters and teammates will look to the trio as leaders for a very young team.

“This is a very young team and will have to do the little things right to win,” Daugherty said. “Our youth has some promising talent and I am patiently waiting to see what they can do on the field.”

Tucker Dehmlow is one of three returning Bluejays for a young CMCS team.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

C 10 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Junior Case Mulder is another young returner for the Bluejays, who will look to gain experience against tough Camden Conference opponents this year.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 C 11

DAWSON-BOYD BASEBALL

Blackjacks embrace Youth Movement

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

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here’s a full-on youth movement underway at Dawson-Boyd as the Blackjacks look to keep up in a competitive Camden Conference.

Keaton Schuelke leads a quartet of returning starters, bringing back a .378 batting average with 15 runs scored from last year’s campaign. Kolten Lindblad (Sr., OF) will also return as one of just three seniors on this young Blackjack team who went 6-9 last season in head coach Daren Swenson’s third year.

Brenden Stultz (Jr., Utility) and Griffin Johnson (Jr., IF) represent a promising underclass looking to take a big step forward in 2019. Johnson walked six times in 32 plate appearances and tacked on seven hits for a .292 batting average with eight runs scored last year while tracking down fly balls in the outfield last year.

Dawson-Boyd has some playoff experience to draw on as they head into this season.

The Blackjacks nabbed a pair of wins in the Section 3A tournament and will look to keep that success going.

Senior Kolten Lindblad will patrol the outfield for the Blackjacks this spring.

Photo credit: Joe Brown

DAWSON-BOYD SOFTBALL

Dawson-Boyd Starting New Trends

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By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

awson-Boyd’s 2018 campaign proved to be a step in the right direction and now the Blackjacks are hoping to turn that step into a trend.

Head coach John Nevins helped guide his team to an 8-13 record, including a 6-11 Camden Conference mark with some timely hitting and ability to pull away in close games.

Mary Bothun (Sr., P) will return to do some of the pitching and her success from the circle will likely dictate how Dawson-Boyd’s season goes.

Six of the Blackjack’s eight wins, including their one Section 3A playoff win, came when the pitching staff kept their opponents to fewer than four runs.

The offense had its ups and downs last year but proved capable of scoring when they needed it in close games more often than not and they’ll need to do the same this year to keep up with a loaded Camden Conference.

Dawson-Boyd head coach John Nevins returns.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

Shortstop Karoline Dahl should play a big role for a Blackjack team trending in the right direction.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

C 12 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

LAC QUI PARLE VALLEY BASEBALL

Eagles Driven by last season’s close call

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

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ac qui Parle Valley finished just two runs away from a spot in the Section 3A championship last season and there’s no doubt that will be a driving force in 2019.

The Eagles took second in the Camden Conference with a 9-2 record as part of their 15-10 season but they’ll have a new crop of seniors after graduating All-Area first teamer Peyton Mortenson as well as Braiden Kittelson, Evan Benson and Korbin Kells, who each earned spots on the honorable mention team.

That’s not to say this Eagles team was decimated, though. LQPV will once again have a strong crop of seniors, led by Wyatt Halvorson, Dain Haas, Caden Bjornjeld and Brett Baldwin. Halvorson will likely shoulder much of the load from the bump again after throwing 49 innings last season with 53 strikeouts and a 2.83 earned run average. Bjornjeld will also be a go-to arm for longtime head coach Bart Hill but the senior’s impact will be felt most at the plate, where he hit .391 last year with 21 runs scored and 17 RBI with 12 stolen bases. Bjornjeld leads returners in batting average but Haas brings back the highest on-base percentage after recording a .532 OBP with 10 stolen bases, 19 runs and 14 RBI. “In addition to the seniors, all of the juniors have had a great deal of success in summer ball and are looking to fill vacancies and push for starting spots,” Hill said.

Wrong photo. Need a Lac qui Parle Valley baseball photo Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

LAC QUI PARLE VALLEY SOFTBALL

Eagles return six starters to

Strong Team

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

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ith the Camden Conference’s most valuable player among the six returning starters, Lac qui Parle Valley looks to emerge as the top team in Section 3A this spring.

A year ago, the Eagles finished 18-7 and were one of the final teams standing in the section tournament before being eliminated in the loser’s bracket against Wabasso.

“LQPV is looking forward to a great softball season,” said third-year head coach Janet Larsen. “With six returning starters and upcoming young talent eager to contribute to the team, we are anxious to get started.”

One of the top players in the area in 2018 is back in pitcher Haley Wollschlager.

A senior, Wollschlager struck out 128 compared to 15 walks en route to a 10-3 record. A Class A All-State pick, Wollschlager also pounded the ball on offense with a .456 average and .512 on-base percentage while grinding out eight doubles, three triples, a home run and 23 stolen bases.

“She’s a smart, hard-working pitcher and (has) great speed on the bases,” Larsen said of Wollschlager.

Another All-Camden player is back at first base in Lindsay Kranz, who hit for an .481 average with 26 RBI and 27 runs while committing zero errors.

Said Larsen, “(Lindsay) has a great eye at the plate and solid defense on first base.”

Sidney Gerdes is back for her junior season at catcher after being an All-Conference honorable mention last spring. Also back in the mix are senior outfielder Ashton Molden and freshmen infielders Addy Bonn and Tori Bungarden.

Lac qui Parle Valley returns six starters and should contend for a Camden Conference title this year.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 C13

LITCHFIELD BASEBALL

Boerema not Dragons’ lone star

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

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ew teams in Class AA have a pitcher with the prowess of Litchfield’s Owen Boerema on the mound and few are able to replicate his ability at the plate.

Even fewer have a player that can do both like he can.

