Packer baseball team reloads for 2011 season BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Packer baseball team will be looking for some new players to step up as it graduated a bulk of its roster from last year’s squad that went 4-17 overall last year. “We’ve got a lot of improvement to make and we’re hoping it comes sooner, rather than later,” Austin head coach Troy Watkins said. “We want to hit the ground running and win right away.” Austin returns its top three hitters in senior infielder Jay Ettinger, who hit .393 last season, senior outfielder Quinn Yocom and junior Anthony Condit. “We have a lot of talented hitters and I think that will be one of our strong suites this season,” Ettinger said. “But we’ve got to find a way to get (our younger players) up to speed at the varsity level and if we can do that, we’ll be successful.” Austin’s biggest makeover will take place on the mound where junior Luke Mallory is the only player with consistent starting experience. Yocom and junior Jake Thompson will also see time pitching. “Pitching is definitely going to be a question mark for us,” Watkins said. “We’re going to have to develop some guys. We’ve got guys that can pitch, we just need to find someone who can throw strikes and get guys out.” Watkins said as many as 10 different players are competing for time on the mound and some other spots are also up for grabs. “There’s going to be a lot of competi-
Herald file photo
Austin's Jay Ettinger is tagged in a collision with Mankato West catcher Drew Weber while trying to score in the first inning of game one at Riverland Community College last year. tion for spots and I couldn’t tell you what the lineup is going to look like,” he said. “I love the competition and I hope to see guys working hard. You can really see the guys who want those spots.” The Big Nine should be a tough con-
ference this year as Mayo, Rochester John Marshall, Owatonna and Albert Lea all return quite a few players from squads that were solid last season. But the Packers aren’t worried about their schedule.
“A lot of teams are underestimating what we have on our team and we won’t have that much pressure on us, so we should be able to get some upsets,” Yocom said.
An Experienced Team Makes The Difference
30%
OFF REGULAR PRICE ON ENTIRE Expires 5-1-2011 PURCHASE
Baudler Baudler Maus & Blahnik LLP ATTORNEYS AT LAW ESTABLISHED 1908
701 18th Avenue NW • Austin, MN 507-433-7593
108 North Main Street • Austin, Minnesota 507-433-2393 • 1-800-351-2393
WWW.BAULDERLAW.COM
109 South Main Voted Mower County’s Best Auto Repair Austin, MN 7 Years In A Row!
433-1924 GO TEAMS!
2 THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 Spring sports preview
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Austin is looking determined Packers are ready to improve BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Austin softball team is going to have a much different look than last year’s team that went 5-16 overall as it looks to reload under second year head coach Tina Strauss. The Packers graduated 12 players from that season and only bring back two starters in pitcher Marie Clennon and infielder Katelyn Joseph. Despite the lack of experience, Strauss has liked what she’s seen so far. “I don’t feel like we’re rebuilding because I feel really good about what our varsity team looks like this year,” she said. “I guess it is rebuilding because we’re restarting, but I don’t feel like we’ll look like a rebuilding team. We’ll be a very solid team.” Clennon, who will be one of three pitchers who sees time on the mound, said that the team has a different attitude this season and she’s hoping for a better record this spring. “We’re more dedicated this year,” she said. “Last year people were here, but not all the way here. This year we’re ready to go.” Austin will play in six doubleheaders this season so Jenny Yocom and Abbie Ball will provide some much needed relief on the mound for Clennon. “You’ll probably see those three fill up our innings,” Strauss said. “I think last year we struggled with not having enough pitchers, now I feel much more confident in our pitching staff. We have three we can go to.”
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
“
We’re more dedicated this year. — Marie Clennon Austin pitcher
Of the new faces on the squad, Strauss pointed to junior catcher as Danielle Tschann as a possible difference maker, but she added that the squad is full of potential. “I see (Danielle) making a big contribution, not only as a catcher but as a hitter too,” Strauss said. “I have so many good and solid athletes that I don’t know where they’ll all be playing. My lineup will consist of the best hitters and we’ll figure out how to put them all out on the field.” While the Packers look to hit well throughout the year, they’re also looking to take advantage of their opportunities. The team is focusing on baserunning as a priority early on. “We’re going to work on baserunning real hard and make sure we do a good job on the bases,” Strauss said. “We’ll always take advantage of opportunities that are presented.” Clennon and Joseph will likely carry a bulk of the leadership role this season and they’ve liked what they’ve seen so far out of their teammates. “We’ve all played together for awhile and everyone knows how to communicate with each other,” Joseph said. “Everybody’s here for a purpose and they want to get better.”
