2016 fc br summer sports

May 25, 2016 The West Hancock Eagles

The Forest City Indians

C2 | Wednesday, May 25, 2016

FOREST CITY SUMMIT/BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE SUMMER SPORTS 2016

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The 2016 West Hancock Eagle baseball team, from left, front row: manager Josh Kline, Brayden Leerar, Tate Hagen, Chandler Redenius, Ian Gobeli, Parker Feuring, Keifer Carlson, Tanner Hagen and Tristan Hunt. Middle row: Chase Eisenman, Jon Schreur, Bennett Bruns, Ben Eisenman, Gavin Becker, Nate Paulus, Lucas Weiland, Levi Eden, Dallas Pearson and Brody Cox. Back row: asst. coach Jeremy Barnes, Dalton Subject, Dylan Eckels, Colton Cheever, Cameron Clark, Caleb Eckels, Nick Hunt, Connor Redenius, Jacob Hlavacek, Joe Smith and head coach Josh Eisenman. Not pictured, Jordan Weiland, Glen Smith, Connor Sonius and Garret Fosdick.

West Hancock looking to improve BOB LINK bob.link@globegazette.com‌

‌ RITT — From top to botB tom this year’s West Hancock baseball roster looks a lot like last year’s team lineup. The only thing that has changed are the year in school of the players.

“We have everybody back,” says second-year

Eagles baseball coach Josh Eisenman. “We had some growing pain last year. But I think the kids are starting to understand what we’re trying to do so we have some high expectations for this year.”

The Eagles finished the season with a 5-20 record.

But Eisenman said the sea-

son wasn’t a total wash as the team won their first round tournament game 5-4 over Rockford. West Hancock then fell to super power Newman Catholic, who went on to win a State Class 1A Championship.

“All of our kids have had from one to three years of varsity experience,” said

Eisenman. “We had four eighth graders on the team last year and they’re all back with a year of experience.

All the players are a year older and more mature.”

The Eagles had an encouraging start last year, winning their first game of

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FOREST CITY SUMMIT/BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE SUMMER SPORTS 2016

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The 2016 Forest City Indian baseball team, from left, front row: Jacob Olson, Avery Busta, Zach Miller, Jordan Spooner, Isaiah Monson and Jaxon Jones. Middle row: Jarred Thompson, Paul Olson, Nick Bohnstengel, Anthony Rippentrop, Ben Midtgaard, Jacob Wilson, Ryan Saarie, Colton Shipman and asst. coach Justin Ulenhopp. Back row, head coach Jeff Jerome, asst. coach Mike True, Luke Johnson, Micah Lambert, Jason Mielke, Mitch Lambert, Blaze Andersen and asst. coaches Shaun McGuire and Ryan Flickenger.

Indians build on their strong foundation BOB LINK bob.link@globegazette.com‌

‌FOREST CITY — Forest City High School baseball coach Jeff Jerome is looking to fill several starting positions on this year’s team as seven seniors led last year’s team to a 19-17 record and the district finals.

However, with five varsity veterans and a promising group of new prospects, Jerome is optimistic about the season.

“We’re going to look a

lot different,” Jerome said.

“Last year we were a senior dominated team and we pretty much knew where everyone was going to be in the lineup.

But with the five guys we have coming back and with a great group of younger kids, that I think will contribute, we’re going to be alright.”

Senior Mitch Lambert, who played outfield and was limited in pitching because of an injury, leads the

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veterans. On the mound he was 1-1 and played more as a full-time outfielder. He finished second on the team with 31 RBIs. Juniors Ben Midtgaard, Colton Shipman, Jacob Wilson and Nick Bohnstengel all played key roles at various times of the season.

Shipman was Forest City’s strong arm last season. He pitched 62 innings with nine starts and three appearances and finished

with a 6-4 record. He had 40 strikeouts and 16 walks.

The sophomore was particularly effective in the post season, winning two of the Indian’s three postseason games.

“He’s a kid who just goes out and gives you everything he’s got,” Jerome said.

“He’s a real competitor and is among our top two pitchers.”

Midtgaard started in the outfield but pitched 41 innings as a starter and

reliever. He finished the possibly play shortstop. He season with a 4-2 record. hit .301.

Jerome said Midtgaard will return to the mound and Please see Baseball, Page C7

DISTRIBUTING Wishing all SUPPORT area athletes TObest OUR of the luck AREA this Forest City LOCAL ATHLETES! season!