Boerema set single season school records in earned run average (0.72) and strikeouts (88) and has his eyes set on more. The senior pitcher, center fielder and first baseman enters the 2019 season carrying a 26-game hitting streak, which is just seven games behind the all-time record held since 1983. He hit .472 with a .510 on-base percentage, 21 runs scored and 17 RBIs while also recording a school record 42 hits.

The Litchfield star isn’t alone, though. Max Tibbits (Sr., 2B/CF), Joe Pennertz (Sr., 1B/P), Dylan Schutz (Sr., 3B/OF), Jacob Schneider (Sr., C/OF) and Carter Block (Jr., C/P/Utility) will join him as returning contributors from last year’s team that went 16-10 a year ago. The Wright County Conference-West looks to be stacked and balanced yet again. Litchfield missed out on a conference title by going 8-6, tied with New London-Spicer, but they weren’t far behind Mound Westonka (10-4), Glencoe-Silver Lake (9-5), Annandale (9-5) or Dassel-Cokato (9-5).

Tibbits, Schutz, Boerema and Pennertz make for a strong middle of the order that will look to compete for a conference title. By the time the Section 5AA tournament comes around, the Dragons will have to contend with the likes of Maple Lake, who won the state title last year, as well as Holy Family Catholic and GSL. Litchfield graduated a trio of players from last year’s team but with Boerema and the other five returners, the Dragons should be as strong as ever.

Senior Max Tibbits is part of a potent Litchfield lineup that should trouble opposing pitching staffs this year.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

LITCHFIELD SOFTBALL

Gearing Towards Another Successful Season

Catcher Avery Stilwell has the tough task of replacing a school legend but she has the tools to do so.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

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resh off its most successful season of the decade, Litchfield softball will try to take a young team into similar heights this spring.

Going 16-9 and nearly fighting its way into Section 5AA contention through the loser’s bracket, the Dragons feature a lineup with six returning starters with two juniors and four sophomores.

While replacing one of the area’s top hitters in Jasmin Estrada, Litchfield’s big bat will be sophomore catcher Avery Stilwell, who hit for a .409 average and .475 on-base percentage with seven doubles, four home runs, 32 RBI and 14 runs. She was also solid on defense with a .981 fielding percentage.

She was an All-Area honorable mention player as well as being an All-Wright County Conference and All-Section selection.

“She is a great catcher with a strong arm to keep

baserunners from stealing,” said head coach Luke Braaten, who is in his sixth year with the Dragons.

Two All-WCC honorable mentions are back in the lineup in third baseman Emma DeWolf and shortstop Sydney McCann. DeWolf hit for a .354 average with 18 RBI, 11 runs and seven stolen bases. McCann batted .344 with a .443 on-base percentage while ranking second on the team with 26 runs. She also drove in 18 RBI and stole 11 bases. “(Emma) is a great fielding third baseman with a strong arm,” Braaten said. “(Sydney) is a great fielding shortstop with a knack for making big plays.”

Junior Neriah Lara will help anchor the infield at second base while fellow classmate Sydney Braaten will patrol the outfield as returning starters. Also playing in the grass with Sydney will be sophomore Janessa Olson, who is also a returning starter.

C14 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

MORRIS/CHOKIO-ALBERTA BASEBALL

Morris/CA chock full of seniors

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

M

orris/Chokio-Alberta is chock full of seniors looking to flip their record from last year and make their last season a long one this spring.

The Tigers went 8-13 last year but showed flashes against strong competition last season and bring back six seniors from that team.

Jaret Johnson (Sr., P/1B) is chief among those seniors after rocking a 2.80 earned run average from the bump.

“Jaret Johnson was an absolute rock of us last year who made the defensive side of the game look easy,” said Morris/CA head coach Kirby Sayles. “He’s coming to baseball after a huge basketball. He’s a leader that excels at whatever he does.”

He’ll be joined by fellow seniors Kevin Asfeld (Sr., P/3B) and Jordan Leuthardt (Sr., P) on the mound with Noah Sheldon (Sr., SS) and Joseph Kleinwolterink (Sr., C/3B) also making an impact around the diamond.

Cade Fehr (Jr., P/3B) is another arm to keep an eye out for as the Tigers vie for a West Central Conference title.

“Cade is a junior pitcher that has a live arm,” Sayles said. “He has been working on developing his pitching mechanics and we are looking forward to what he can do when he has the ball in his hand.”

The Tigers will also be a team that could hurt teams on the basepaths with speedsters Zach Bruns (So., OF), Mike Halvorson (Sr., 2B/OF) and Jack Riley (Jr., 2B/OF).

“Bring back seven starters and a few new additions is going to make Morris a formidable opponent this year,” Sayles said. “These kids are hard workers that enjoy being around each other. Offensively, we are looking forward to watching what these players can do. I think [opposing] pitchers are going to find that there Catcher Joseph Kleinwolterink is one of six Tiger seniors looking to gain ground in the West Central are not a lot of holes in our lineup this year and we are going to be a tough team Conference this year.

Photo Credit: Brooke Kern to shut down.”

MORRIS/CHOKIO-ALBERTA SOFTBALL

Making a run

at a state berth

Pitcher Liz Dietz should lead a stingy Morris/CA defense.

Photo Credit: Brooke Kern

E

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

ven with a fifth straight West Central Conference title and an 18-4 record, Morris/CA still has a bitter taste in its mouth from 2018.

Hoping to make a deep postseason run, the Tigers’ season ended rather quickly with consecutive losses to Martin County West and St. James in the Section 3AA tournament.

So with a solid group returning from last year’s squad, the goal is tough but simple: Make a run at a state berth.

“Our two closes losses with Martin County West and St. James were not indicative of how we can play,” said Morris/CA head coach Mary Holmberg. “We want a chance to get to the semifinals and finals of Section 3AA.” While there’s some players to fill in the infield and outfield, the Tigers have the building blocks for a long

season. Chief among them are the pitcher-catcher combo of senior Liz Dietz and Emma Bowman. Dietz, an All-Area selection last spring, had a 15-4 record with a 1.88 ERA and 97 strikeouts. She also hit for a .462 average with 28 RBI and two home runs. Bowman batted .333 with 16 RBI, 15 runs and seven doubles.