Herald file photo
Austin's Marie Clennon pitches against Mankato East at Todd Park.
Spring sports preview THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 3
Austin track team must replace 20 graduates BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Austin boys track and field team will have a totally different look as it graduated 20 seniors, including all seven of its state qualifiers from last year’s team. The Packers have replaced those 20 seniors with about 20 freshman as it is a drastically younger team this season. “We’ve got the same numbers but the experience is going to hurt us,” Austin head coach Tony Einertson said. “(Our
veterans) are going to have to show our younger kids what this is about and how to work hard. We’ll be going through a little bit of a rebuilding process, but we’re looking forward to it.” Austin senior Max Gillen is one of the veterans who will lead the way. Gillen, who will run in the 400- and the 800-meter run, has been preparing for the season for the last two months. He’s aiming to finish near the top of the Big Nine. “I’m looking forward to finally anchoring the 4 x 400 relay team and help-
ing the team as much as I can,” Gillen said. Gillen is ready to step up a leader as he remembers how much the seniors helped him when he was a young runner. “I can honestly say if I came straight on to the varsity as a sophomore without those seniors, I would not be the runner I am today,” Gillen said. “They pushed me and they drove me every single year. I hope the younger kids are driven by what I do.” Along with Gillen, the Packers also
return Cole Adams, who is one of the top high jumpers in the Big Nine, distance runners Zach Fadness and Nate Schwab and thrower Thomas Herrera. Austin also has a lot of youngsters looking for spots. “We’ve had a such a good group come through and they took up all the varsity spots,” Einertson said. “We’re in a tough conference and these guys will have to grow up fast. But with their skill levels, they’re going to fit in nicely and we’ll see what happens.”
Austin girls will have a young track squad BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Austin girls track and field team will be young, but talented this season. The squad is a little short on seniors, but the Packers will have some underclassmen who will be very competitive. “We’re down a little in numbers, but we’ve got some real good quality,” Austin head coach Nancy Jones said. “I think we’ll be exciting to watch. It’s just going to take as a few weeks to find out where we are. We’ve got some potential in some of the young athletes.” Austin returns Abby Snater, a sophomore who holds the school record in the pole vault, and Carolyn Hackel, an eighth grader sprinter. The Packers also bring back Britta Anderson, a junior who runs the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes. Anderson was the team’s athlete of the year as a freshman, but she was out with an injury last season. Haley Splinter and Madison Overby lead a strong group of distance runners. “We’ve got a big group of distance runners, which is different for us,” Jones said. “We usually have to look for girls to Herald file photo run distance, but now that seems to be the Haley Splinter leaves the starting line with the pack at the start of the 1600 meter run Saturday during the Austin Invitational last spring at large group on the team.” Larry Gilbertson Track. When you look around town, what do you see? You see homes, schools, parks, playgrounds. But itʼs more than that. Itʼs our hometown.
Shop locally, invest locally, and support our local economy. You qualify for membership if you live, work, worship or attend school in Mower or Freeborn Counties.
4 THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 Spring sports preview
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Austin girls golfers look to improve BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Austin girls golf team will feature a strong sophomore class as it prepares for the upcoming season. The Packers graduated three seniors from last years team but they will have four sophomores with varsity experience on this year’s squad. Sophomore Lauren Stasi, who has been on the varsity team since she was a seventh grader, said the squad is pretty close.
“It helps a lot (to have a lot of sophomores), because we feel more together,” she said. “Sometimes seniors don’t include you as much, but we’re all in the same grade so the team is close.” Austin has one senior in Kristi Burton and a junior in Syndey Irish. Some of the other key sophomores are Nicole Lipari, Stephanie Justice and Shannon Stutzman. “I’m very confident in them. They’re hard working individuals and they love
golf,” Austin head coach Erik LaRok said of his sophomores. “We want to play a lot more this year and get better as the season goes on.” For Stasi, she’s ready to embrace the role of No. 1 golfer, even though she’ll be going against some older golfers all season. “It’s good to take on a challenge and play with girls who are better than me so I can strive to get better,” Stasi said.
BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
Packer netters should be tough at singles AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Austin boys tennis team is expecting big things from its singles players this year and if the doubles teams come along, it could really be a solid season. Seniors Matt Duren and Josh Detwiler head a group
of four solid singles players for Austin. “Those two will battle it out for the number one spot and it looks like we’ll be pretty strong in singles,” Austin head coach Tom Tauchnitz said. “Matt and Josh are both good kids and good leaders.”
Seniors Joe Urlick and Andrew Heickly will also see time for the Packers, who graduated four players from last year’s team. Tauchnitz is anticipating the Packers will stay in the middle in of the Big Nine this season. “We hope to stay in the
thick of things,” he said. Austin’s team makeup could change if it decides to play some of its singles players on doubles and that is a possibility, according to Tauchnitz.
Herald file photo
Josh Detwiler moves up on a soft shot during his No. 1 singles match against Rochester Centur y at Paulson Courts.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Packer boys get a new golf coach The Austin boys golf team brings back a couple of golfers with varsity experience as it introduces a new head coach this year. Chris Gogolewski takes the helm for Austin and he’s hoping his team learns to focus on two main aspects — course management and putting. “We get a chance to look at every course before we play and I want us to be aware of everything,” Gogolewski said. “I also want to try and avoid three and four putts as much as possible.” While he never played golf in high school or college, Gogolewski has played golf on his own regularly. “I’ve learned the game enough to help out the team,” he said. The Packers will bring back two key returnees in Scott Snyder and Mark Thorson. Senior Tim Schaeffer should also chip in as well as juniors Cole Kroneman and Mike Hanson. Zach Nelson could also see varsity time as a sophomore. “We’ve got a good core group of upper classmen,” Gogolewski said.
Spring sports preview THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 5
DE
Dexter Elevator, Inc. •LP Gas Check With Us Before You Buy! •Hubbard Feed •Chemicals & Fertilizer •On Sight Grain Pick-up
Rebels need pitching
Dexter, MN • 507-584-6422
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
R&S
The Southland softball team will return three key starters from a squad that went 9-12 last season. The Rebels return senior pitcher Brandi Schammel, sophomore center fielder Jana Schammel, who hit .403 with 11 RBIs last season, and senior shortstop Whitney Bamrick, who hit .483 with 17 RBIs last season. Seniors Holly Goergen and Sarah Nelson should also be key players this year. “I believe the seniors will do a great job this year stepping up and being good leaders,” Southland head coach Greg Shulte, who is in his sixth year, said. “We want to improve from last year and contend in the conference.” Southland graduated four seniors from last year’s team and brings back eight players with varsity experience.
Grain Systems, Inc.
25863 650th Ave, Minnesota 55926 (507) 584-6794 Fax (507) 584-6634
Southland looks to rebound
Ray Dietrich
D LINE
Grain Equipment
MANUFACTURING & FABRICATION
Herald file photo
Southland's Grant Hegge is greeted by teammate Chris May after scoring against Fosston last spring in the consolation round of the Class A State Baseball Tournament in Chaska. AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
HAMILTON AUCTION CO. We Are Here For All Your Auction Needs Real Estate • Farm Equipment • Household
(507) 584-0133 (Located Off I-90 at Dexter, MN Exit them 1/4 Mile E. on Hwy 16)
130 State Hwy. 16 Dexter, MN 55926
ADAMS BUILDERS SUPPLY • Rollex Siding & Soffit • AndersenWindows • Entrance Doors • Power Tools
• Plumbing & Electrical • Building Materials • Paint & Stain • Fencing & Gates
205 Commerce St. SW • Adams • 582-3210 6 THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 Spring sports preview
The Southland baseball team will be looking to find some new pitchers as it prepares for the upcoming season. Besides senior hurler Alan May, who was 7-1 with an ERA of 2.60 on last year’s team that went to state, the Rebels don’t have any regular pitchers back. “This will probably be the thinnest staff we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Southland head coach Scott Retterath said. “We’ll have to see how we progress.” The other pitchers in the mix for
Southland are Adam Kiefer, Tom Sheely and Trevor Emanuel. Southland will return some key starters on defense as Grant Hegge will play second base and Tyler Kressin will move to center field, but the team will be looking for a new catcher. Offensively, Southland will look to take advantage of its speed. “We’ll probably be more of a small ball team, than we’ve been in the past,” Retterath said. “We’re probably not going to out-power anybody this year.”