C4 | Wednesday, May 25, 2016

FOREST CITY SUMMIT/BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE SUMMER SPORTS 2016

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The 2016 West Hancock Eagle softball team, from left, front row: Kaitlyn Feuring, Liliana Hill, Madison Eisenman, Riley Hiscocks, Ryann Hagen, Kaitlin Smith and Megan Schreur. Back row, head coach Travis Lenz, Marissa Eekhoff, Katlyn Ohrt, Sydney Hudspeth, Sydney Zamago, Amber Klepoch, April Robbins, Chrysta Bruns, Rylee Horstman, asst. coach Ethan Weiss and Alyssa Klepoch.

New Eagle softball coach optimistic BOB LINK bob.link@globegazette.com‌

‌BRITT — The West Hancock softball team won five games last year – all by one run.

The Eagles were 5-21.

They showed an ability to score but had trouble in low scoring games. After some mid-season personnel issues and the loss of two starters, inexperienced players were thrust into the

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starting lineup.

The Eagles defeated Rockford 4-3, Newman Catholic 12-11 and 5-4, West Bend Ballard 7-6 and Lake Mills 6-5.

After just a few practices,

first year head coach Travis Lenz says he’s optimistic.

“They had five wins last year,” he said. “But looking over the team, I just don’t Please see New Eagle, Page C6

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016 | C5

FOREST CITY SUMMIT/BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE SUMMER SPORTS 2016

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The 2016 Forest City Indian softball team, from left, front row: Emily Banken, Francesca Wasicek, Kennedy Klein, Sarah Nordskog, Natalie Moore, Natalie Jefson, Halle Johnson, Anna Andersen and Josie Edel. Back row, asst. coach Allyson Wilson, Madi Korthals, Cora Holland, Ellie Reece, Ally Larson, Kelsey Koch, Hannah Anderson, Morgan Hobbs, Callie McQuown and head coach Teresa Schwartz.

Forest City combines youth and experience BOB LINK bob.link@globegazette.com‌

FOREST CITY — The ‌ Forest City softball team won seven out of their last nine regular season games last summer, before falling to Algona in the first round of the district tournament.

The team’s problems came early in the season as

they suffered two six-game losing streaks. After pulling out three wins, scoring one win in mid-June, the losing streak got worse, reaching nine games before putting its season-ending winning streak together.

The Indians finished their year with a 10-24 record. Gone from that team

are three of last year’s seniors and two more from this year, who chose not to play this season.

“We’re young, with no seniors and only three juniors,” said third year head coach Teresa Schwartz.

“We have 12 girls with varsity experience. They’re all hard working girls who

want to be out here playing.”

Hannah Anderson, a sophomore catcher, leads the returning letter winners. Anderson was firstteam all-conference and runner up all-district last year.

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SPORTS

C6 | Wednesday, May 25, 2016

W. Hancock From C2

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West Hancock softball coach Travis Lenz watches Megan Schreur round the base during a drill early this spring during a practice section.

New Eagle From C4

see it, I think we’ll be better than that.”

The Eagles return nine letter winners from last year’s team—seniors Kaitlyn Feuring, Alyssa Klepoch and Kaitlin Smith. Sophomores Katlyn Ohrt, Sydney Burgardt, Ryann Hagen and Megan Schreur, along with freshmen Amber Klepoch and Natalie Lemmon.

“I think they’re all pretty excited about getting the season started,” said Lenz.

“We’re starting with a lot of basics in practice, but I think

we’ll be fine as the season progresses.”

Hagen, who played infield and pitched occasionally, led the Eagles with a .243 batting average. She scored 12 runs, had 10 hits, seven RBIs and two doubles.

Feuring had 12 hits, scored nine runs and eight RBIs. Alyssa and Amber Klepoch are returning pitchers. Alyssa Klepoch had five starts and five appearances. She had a 1-3 record. She had 17 strikeouts and 31 walks. Amber Klepoch started three games and made one appearance, finishing the season with a 0-2 record. Assisting Lenz this year will be Ethan Weiss.

the season 13-3 over North Iowa. After dropping two games, including a 15-0 loss to Osage in the first game of a doubleheader, the Eagles put together a 2-1 victory over the Green Devils. West Hancock was 2-2 as the month of June started.

The Eagles had a record of 4-9 by mid-June but didn’t win again, with 11 straight losses until the post-season.

Since the late-summer playoff win, the Eagle baseball players have experienced great success in other sports. The Eagle football team finished second in district football play and advanced to the first round of the playoffs. The West Hancock boys basketball team had its best record ever and finished third in the state tournament. And the boys track team had several qualifiers to last week’s state track

meet.

“Their success will absolutely help us this year,” said Eisenman. “Every season an athlete has success helps the confidence … they learn how to win.”

Eisenman hopes the team can count some wins early in the season. “If we could get a few early wins, we’ll have a different mindset,” he said. “We want to come out hitting the ball, getting the ball in play and scoring some runs.”