“Liz Dietz has been a solid pitcher for us the past two years,” Holmberg said. “And having Emma Bowman behind the plate gives us a solid battery.”

Bailey Marty, an All-Area honorable mention, will anchor the infield at shortstop following a junior season that saw her hit .433 with 18 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

Senior Riley Decker (.400 average, 20 RBI, 19 runs) will resume her role at second base while junior Kenzie Hockel (.379 average, .520 on-base percentage, 24 runs) will be back to patrol the outfield. Also returning is the Tigers’ top power bat from 2018 in senior first baseman Jennifer Solvie (.387 average, .710 slugging percentage, 28 RBI, 24 runs, nine doubles, three home runs).

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 C15

BOLD BASEBALL

Warriors hungry for more success T

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

he BOLD Warriors are hungry.

The Warriors were one of the best teams in the state last year but found their season end early after running into Sleepy Eye and current St. Cloud State pitcher Avery Stevens in the Section 2A championship. Stevens shutdown BOLD twice, handing the Warriors their only two losses of the season. Sleepy Eye went on to take second at the state tournament but BOLD is looking at that spot as theirs in the new year.

BOLD graduated a pair of starters, including ace and stud catcher James Woelfel, but if any team can replace an elite player it’s the Warriors. BOLD touted arguably the best pitching staff in the state, with four players that logged earned run averages 1.44 or lower as the team managed a remarkable 1.38 ERA. Woelfel was stellar at just a 0.60 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 46-2/3 innings but Jordan Sagedahl (Jr., C/P), Matt Moorse (Jr., P/OF) and Hayden Tersteeg (Sr., P/SS) are more than capable of picking up the mantle. Tersteeg was second on the team

with 32-1/3 innings pitched and he kept the ERA down to a 1.08 while Sagedahl managed a 0.93 ERA with 31 punchouts in 22-2/3 innings. Moorse, meanwhile, was also stellar with a 1.44 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 24-1/3 innings.

BOLD’s pitching staff will once again be a nightmare for opposing teams but they’ll be able to score runs like the best of them, too. Luke Ryan (Sr., CF) brings back the top batting average (.435) from last year with a .506 on-base percentage and .594 slugging percentage. If that wasn’t good enough, he also went 29-for-29 in the stolen base category while providing top-notch defense at a premium position.

Woelfel was also the team’s best hitter with a .500 batting average, .579 on base percentage and .806 slugging percentage but still the majority of the offense is back. The Warriors hit .343 as a team with 47 doubles, 12 triples, six home runs and scored 158 runs in large part because of Sagedahl (.409/.500/.606), Moorse (.361/.429/.541), Tersteeg (.333/.429/.417) and Riley Weis (Sr., 1B/P, .365/.407, .519) who all return to bring plus-bats to the festivities in Bird Island.

Hayden Tersteeg is one of a number of Warriors who can rack up runs from the plate and shut down opponents from the pitching mound.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

Wishing the best of luck to the 2019 THUNDERHAWK Good Luck, Baseball and ! s r e y Pla Softball teams!!

Hayden Tersteeg is one of a number of Warriors who can rack up runs from the plate and shut down opponents from the pitching mound.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

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C16 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

BOLD SOFTBALL

Surpassing

last year’s 7-10 record

W

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

ith a new head coach and an experienced outfield, BOLD hopes it has the tools to surpass last year’s 7-10 record.

Taking the reins as the Warriors’ head coach is former assistant Heidi Mack. “(This is a) great group of girls. Hard working and willing to do what it takes to be better each day,” Mack said. “(I’m) excited for my first season as a head coach because I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls.”

Among the returning group are outfielders Makenna Steffel, Morgan Schmitz and Kya Young. “(We have) a great deal of speed in the outfield,” Mack said. “They have strong arms and can cover a great deal of territory.”

Also returning to the mix is catcher Devyn O’Halloran, whom Mack says has “a strong arm and a quick delivery.” Megan Ridler is also back as a starter.

Who takes the most responsibility in the pitcher’s circle is up for debate. Three pitchers are slated to make their debut this spring in sophomore Kendall Mack, freshman Caylee Weber and eighth-grader Kilee Elfering. They are hoping to replace the output of 2018 All-Area honorable mention Taylor Sagedahl.

“All three have been throwing in the off-season and hoping to do well on the mound,” Mack said.

Kilee Elfering will be one of a number of BOLD pitchers looking to quiet opposing bats this season.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

GOOD LUCK BOLD WARRIORS (320) 523-1031 OLIVIA, MN

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 D1

West Central Tribune

2019 Prep Softball and Baseball Previews NEW LONDON-SPICER BASEBALL

Wildcats welcome new coaching staff

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

Senior Will Roguske, right, is one of eight regulars back for New London-Spicer co-head coaches Kyle Lieser and Eric Terres.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

N

ew London-Spicer has a pair of new coaches at the helm but return eight starters from a team that won 12 games and battled in a tough Section 3AA tournament.

Kyle Lieser and Eric Terres will work as co-head coaches this year in the hopes of guiding the Wildcats back to the state tournament after a year away from the big tournament.

Will Roguske (Sr., P/C/IF) will be the one many opposing coaches will try to solve. The senior is committed to play Division I baseball at Illinois State but has his eyes set on another trip to the state tournament before his high school career is up.