Serving The Area For 90 Years
FARMERS STATE BANK OF ELKTON P.O. Box 84 (507) 584-6441 OFFICES IN DEXTER AND ELKTON , MN
Save time, labor & money with our custom application
• Fertilizer • Seeds • Agricultural • Chemicals
Grand Meadow Spring Valley Elkton, MN AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
BP softball team looking to make some more noise BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The Blooming Prairie softball team graduated just a handful of players from last year’s team that went 23-4 and made it to the Class ‘A’ state tournament, and the Awesome Blossoms are in no way satisfied with just one trip to state. The team has been busy since last season ended on trying to get back to the state tournament this spring. “We had a good year last year, but we need to work 10 times harder to get better,” BP pitcher Erica Manske, who had an ERA of 1.16 last season, said. “Last year was last year and it’s this year now.” BP will need to replace its first baseman and second baseman from last year and right now there are plenty of candidates for head coach
Ali Mach to choose from. “There are a lot of questions as far as what we’re going to do,” Mach said. “I’m thrilled with the girls we have and they’re working really hard. They all want spots and we’ll have options to see what works best for us and we’ll go from there.” One other change BP will have to deal with is that the mound will be three feet longer. Mach thinks it shouldn’t affect her squad too much as she’s confident in both of her pitchers. “Shelbi (Swenson) and Erica could be starters on pretty much any team and that’s an advantage,” Mach said. “The deeper mound will probably have an impact on our defense and our hitters will be able to open up a little more.” Mach said her squad will be a solid hitting team again as it brings back some solid sluggers and some
Blossoms are ready AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Blooming Prairie baseball team is looking to a pair of junior hurlers and a steady infield to lead the way as it prepares for this season. The Awesome Blossoms will look to the arms of Luc Zellmer and Isiah Toquam to lead the way on the mound and the team brings back most of its infield from last year, including shortstop Luke Hueman. “We will have two junior pitchers (Zellmer and Toquam) who gained valuable experience on varsity last year,” BP head coach Chris Staloch, who is in his 12th year, said. “Our infield will be solid but we will have some inexperience in a few positions and
toward the back end of our lineup. They will have to learn fast and work hard to get to a level where they help us compete and be successful.” BP graduated five seniors from last year’s team that went 12-8 overall but it also has six athletes returning with varsity experience. Staloch is looking for John Kraling, Cooper Nelson and Ryan McCabe to all step up as leaders. “ I think that there will be a great deal of competition in our conference and in our section,” Staloch said. “I believe that we are going to have to learn how to play some very good baseball in order to accomplish our goals. This makes it very exciting and I look forward to the season.”
new additions who can hit as well. Last season, BP lost both of its games at state as it lost a rain-soaked extra inning contest and another game by one run. “It was kind of a bummer to lose (at state), but we’ll just come back and do it again, but better,” BP junior catcher Hunter Henderson said. “We’ve still go to work hard no doubt, but we’re expecting to improve from last year.” Tayla Jones, who hit .475 with 16 extra base hits and 27 RBIs last season, said the team isn’t thinking about last season and they’re just trying to improve as much as they can. She also knows that opposing squads will likely be circling BP on their calendar. “We look forward to teams that want to beat us. We’ll be ready for them,” Jones said.
Herald file photo
Blooming Prairie's Tayla Jones jumps out of the way of an inside pitch against New Ulm Cathedral last year.
BP track on the run AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Blooming Prairie girls track and field team will look to a core of younger athletes to help lead the way as they look forward to this season. The Awesome Blossoms have just one senior in Kristin Hagen and juniors Cortney Easton and Lyndsay Pryor will also lead, but the squad has a young core. The Blossoms, who have 15 athletes with varsity experience, will be led by their distance runners and they hope to improve on other events as the year goes
on. The Blooming Prairie boys track and field team will look for its distance runners to lead them this season. BP will have Jake Elwood, Daniel Hanson, Tyler Cozine and Adam Driessen, who also pole vaults, in the distance races. BP junior Gabe Kartes should anchor the sprinters. The Awesome Blossoms have 25 boys out for tack this season with a lot of younger athletes.
538 Hwy 218 South, Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
Welding • Welding Repair Pipe & Tube Bending • Metal Fabrication
GO TEAM!!!
583-2144 • Blooming Prairie
Main Street
Dental Clinic
Blooming Prairie
Veterinary Clinic
GO TEAM! Dogs and Cats Welcome.