Connor Sonius and Nate Paulus led the offense hitting .254 last year. Both had 16 hits, two doubles and seven RBIs. Sonius had five doubles while Paulus was seven for eight in stolen bases.

Paulus also led the team in runs with 16, Sonius added 11 and Dallas Pearson crossed the plate 10 times.

Pearson and Levi Eden led the team with nine RBIs. Dylan Eckels scored eight runs, had eight RBIs and was 8-for-8 on stolen

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Dylan Eckels heads for second in a game last year. bases.

“We have a lot of guys who are very interchangeable in different positions,” said Eisenman. “They’ve been told to learn every position. And we pitch several different people.”

Ben Eisenman was the team’s iron arm last year, pitching 41 innings. He had seven starts and four appearances and had a record of 1-2.

Sonius started five games with a record of 3-1, registering 28 strikeouts while walking just five batters. Jordan Weiland had six starts, while Paulus had two starts and five appearances and Paulus and Chase Eisenman each had five appearances.

Eisenman points to

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Making contact, West Hancock catcher Glen Smith connects with the ball in action at the 2015 District 4 Baseball Tournament.

Bishop Garrigan, Forest City and North Union to be contenders in the conference race.

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Sydney Burgardt, West Hancock center fielder, throws to a cut-off player last year against Eagle Grove. Also covering on the play is right fielder Natalie Lemmon.

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West Hancock’s Ben Eisenman takes a swing with a runner at third as he tries to move the runner home in 2015.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016 | C7

Forest City Summit/Britt News Tribune Summer Sports 2016

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Forest City’s Emily Banken throws to first base as teammates watch during an early season drill.

Softball From C5

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Forest City baseball coach Jeff Jerome, right, watches as the Indians work on catch and throw drills early this season.

Baseball From C3

Wilson was the starter at second base and teamed with 2015 graduate and allstate selection Jordan True on many double plays.

Bohnstengel stepped in as catcher early in the season when senior Tyler Prescott was injured.

Several of this year’s sophomores saw limited action as reserves and as base runners last year and are strong prospects for this year. Ryan Saarie, Zach Miller, Jaxon Jones and Paul Olson will all be possible starters for the Indians.

Jerome said the team has a lot of unknowns at positions and he’s focused

on providing certainty in those spots.

Start with the graduation of True, a four-year starter and two-time all-stater.

“He played shortstop every day because he didn’t pitch,” Jerome said. “This year we’re looking at three or four different guys to play the position. And some will also pitch, so there will be a rotation.”

As always, the Indians will play a busy schedule with three and four games each week.

Jerome said Top Of Iowa Conference West Division teams that have good potential this year include Lake Mills, North Union, Bishop Garrigan and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura. Top non-conference foes include Hampton-Dumont,

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Forest City baseball players work on their double play technique during practice this season.

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Jerome also noted that the Indians again have

three defending state champions on their schedule in Waverly, Clear Lake and Newman Catholic.

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Her batting average was .393 with 42 hits, three doubles, a triple and home run. Anderson had 16 RBIs and was 19 of 20 stealing.

Another sophomore, Callie McQuown, also had a strong offensive year.

She hit for a .337 average, leading the team with 17 RBIs and 13 doubles.

Schwartz said McQuown will be called on to fill the team’s pitching duties.

Last year she was one of three players that shared the duties—with four starts and one

appearance, resulting in a 1-3 record. In 21 2/3 innings, McQuown had nine strikeouts and three walks.

The Indians will also hand the ball to eighth grader Kennedy Klein, who will see her first varsity action.

Other returning letter winners include Emily Banken, who had 13 RBIs, Sarah Nordskog, Halle Johnson, Morgan Hobbs, Anna Andersen, Kelsey Koch and Cora Holland.

Looking around the Top of Iowa Western Division, Schwartz pointed to Lake Mills, North Union and Bishop Garrigan. “And why not us,” Schwartz said with a smile.

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C8 | Wednesday, May 25, 2016

FOREST CITY SUMMIT/BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE SUMMER SPORTS 2016

Players returning to diamond BOB LINK bob.link@globegazette.com‌

‌FOREST CITY — There is a talented group of athletes returning to the baseball and softball diamonds in 2016.

Many of them made their mark one year ago. Several will be ending their careers with the Forest City Indians and the West Hancock Eagles.

Here are some photos featuring some of the area’s best.

Forest City shortstop Anna Andersen fields a ground ball during action in 2015.

West Hancock’s Nick Hunt grabs a throw to first base during a Third baseman Kaitlyn Feuring fires the ball to first base pickoff attempt in 2015. during action in 2015.

LARSEN P &

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Second baseman/pitcher Connor Sonius will return for the West Hancock Indians.

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