Payton Madison (Sr., OF/DH) is also back after earning AllArea honorable mention honors last season. He hit .333 with a .438 on-base percentage and a pair of home runs. His power could ruin the afternoon for a number of teams this season, especially with any combination of Nick Perkins (Sr., OF, MI), Jake Schmidt (Sr., OF/1B), Trent Pientka (Sr., P/MI), Brandon Adelman (Sr., MI), Ethan Haugen (Jr., OF) and Christian Lessman (Jr., P/IF) on base.

Experience will play a large role in the Wildcats’ approach this season with nine total seniors set to play. That experience, Lieser says, should help translate to a strong defensive team.

“Pitching should be our strong suit with a well-rounded defensive team,” said NLS co-head coach Kyle Lieser. We’ll look for guys to step up into newer roles on offense this year.”

D2 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

NEW LONDON-SPICER SOFTBALL

Wildcats return with proven experience

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

N

ew London-Spicer’s 2018 season was a tale of two teams.

If we pitch well and improve

Katelyn

defensively, we should see

returns to the left side of the

On one hand, the Wildcats

great success. We hope to

infield, sporting a .411 career

improve on our fourth-place

average and a 1.199 on-base

section finish and contend for

plus slugging percentage.

sputtered in the regular season with a 1-13-1 regular season, going winless in the Wright County Conference.

But in the Section 3A A playoffs, NLS put a scare into the field by winning its first two

the Section 3AA championship.”

NLS lost its top player from a year ago in All-Area and second team All-Class A A selection Courtney Hanson (.492 average, .536 on-base

games by a combined score of

percentage, two home runs).

26-4, ultimately placing fourth

Hoping to fill that void will be

in 3AA.

senior second baseman Sam

Heading into 2019, the goal is

Johnson, who hit .382 last year

to use its experience late last

with a .441 on-base percentage

season to make a push in the

and 13 RBI.

Nordmeyer

also

In the circle, junior Ashlyn Leindecker will be counted on to lead the pitching rotation while sophomore Ava Kraemer will provide a left-handed look on the rubber as well as being the team’s first baseman.

Sophomore Brianna Deming will replace Hanson behind the plate after hitting .355 as a freshman. Also returning to the

“Sam can do it all at the

fold will be: senior right fielder

starting

plate,” Bergeson said. “[She

Abbi Dempsey, junior utility

experience at every position,”

can] hit for power, bunt, she’s

player Presley Arndt-Callenius

said Wildcats head coach

a great contact hitter and has

and sophomore outfield/

Melissa Bergeson. “We have

great speed on the basepaths.”

pitcher Emma Hanson and

great athletes and team speed.

All-Area honorable mention

playoffs. “ We

return

infielder Mackenzie Rich.

New London-Spicer’s Katelyn Nordmeyer was a West Central Tribune All-Area Honorable Mention player in 2018.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

Emma Hanson is one of head coach Melissa Bergeson’s top returning players and the Wildcats are seeking a deep run in the Section 3AA playoffs.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 D3

RENVILLE COUNTY WEST BASEBALL

Stand tall, talk small, play ball.

Excitement brewing at RCW

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

E

xcitement is brewing at Renville County West and for good reason as the Jaguars return six starters from last year’s team that went 6-4 in the Camden Conference.

Among the returners is junior Jack Howard, shown below, who hit .425 with a .531 on-base percentage in a breakout season. He led the team with 17 runs batted in and added 16 runs scored and will likely be the cause of plenty of runs in 2019, too. His biggest impact, though, will likely be from the rubber. In 20-2/3 innings last year, Howard struck out 33 batters and earned a 1.69 earned run average while walking just 10.

Despite the large number of returning starters, RCW will continue to be a young team with just three seniors set to letter in

Jacob Grund (C/3B/P), Justin Schrupp (P/ SS/2B) and Bryce Wordes (DH).

Grund, Schrupp and underclassmen like Corbin Wohlman, Brandon Hoberg and Tyler Froland will join Howard on the mound as they look to replace Trent Kjersten’s production from a year ago.

Kjersten was a workhorse on the mound, leading the team with 28 innings pitched.

Tony Froland also graduated after slashing .412/.512/.471 a year ago but RCW head coach Randy Schaub is confident he has the guys to do it.

“We played many young guys last year because we needed them, but they played quite well,” said Schaub, who is embarking on his 29th year at RCW. “This is the best team we have had on paper in many years. We have solid pitching and catching depth, which should really help. … We should be a tough team to beat this year.”

Wishing the best of luck to our spring 2019 sports teams.

RENVILLE COUNTY WEST SOFTBALL

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

W

ith a new face in the dugout, Renville County West has its sights set on climbing out of the Camden Conference basement.

Finishing the 2018 season at 3-14, the Jaguars will have a new head coach in Dean Rivers.

“We’ve got 24 girls out for softball 7-12, which I know is more than what most schools have,” Rivers said. “I feel blessed.

Now it’s a matter of keeping them. … We’ve got a few players that are returning to softball who are some pretty good athletes.

They have some rust but they are getting it back quickly through these first couple weeks of practice.”

The building block for RCW is senior catcher Pam Winzenburg, who hit for a .340 average last year with 17 RBI, eight doubles and a home run.

“Pam is one of our team captains and is a proven leader,” Rivers said. “She has the potential to be a first team All-Area player.

Softball is her sport and it shows. She has

put in the time all year round to get even better from a strong season last year.”

RCW also returns infielders Leslie Gonzales, Alyssa Ashburn, Jade Garza and Lauren Allex. Freshmen Jennifer Bratsch also returns to the squad alongside fellow ninth-grader Kaylee Flom, who projects to be the Jaguars’ starting pitcher. “(Kaylee) started more in the second half of the season [last year] to begin the grooming process,” Rivers said. “She took her lumps but she’s got a strong will for a younger player. She has made huge strides in improvement from last year in velocity, control and extra pitch. Her mom was a college pitcher and they have been working hard in the offseason to get her ready.”