155 Highway 30E • Blooming Prairie, MN
Call now for appointment. 1.800.944.0734 or 1.507.583.6618
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
COMPLETE & COMPREHENSIVE DENTISTRY After Hours Emergency Only • 507-456-5822 405 East Main Street • Blooming Prairie • (507) 583-2141 159 18th St. SW • Owatonna • (507) 455-1000 3142 Wellner Drive NE • Rochester • 507-536-7700 132 North Broadway • New Richland • 507-463-0502 Open Monday-Saturday and 2 Evenings
Spring sports preview THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 7
L/P looks to a new baseball coach AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Lyle/Pacelli baseball team is dealing with a few losses from last year’s team as four players graduated and two more transferred schools, but the biggest loss will be apparent on the back of all L/P players’ helmets this season. The Athletics are dedicating the season to first baseman Joe Lewison, who passed away in a car accident this winter. “This year will be difficult with the loss of senior first baseman Joe Lewison,” L/P head coach Dan Zielke, who is in his first year at the helm, said. “No one was more excited this year for baseball than Joe. We are doing a few things to honor him this season.” The Athletics will be wearing flat bill hits in honor of Lewison and their batting helmets will have a pink sticker with the initials ‘JL.’ “I was hoping for big things from Joe this season, but we've got some young guys now who are eager and willing to step up in his place, but Joe will never be forgotten,” Zielke said. The Athletics will bring back 11 players from last year’s team that went 3-10 and Zielke is eager to take over the squad that he assisted with the last couple of springs. Senior center fielder Jordan White and senior right fielder Carter Guthmiller will anchor the outfield and the middle of the lineup, while juniors Kenneth Gray and Kyle Meyer will throw a lot of innings on
L/P track team reloads AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Herald file photo
Lyle/Pacelli's Jordan White scrambles back to first as Houston's Hans Lundberg takes the throw in the second inning last year. the mound. “Kenneth was one of go-to guys last year to eat up some innings and keep guys off base,” Zielke said. Sophomore Skylar Meyer will play infield and lead-off, while also providing some pitching. The Athletics will also look to sophomores Sean Shapiro, Stephen Juenger, Jake Nelson, Drew Chapek, and Ryan McConnell as well as freshman Matt Kasel to step up. “Matt played a big role last year as someone who could play the left side of the infield as well as eat up some innings on the mound,” Zielke said. “Matt is a guy
who could potentially step up and become and everyday guy in the middle of the order and anchor the left side of the infield.” Zielke is hoping his squad can cut down on its mistakes on defense and put the ball in play while batting. He also excepts a lot of competition for spots. “The kids are excited to get out there and see what they can do,” he said. “I think our biggest weakness is that we are young and inexperienced, but we're ready to prove that we're better than the team from last year.”
The Lyle/Pacelli boys and girls track and field teams will have to replace a total of 19 athletes from last year’s team, but head coach Anne Christopherson is confident her squad can pull through. The boys team will feature senior Colton Scherer, who excels at the long jump and triple jump, and senior Nick Winsky, while the girls will look to freshman runners Annie Holtz and Madeline Kraemer to lead the way. “I believe we have a good shot at sending four athletes to the state meet,” said Christopherson, who is in her seventh year. “I also feel that we have solid athletes, who will do their best each and every day and will improve their times, jumps, and throws throughout the season.” The boys team, which returns eight athletes with varsity experience, has some solid sprinters but it lacks distance runners and throwers. The girls team, which has seven athletes with varsity experience, has some middle and long distance runners, but it doesn’t have too many athletes with experience in the field events. “I am looking forward to a good season – We are like the postmen – ‘Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night will keep us from our appointed running,’” Christopherson said.
NO SOFTBALL FOR L/P Due to a lack of players, the Lyle/Pacelli softball team will not have a varsity team this season, but there will be a JV team.
www.useminc.com
New • Certified • Used Parts • Service • Collision Center
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE
TI NY’S BODY S H OP
Since 1961 Lifetime Written Warranty • Free Estimates Free Loaner Car • State of the Art Shop Family Owned & Operated 604 18th Ave. NW • Austin, MN • (507) 437-2611
8 THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 Spring sports preview
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Vikings ‘don’t have any rookies’ this spring
Viking softball team is young AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Herald file photo Hayfield head coach Craig Selk congratulates Broderick Diekman after Diekman knocked in the game winning run with two outs in the seventh inning of the Vikings' 6-5 victory over Triton in Hayfield last season. AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
There are no excuses for the Hayfield baseball team this season. The Vikings return all of their starters from last year’s squad that went 6-14 and five of those players are seniors. “We are going to be very experienced and there are no more excuses about ‘rookie’ mistakes,” Hayfield head coach Craig Selk, who is in his eighth year,
4-CORNERS C - STORE • • • •
A&W Restaurant BP Gas Touchless Car Wash Deli - Soups, Donuts, Breakfast Sandwiches
Hayfield • 477-3056 Hwy. 56 & Hwy. 30
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
said. “We don’t have any rookies.” Hayfield will look to pitcher/infielder Tyler Krekling, who has been on varsity since he was in seventh grade and Tyler Nelson and Evan Bungum, who have been varsity players since they were freshman, to lead the way. Krekling hit .361 last season and Nelson hit .513. Senior catcher Jarred Ellis, who hit .425 last season, and senior Drew Kenyon should also step up.