A focus for Rivers will be to improve the offense. After Winzenburg, RCW has no returning hitter that posted an average higher than .200, according to Rivers.

“I’m an offensive-minded coach and so long as we can get those averages at the .225-.250 mark or higher, we’ll be in good shape,” Rivers said.

001837203r1

New coach to lead Jaguars

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D4 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

PAYNESVILLE BASEBALL

Bulldogs seeking return the ‘big dance’

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

P

aynesville will miss five starters from last year’s team that made a Class AA state tournament appearance but that doesn’t mean the Bulldogs will stay and lick their wounds.

Longtime head coach Brad Skoglund still brings back a number of talented athletes looking to make their third trip to the big dance in four years.

Paynesville will miss Grant Ludwig, a West Central Tribune All-Area First Teamer last year, and Spencer Imholte, each of which logged a sub-2.00 earned run average entering the state tournament. The Bulldogs still return a strong core, though, with Sam Oehrlein ready to lead the rotation. He entered the state tournament with a 1.71 earned-run average and provides quality defense in the outfield while not slinging it from the mound.

“He reads the ball off the bat as well as any outfielder we have ever had,” Skoglund said. “He can run them down in center.”

Defensive ability will be a key factor this year in Paynesville, with fellow glove-wizard Luke Johnson manning shortstop and providing a steady bat.

Levi Bast (Jr., 2B), Zach Schroeder (Sr., LF) and Eric Johnson (Sr., C/RF) will be key players with Grady Fuchs, Carter Wessel, Caden Spanier and Max Weidner all working from the bump.

“We hope a couple of pitchers really can step up and give us some quality innings,” Skoglund said. “We have good overall team speed. We have a lot of talented players to replace and we need some guys really to step up there. We have a bunch of kids to coach.”

Lefty Sam Oehrlein will be one of the Bulldogs’ top starting pitchers and a regular outfielder.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

Luke Johnson is one of Paynesville’s top defensive players.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

Levi Bast provides speed and more for a Paynesville squad looking to return to the state tournament.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

Zack Schroeder is one of Paynesville\’s top returning starters this season.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

PAYNESVILLE SOFTBALL

Bulldogs return with seven key players

S

Abby Schaefer was an all-section player for the Bulldogs last season.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

even players return to the mix for the Paynesville softball team as they try to improve on last year’s 9-10 mark.

Leading the way for the Bulldogs’ returning players is junior second baseman Lindy Hennen, who was an All-Area and All-Central Minnesota Conference selection in 2018. Hennen hit for a .315 average with 14 runs scored and eight RBI. Other players to watch, according to 19-year head coach Tim Woehler, are junior pitcher/outfielder Abby Schaefer and sophomore catcher/infielder Olivia Haines. Schaefer was an AllConference and All-Section player last spring while Haines was an All-CMC honorable mention pick.

Seniors Kylee Everson and Megan Utsch will look to anchor the left side of the infield, returning at shortstop and third base, respectively. Also returning to the squad are junior outfielders Skylar Burg and Harley Kuntsleben.

001805725r1

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 D5

KERKHOVEN-MURDOCK-SUNBURG SOFTBALL

Saints are a top section contender

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

Morgan Lesteberg provides a lot of pop at the plate for the Saints, who were 19-4 last season.

Photo credit: Jake Schultz

T

here’s plenty to like fo r Ke rk h ove n -M u rd o c kSunburg softball this spring.

The Saints have plenty of players re-

turning, including a Class A first teamer (Katie Krieger) and honorable mention (Morgan Lesteberg). The team is coming off a 19-4 record and a No. 6 ranking in the final Class A poll in 2018.

But, in order to solidify its claim as a top contender in Section 3A and a state berth for the first time since 2013, there’s still plenty to work on.

Krieger, who will see time at pitcher and shortstop, was 7-3 last year with 41 strikeouts to 26 walks and a 3.55 ERA. At the plate, she crushed the ball with a .578 average with 12 doubles, 20 RBI and 46 runs. Lesteberg is another crusher with a .500 average with seven doubles and 24 RBI. Of the returning starters, seven are back after hitting over .400 a year ago: Krieger, Lesteberg, Savanna Hagen (.488), Mallory Rudningen (.442), Annika Smith (.478), Lexy Swanson (.403) and

Maret Gjerde (.500).

Along with Katie, Lauren Krieger is also set to see time on the rubber after going 4-0 last year with 12 strikeouts and a 1.33 ERA in 21 innings of work. “(The) Camden Conference is gonna be tough this year,” Suter said. “A lot of teams return the majority of their lineup and pitchers. We also have a lot of starters back but defense is an area we need to improve on. (We) can’t be giving teams extra chances at the plate.”

“Defense last year was an area we needed to work hard on to be stronger as an all-around team,” said KMS head coach Eileen Suter, who has a 457-158 record over 27 seasons. “We’re pretty good hitters but we’re hoping to get

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some hits on faster pitches this year while still hitting the slower pitchers.

(We) got to learn to adapt to different pitchers.”

There’s fine-tuning to do, but there’s plenty of talent on the Saints’ roster.

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D6 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

KERKHOVEN-MURDOCK-SUNBURG BASEBALL

Saints ready to break through to state

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

Weston Gjerde earned All-State honors last year. Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

K

MS f inished one step away from a Class A state t o u r n a m e nt a p p e a r a n c e and you better believe the Saints are fighting to break through.

The Saints graduated four starters from last year’s team that went 20-4 and went to the Section 3A championship against Wabasso but KMS has plenty of firepower back for another run.

Dylan Rudningen (Sr., CF/P) is back after earning West Central Tribune AllArea First Team honors and Weston Gjerde (Sr., SS/P) is also back with All-State honors in his recent history.

Rudningen hit .358 with a 1.087 OPS and was particularly valuable on the mound as a menacing lefty. He finished the year with a perfect 5-0 record, a 2.28 earned run average and 55 strikeouts in just 27-2/3 innings. He also led the team in stolen bases to provide the heart beat for a strong team that’s won the Camden Conference two of the last three years.

Gjerde kept an ER A below one entering the playoffs with a strong bat and solid defense at shortstop. Regan Carlson (Sr., RF/P) rounds out a tough

top-three pitching staff after keeping a 1.84 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 26-2/3 innings. He also brings a good bat to a competent lineup after he hit .352 last year.

KMS will miss Ryan Torkelson (1.05 ERA, .302 batting average) and Brandon Rasmusson (2.05 ER A, 29 strikeouts). The pair helped create one of the deepest pitching staffs in the area, featuring a 2.17 team ERA. Nevertheless, KMS head coach James Cortez is confident with his pitching staff heading into 2019.

“We expect to compete for another Camden Conference and Section 3A title in 2019,” said Cortez, entering his

BEST OF LUCK to the ACGC Falcons & to the Litchfield Dragons for a winning season!

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Dylan Rudningen leads a stable of strong KMS pitchers. Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

Weston Gjerde will provide pop from the plate and a strong arm from the mound.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

17th year. “We have a very good pitching staff in place and will have a lineup that can put up runs on a consistent basis.

We have a good nucleus of starters returning that we hope will help us contend at the state level.”

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 D7

MINNEWASKA BASEBALL

Lakers banking on wave of young players

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

F

or the last three years, Minnewaska has been the one left on the outside from the Section 3AA championship.

This year, they plan to change that.

The Lakers are back after logging a 16-win season in a weather-shortened year. They graduated Matthew Gruber, a West Central Tribune All-Area First

Team honoree and current Augustana

players on the rise. Last summer, the

Viking, and Ryan Christenson who

Glenwood junior legion team took

each accounted for plenty of hits at the

third place in the state tournament

Ryan Amundon and Cade Fish as the

plate and strikeouts from the mound

and a number of those players will step

returning seniors Junior Clay Balir and

during their high school careers.

into the varsity squad this year.

sophomore Darion Alexander will also

Despite saying goodbye to those

earned run average behind Gruber.

It will be a young team with only

Isaiah Testa (Jr., P) is the top returning

play a big role in the new year for head

are

starter after finishing second on the

coach Brian Gruber, who is in his ninth

retooling with a wave of strong young

team last year in innings pitched and

season with a 110-90 record.

seniors,

though,

the

Lakers

Isaiah Testa took the mound for Minnewaska for the season opener against ACGC. Photo credit: Joe Brown

001752179r1

We are proud to cheer on our Athletes, and ALL students, as they walk through our halls on their way to adulthood.

Brian Gruber is looking to guide his Lakers through tough West Central Conference battles this year.

Photo Credit: Eric Morken

www.minnewaska.k12.mn.us

D8 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

MINNEWASKA SOFTBALL

New-look

Lakers A

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

fter finishing 7-12 in 2018, the Minnewaska softball team is hoping to bounce back into the top of the West Central Conference.

In order to do that, the Lakers will have to rebuild its lineup after losing seven seniors — including five starters — to graduation.

“This season, we hope to stay within the top three of the West Central Conference, knowing we’ll have to face some tough teams to get there,” said second-year head coach Tabby Swenson. “The Lakers are a different team this year. These girls had excitement in their eyes at the conclusion of last season looking forward to this year, and they’re ready to prove themselves. We’re having so much fun already.”

Minnewaska returns one of its top power hitters in junior catcher/infielder Michele Stai, who lead the team in runs scored (17) and stolen bases (13) while finishing second in batting average (.413), hits (26) and on-base percentage (.433).

“She will no doubt be another powerhouse at the plate while continuing her solid defense behind the plate this season,” Swenson said of Stai, who was an All-Area honorable mention last spring.

Junior Elizabeth Murken will also return to the starting lineup as an outfielder while also taking on some pitching duties. Also returning are infielders Sara Geiser and Adriana Vigil. “(Geiser) and (Vigil) may see some position changes this year but will also contribute to the leadership of the team with the varsity experience they bring,” Swenson said.

Among the newcomers, senior Kyla Koob is slated to handle the bulk of the pitching while Hannah Orlowski, Sydney Metz and Alyssa Erickson will also look for playing time.

“Orlowski will be utilized in the middle infield. With her speed, she should also be a threat at infield. With her speed, she should also be a threat at the plate and on the bases,” Swenson said. “Metz and Erickson will be depended on to fill the other outfield positions.”

Tabby Swenson returns for a second year to coach Minnewaska with plenty of new faces around the field.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz Catcher Michele Stai will be a player to keep an eye on in 2019 after she posted big numbers during her junior season.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 D9

MONTEVIDEO BASEBALL

Thunder Hawks seek to flip script I

f you watched any Montevideo baseball last year, this year’s team will look plenty familiar.

The end result, they hope, will be much different, though.

The Thunder Hawks return eight starters from last year’s team that went 5-11 overall against tough West Central Conference competition. Head coach Tim Epema is confident his team can use last year’s experience to flip the script in his 13th year.

Among those returning are Noah Buseman (Sr., 3B/SS/P), Max Carruth (Sr., P/1B) and Jackson Snell (Sr., P/Utility) who each earned honorable mention honors for the West Central Tribune All-Area team last year. Buseman was one of the toughest outs in the area, hitting .523 with a .623 on base percentage in his junior season. His hits were often meaningful, too, logging six doubles and three triples while bringing a steady glove to the left side of the infield with a .987 fielding percentage.

Carruth stepped up in a major way during his first year on varsity, firing a 2.30 earned run average in 24-1/3 innings pitched with 21 strikeouts. Snell, meanwhile, was a do-it-all type of player, reaching base at a .340 clip while pitching 27 innings with 20 strikeouts.