Hayfield’s one need this season will be to find a fourth starting pitcher as they they’ll probably end up playing five games a week when the schedule gets busy. Selk hopes his team is in the mix with Randolph and Southland when the sub-section tournament comes around. “We’re looking to battle it out and get into the section tourney and see what we can do from there,” Selk said.
The Hayfield softball team will feature a young squad even it graduated just two seniors from last year’s team that went 5-16 overall. The Vikings have no seniors but returning juniors Jaide Ryks and Abby Blanchard will lead the way on the field. “They are the most vocal and their upbeat personalities will draw in the other players and keep the atmosphere positive,” said Jana Wagner, who is in her 15th year as Hayfield head coach. Hayfield returns six starters, but must reload at catcher, third base and center field. The Vikings will return Dani Wagner, a freshman who returns as an all-HVL shortstop and she’ll lead the way on offense. Wagner hit .344 with 3 homeruns last season. Jana Wagner also expects some of her returning players, who include Hannah Wiltgen, Jocelyn Sanvick, Kailee Siemers, Grace Walker and Jessi Foster, to be stronger this season. “Experience should help players be more confident at the plate and on the field,” she said. The Vikings are hoping to improve on last year’s win total and improve as the season goes on.
Ryan’s Foods 4 East Main Street • Hayfield, MN 55940 Video, Lottery, Food Stamps, WIC Delivery Wednesday - Call by Noon Senior Citizen Day every Wednesday: 5% discount Laundromat - located behind the store
507-477-3804
Century Plastic Inc. Proud To Be A Part Of The Community
Hayfield • Minnesota Spring sports preview THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 9
GMLOS track teams are ready to go AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Grand Meadow/LeRoy/Ostrander/Sout hland girls track and field team brings back a lot of experienced athletes and the team has high hopes for this upcoming season, while the boys bring back nine athletes. The GMLOS girls return 17 varsity athletes and that should translate to some success. “We hope to send a lot of girls on to sections this season,” GMLOS head girls coach Andrea McKichan said. “We have a hardworking, dedicated group of athletes. I expect them to have a very successful season, as we did last year.” Sophomore hurdler Danielle Hanson, who has advanced to state twice in the 300-hurdles and eighth grade distance runner McKenzie Kirtz will be two of GMLOS’s leaders. “One of the main reasons Danielle has competed at state the past two seasons is because she’s a hard worker,” McKichan said. “McKenzie has an incredible work ethic and that makes her a natural leader.” GMLOS will also look to sprinters Elizabeth May Betsy Oswald and Kelly Gray, and Addi Tapp, to lead the way. GMLOS is loaded in most events, but its a little short on long distance runners. “Our distance program always struggles with numbers, often because we have no crosscountry program to feed the track program,” McKichan said. GMLOS graduated eight seniors from last year’s team but it still hopes to win the SEC meet and send a relay team to state. “Although we plan on having a successful season, this is a re-
GMLOK looks to grow up Young baseball squad has some experience AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Herald file photo
Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Southland's Danielle Hanson clears the first hurdle in the second heat of the Class A girls' 300 meter hurdles at last year’s Minnesota State Track and Field Meet at Hamline University in St. Paul. building year for us after losing so many athletes,” McKichan said. The GMLOS boys will look to an experienced group of juniors which includes Paul Apenhorst, Zach Canterbury, Mike Felten and Matt Schmitz to lead the way.
105 Main Street North Grand Meadow, MN (507) 754-5123
10 THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 Spring sports preview
The team also has three seniors who are going out for track for the first time in Kyle Freese, Satyan Gunasekaran and Morgan Miller. “Our strength this year will be in our mid-distance events,” GMLOS head boys
111 20th St NE Stewartville, MN (507) 533-4081
19 East Main Street Racine, MN (507) 378-5121
www.ffmbank.com
The Grand Meadow/LeRoy/Ostrander/Kingsland baseball team is hoping its young squad can grow up through the year as it looks to compete. GMLOK brings back five returning starters that are underclassmen and GM head coach Taran Jack, who is in his third year at the helm, is hoping they learned some things last year. “The think the biggest strength will be the experience that was gained by the underclassman last year,” Jack said. GMLOK has 11 returning players with varsity experience, including Caleb Leichtnam, who stole 26 bases last season and Kirk Nelson and Sam Eberle, who each stole 13 bases last season. Jack also expects senior Alan McCaulley to have a big impact on the team.
coach Scott Hall, who is in his third year, said. “We have some new athletes out this year that will improve our distance events. We are looking to develop depth throughout all events as we move towards the Conference meet.”
Good Luck Area Teams AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
L/P golfers are set for a strong year AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Lyle/Pacelli boys and girls golf teams both bring back a large bulk of their teams from last season as they look to compete within the SEC. “We should be competitive with both teams,” L/P head coach Mark Buntje said. “We’re bringing a lot back.” The girls, who won the subsection
title last season, are led by their returning state qualifier in junior Jennie Marx. Senior Lauren Rieker, junior Abby Leif, and eighth grader Maggie Lief also return from last year’s squad. “We’d like to repeat as subsection champs and it’s going to be tough, but feasible,” Buntje said. “Abby, Maggie and Jennie will really be consistent, so
Lauren’s scores will be key.” The boys will bring back six returning varsity golfers in seniors Dylan Fett and Michael Kline, junior Max Brennan, sophomores Spencer Holtorf and Devon Felten, and freshman Thomas Marx. Lanesboro’s boys and girls will be the favorite in the SEC this season.
Hayfield boys get a new track coach AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Hayfield boys track and field team will look to a new coach in Vince Anderson, who coached football from 1997-2005 in Hayfield and was head section head coach of the year for the Hayfield girls track team in 2001. Anderson took a five-year break from coaching for a military leave and will head a squad that has eight seniors
and a lot of newcomers. Hayfield returns state qualifying shot putter Hunter Anderson, a junior who took 12th at state last year. The Hayfield girls track and field team is ready for a big year as it lost just one senior to graduation and it brings back 19 athletes with varsity experience. The team’s lone senior is Metea Voyce, but she’ll get some leadership help from
some of her younger teammates. The Vikings, which have their biggest team in a couple of years, have been hard at work in the first weeks of practice and Baker is looking for a strong year out of her team. “ They are really motivated and everyone is willing to help out,” Baker said. “ We have some older athletes that are more than willing to show the ‘new to the team athletes’ any
thoughts and tips they might have whether it be on form, block work. Everything we do, will be as a ‘team.’” Hayfield will host the HVL meet Saturday, May 14 and Baker is hoping her squad can make some noise. “It is going to be a record breaking season,” she said. “We plan on having all of our old Hayfield Track and Field records broken.”
BP golfers look to compete AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Blooming Prairie boys and girls golf teams will notice that something is missing this year when they take the greens. Both teams graduated key golfers from last season but the biggest loss was junior Jordan Ressler, who was in a fatal car accident in Novemeber. BP head coach Erik Vigland, who is in his 12th year, said it could be tough for his squads to focus on golf this season. “The biggest goal for both teams, especially starting out, is to learn to deal with and overcome not having Jordan on our team,” Vigland said. If we can do that, which will be extremely tough, I feel the rest will be easy.” BP’s boys won the subsection last season and their key golfers this season will be senior Dylan Hatch, junior Pat Jones and freshmen CJ Hein and Victor Peterson. The girls took second in their subsection last season and they will feature senior Jeana Johnson, junior Maggie Sorensen, and freshmen Anna Noble and Katelyn Eischens.
MAMA MIA! STOP BY AFTER THE GAME! Thank you Mower County for voting us Best Pizza 7 years in a row! We are looking forward to serving you in downtown Austin for another 30 years!
JOIN US FOR LUNCH! Free Lunch Delivery
MONDAY - THURSDAY • 11AM - 2AM FRIDAY & SATURDAY • 11AM - 3AM SUNDAY 11AM • 1PM
437-3249
421 North Main Street Austin, MN AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Spring sports preview THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2010 11