Seth Kuno (Sr., CF/P), Chase Korte (Sr., RF/P) and Matt Fragodt (Sr., C/3B) round out the group of seniors that started last year but the T-Hawks also have three seniors in Garrett Arends, Brandon Rodeberg and Chase Moen looking to make in impact in their final season.

Max Carruth is one of eight returning starters for an experienced Montevideo team.

MONTEVIDEO SOFTBALL

T-Hawks

buoyed by win streak

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

BEST OF LUCK to the 2019 Baseball, Softball, Golf, Tennis and Track and field teams

M

ontevideo showed some flashes in 2018 and they’re back with the hopes of turning those flashes into sustained success.

The Thunder Hawks ended the year 5-11 but those five wins all came in a row against West Central Conference opponents at the start of the year.

Montevideo posted a 5-1 record to start the year with quality wins against BOLD, Melrose and Sauk Centre.

Throughout the year, Montevideo lost five games by three or fewer runs and this year’s installment of the T-Hawks are looking to flip the script in those games and spoil the seasons of some tough competitors.

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

Montevideo Public Schools Lexi Brockmoller is a key member of the young Thunder Hawks.

Montevideo, MN • 320-269-8833 www.montevideoschools.com

D10 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

HANCOCK BASEBALL

Owls primed to improve in Pheasant

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ancock is primed to improve on last year’s 6-6 Pheasant Conference record with a young but experienced team.

The Owls graduated just one player from last year’s team and will feature three seniors.

“We are looking for all players to be key returners for us this year,” Hancock head coach Chad Christianson said.

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

“Even though we are still a young team, all of the players returning started last year. We look to use that experience to build on last year and make a push come playoffs.”

Gideon Joos (Jr., C/P) is the leading returner at the plate after hitting .310 last year but the Owls will likely have a consistent lineup yet again. Hancock had six players hit .250 or better a

Peyton Rohloff is one of the top returning pitchers for the Owls.

Photo Credit: Brooke Kern

year ago and that doesn’t account for Daniel Milander (Jr., IF), who hit .240 but walked a team-high 15 times.

Though lineup consistency will be important, it’s the pitching staff that could gain the most from that year of experience.

“We are looking for our pitching rotation to become a stronger force this year as all of them are returning

this year,” Christianson said.

Joos pitched just seven innings last year but kept a 2.00 earned run average and Peyton Rohloff (Sr., IF/P) kept his ERA to 3.36 after pitching 25 innings.

Border West will likely be another tough team to beat after winning the Pheasant Conference last year but Hancock is confident last year’s experience could pay dividends in 2019.

Tanner Pahl led the Owls with 29 innings pitched last year and should be a workhorse yet again.

Photo Credit: Brooke Kern

HANCOCK SOFTBALL

Owls continuing to build in Pheasant

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com he Hancock softball team has been taking steps since beginning the program in 2017.

There was the first season. Then last spring, the Owls got their first three wins in program history by beating Pheasant Conference foes W heaton/HermanNorcross, Hillcrest Lutheran and Ortonville.

Now, Hancock looks to keep their program on the incline when games get underway this spring.

“Coming into our third year as a new program, we are looking forward to build off of the past couple seasons,” said Owls head coach Ryan Snyder.

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Among the top returners for Hancock is senior first baseman Nadine Miller, who was an All-Prairie Conference pick after hitting for a .364 average and a .453 on-base percentage with 15 RBI and 14 runs. She won’t be the only big bat back for the Owls as freshman Carlee Hanson returns to the fold after hitting for a .333 average and .433 on-base percentage with a team-high five doubles.

Three more starters will return to the infield in senior Haley Mattson and sophomores Lexi Staples and Lindsey Mattson.

Morgan Kisgen (2-8 record, 8.33 ERA, 26 strikeouts in 2018) is set to resume her role at pitcher along with Carlee (1-4 record, 15.75 ERA, 14 strikeouts).

Morgan Kisgen will once again lead the Owls from the pitching rubber.

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 D11

MACCRAY SOFTBALL

Wolverines see big things in small ball

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

Jaimi Heida showed strong flashes last year and will be a key player for the Wolverines this year.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

S

porting a young roster in 2019, MACCRAY is hoping that their speed and some small ball can lead to big gains this spring.

“We are a young team yet again with two seniors,” said Wolverines

head coach Nancy Thoma. “(We) should have some speed on the basepaths as well. (There’s) lot of inexperience, though, and that could be tough. We are a very small team overall, so we’ll have to chip away at runs in any way we possibly can.”

The lone seniors on the team will be shortstop/pitcher Sage Mecker and outfielder Jessica Wellnitz.

But the cupboard is far from bare for MACCRAY. Among the team’s top

Nancy Thoma returns to guide a young MACCRAY team.

Photo Credit: Jake Schultz

There’s a New Storm Brewing!

2019 Wolverine

Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Golf and Track & Field

returners are junior pitcher/shortstop Jaimi Heida, who was an All-Camden Conference pick and an All-Area honorable mention after batting for a .448 average a year ago. Fellow All-Area honorable mention Abi Pieper is back after batting .345 last year as a sophomore, and junior Kate Hultgren will play on the left side of the infield following a 2018 season that saw her hit .400.

Thoma has a pair of promising newcomers in sophomore Ali Koenen, who is slated to play pitcher as well as a spot in the infield. The Wolverines are

GET OUT & PLAY!

also looking for a spot for freshman Gabby Randt. said. “(Gabby) has a good overall understanding of the game and is very motivated with lots of speed.”

MAYNARD CLARA CITY RAYMOND 711 Wolverine Drive 320-847-2154 • www.maccray.k12.mn.us

001841548r1

“(Ali has) good arm speed, knows the game and has a strong bat,” Thoma

D12 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

MACCRAY BASEBALL

Wolverines ready to bounce back

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

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ACCRAY will have an experienced core looking to bring a successful season to

the Maynard-Clara City-Raymond area in 2019.

Head coach Nate Hebrink enters his eighth season touting a 66-65 record. His Wolverines are looking to bounce back

from a tough 2018 season.

Gabe Henker (Sr., 1B) and Eli Aker (Sr., P/OF/3B) are the returning seniors and they’ll be joined by five others who earned major playing time last year.

Henker was the team’s leading hitter a year ago, slashing .333/.429/.444 with a double and a home run to his credit.

Rhys Schwitters will be a valuable member for an experienced MACCRAY team.

Photo Credit: Tom Larson

Brady Kienitz (So., P/OF) is coming off a strong basketball season and is looking to take a big step forward this year on the mound and at the plate. He pitched just six innings, all of which came out of the bullpen, but proved to be effective, allowing just one earned run with three strikeouts. while Isaac Strommer (Fr., SS)

and Brooks Asche (Fr., P/OF) represent a youth movement at the ballpark in Raymond. Asche was a bright spot last year, recording just a 1.21 earned run average with 13 strikeouts in 17-1/3 innings, the second-most on the team.

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Thursday, April 18, 2019 West Central Tribune

Sports

WHERE HE WANTS TO BE A behind-the-scenes look at Anthony Barr’s decision to stay in Minnesota

By Dane Mizutani St. Paul Pioneer Press Eagan, Minn. aybe it was the thought of not playing with his best friend. Maybe it was the fact that his best friend left millions on the table. Maybe it was simply the weight of the moment.

Whatever it was, the usually stoic Harrison Smith nearly lost it Tuesday, April 16, when asked about Anthony Barr.

Perhaps the most stone-faced player in the locker room — and that’s saying something with this bunch — Smith choked back tears when

M Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr (55) reacts after making a play during a game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2018.

Harrison Barden / USA TODAY Sports

reflecting on how Barr spurned the New York Jets this offseason to sign a long-term contract with the Vikings.

“A guy making a choice like that, it was pretty big,” Smith said, pausing for a few seconds to compose himself.

“It doesn’t happen a lot in pro sports.”

Why so emotional?

“I don’t know,” Smith said, cracking a smile. “Like, I didn’t think that would happen.”

Yet there Smith was in front of a room full of reporters, nearly crying over his locker mate, overjoyed to be

BARR: Page B2

West Central Tribune

2019 Prep Softball and Baseball Previews ATWATER-COSMOS-GROVE CITY SOFTBALL

Falcons

want to build on solid 2018 season

By Joe Brown · jbrown@wctrib.com

I

Jake Schultz / Tribune

ACGC head coach Brad Nelson talks to his players during a May 2018 game against Benson in Grove City.

Falcons

n 2018, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City won double-digit games for the first time since 2012.

And now, the Falcons look to keep that upward outlook as they bring five starters back into the fold this spring. “(We) will look to build off a solid season in 2018 with a returning battery of Lindsey Minnick and Pailey Wilner.

Rachel Wilner, Jordyn Mortensen, and Brittney Schultz return to help lead the offense,” said Falcons head coach Brad Nelson. “(Our) depth will look to some younger players that will be gaining their first varsity experience this year.

Consistent improvement will be a must if (we) looks to repeat their solid regular season from 2018.”

Minnick returns as ACGC’s top pitcher after the team finished with an 11-6 record in 2018. Minnick, a senior, had a 10-5 record with a 4.80 ERA and 69

strikeouts against 44 walks in 89 innings of work. An All-Area honorable mention, she also provided plenty of pop in the batter’s box with a .455 average with a team-high three home runs to go with 13 RBI. Junior Rachel Wilner, another All-Area honorable mention, will resume her role as the Falcons’ top bat after hitting for a .500 average and .759 slugging percentage while driving in a teambest 20 RBI to go with 17 runs and eight extra-base hits. She also led the team with nine stolen bases.

ACGC will try to replace the efforts of graduating center fielder Rylie Wilner (.474 average, 18 RBI, five doubles) with seniors like infielder Jordyn Mortensen (.356 average, six RBI), outfielder Brittney Schultz (.406 average) and catcher Pailey Wilner (.360 average, nine RBI).

ATWATER-COSMOS-GROVE CITY BASEBALL

rebuilding behind strong pitching

By Jake Schultz · jschultz@wctrib.com

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he key to any good rebuild is solid pitching and ACGC should have no problem in that regard.

Josh Kingery (So., P/OF) is back after a stellar freshman year on the bump where he logged a 1.85 earned run average with 35 strikeouts in 22-2/3 innings. He was a tough out at the plate, too, logging a .340 batting average with five doubles, nine runs batted in, eight runs and six stolen bases.

Josh Kinzler (Jr., SS/P), Chase Litzau (Sr., OF/P) and Dawson Miller (Jr., 1B/P) will all return to the pitching mound, too, with

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Jordan Schumacher patrolling the outfield. Kinzler was particularly good on the mound, earning a 2.41 ERA with 17 punchouts.

The Falcons will need to replace six players from last year’s squad but with a good pitching rotation, ACGC should be ready to compete.

“We will be a young team but we return two of our starting pitchers,” said ACGC head coach Mike Kingery. “If we can hit, we should be able to compete. Our players have been working hard in practice and have been teachable, which always makes the coaching staff’s job easier.”

ACGC’s Josh Kingery scoops up a throw for an out during a May 2018 game against BOLD in Bird Island.

Jake Schultz / Tribune

small class sizes allow SPARK Imagination “Where our education staff to special learning ACGC WE... ENHANCE Knowledge createopportunities for your child.”

CREATE Opportunities LET US HELP YOUR CHILD GROW AND SUCCEED

Registration Hotlines:

grades 5-12 320.244.4675 • grade K-4 320.244.4693

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