Baseball Preview (April 2023)

BY TOM ELLIOTT West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — It has been a noteworthy run for the Willmar baseball team the past two seasons, which have included two Central Lakes Conference championships and a state berth in 2021, the fourth in school history.

The Cardinals have done it with a strong off-season program, a lot of work and a lot of top talent. And the bad news for Willmar is that the group that produced that success has graduated. Fourteen seniors and all of last year’s starting nine are long gone, diplomas in hand.

So, the Cardinals are starting fresh. Everyone on the field this spring will be seeing their first extended varsity time.

Tom DeBoer, in his ninth season as coach, thinks the Cards will be fine after going 10-4 in the CLC and 15-7 overall in ‘22.

CARDINALS: Page 4

File Photo

Willmar head baseball coach Tom DeBoer meets with his players prior to a Central Lakes Conference game against Fergus Falls on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar.

Willmar Cardinals Varsity Baseball Schedule 2023

April 11 at Sartell, 5 p.m.

April 13 vs. Rocori, 5 p.m.

April 18 at Fergus Falls, 5 p.m.

April 20 at St. Cloud Crush, 7 p.m.

April 22 vs. Alexandria at Target Field

April 25 vs. Brainerd, 4 p.m.

April 27 at Sauk Rapids, 5 p.m.

May 2 vs. Sartell, 5 p.m.

May 4 at Rocori, 5 p.m.

May 9 vs. Fergus Falls, 5 p.m.

May 11 at Alexandria, 4 p.m.

May 16 vs. St. Cloud Crush, 5 p.m.

May 18 vs. Sauk Rapids, 5 p.m.

CARDINALS

From Page 2

“It has been an extremely competitive spring during practices so far, especially with every position on the field up for grabs,” DeBoer said. “We have a lot of young players (who) will be competing for time on the field this year.”

Some players to watch include Mattix Swanson, Cullen Gregory, Dylan Staska and Mason Thole.

Swanson is a senior outfielder/third baseman/pitcher.

“Mattix is a very athletic player (who) will help our team in a number of places,” DeBoer said. “He has had a great preseason and has been a great leader at practices with all of our underclassmen.”

Gregory is a junior infielder/pitcher who was the starting quarterback in

football and a top player on the hockey team this school year.

“Cullen played in some games down the stretch last season for a conference championship team,” DeBoer said. ‘He brings the most varsity experience to the roster this year.

“He is a solid all-around player (who) will be a big contributor this spring.”

Staska is a junior utility man and pitcher who is coming off a strong VFW baseball season last summer.

“Dylan is a well-rounded player (who) can contribute anywhere on the field defensively,” DeBoer said. “He will also see a lot of action on the mound.”

Thole is a junior catcher/pitcher.

“Mason started a handful of games behind the plate for our team last year and did a great job,” DeBoer said. “Gaining that experience as a sophomore will give him a big advantage heading into this season.”

File photos

Willmar's Dylan Staska runs to first base to get a force out during a VFW baseball game against Litchfield on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar.

Willmar junior Landon Ogdahl fist bumps his teammates as he is announced at the start of a matchup against the Little Falls Flyers at the Green Lakes Baseball Diamonds in Spicer on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

Wildcats have high hopes for the season

New London-Spicer returns seven starters from a 10-11 squad

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West

Central Tribune

SPICER — After a fifth-place finish in the Wright County Conference West Division with a 10-11 overall record in 2022, New London-Spicer has higher hopes for 2023.

“We hope to compete this spring. We hope that our experience and having seven of our nine starters returning helps us this year,” said Kyle Lieser, who returns as NLS co-head coach with Eric

Terres for a fourth year. “With the spring looking like it might be condensed with the weather, we are looking forward to getting outside and playing ball.”

NLS will be led by its seniors, which includes a core of six starters.

Bennett Schultz, a second baseman/ outfielder, returns as the Wildcats’ most efficient hitter in 2022. He hit .327 with a .457 on-base percentage. Gavin Degner returns at third base/pitcher, where he hit .304 at the plate and struck out 12 batters in 15 innings. Aedan Andresen

NLS WILDCATS 2023 Boys Varsity Baseball

April 10 vs. Paynesville, 4:30 p.m.

April 11 vs. ACGC, 4:30 p.m.

April 13 at Dassel-Cokato, 4:30 p.m.

April 17 vs. Litchfield, 4:30 p.m.

April 20 vs. Rockford (DH), 4 p.m.

April 21 vs. Montevideo, 4:30 p.m.

April 27 at Watertown-Mayer (DH), 4:30 p.m.

April 28 at Minnewaska, 4:30 p.m.

May 1 vs. Dassel-Cokato, 4:30 p.m.

May 4 vs. Glencoe-Silver Lake (DH), 4 p.m.

May 8 at Litchfield, 4 p.m.

May 11 at HLWW (DH), 4 p.m.

May 19 vs. Morris/CA, 5 p.m.

May 22 at Annandale, 4:30 p.m. Check

recorded a .290 average with 11 steals.

Joining forces on the mound with Degner are Konnor Rohloff and Reid Holmquist. Rohloff recorded a 0.98 earned-run average and had 15 strikeouts in 22 innings. Holmquist had a 2.33 ERA in 24 innings.

Cole Dolezal will be behind the plate. He caught every inning as a sophomore and junior for the Wildcats.

Additional players to watch noted by Lieser are juniors Luke Knudsen (shortstop/second base), Grant Paffrath

(pitcher/first-third base) and Carson McCain (pitcher/designated hitter).

The Wildcats were 7-7 in the Wright County West last season. Annandale (11-3 conference, 14-9 overall) won the Wright County West. Watertown-Mayer (10-4, 20-7) took second, followed by Glencoe-Silver Lake (8-6, 18-9) and Rockford (8-6, 13-10). Just behind NLS were Litchfield (5-9, 9-13), Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (4-10, 5-14) and Dassel-Cokato (3-11, 3-17).

Photos by Macy Moore/West Central Tribune

Left: NLS junior pitcher Reid Holmquist makes a throw during a non-conference game against Minnewaska Monday, May 9, 2022 at Green Lake Diamonds in Spicer. Right: NLS junior second baseman Bennett Schultz makes a throw to first for an out during a non-conference game against Minnewaska on Monday, May 9, 2022 at Green Lake Diamonds in Spicer.

Young Falcons look for a fresh start

ACGC will be inexperienced on the mound, but returns four starters

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West Central Tribune

ATWATER — Fresh off a top-three finish in Section 3AA, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City enters the 2023 season with a handful of new faces.

“Our group of players come every day with positivity and the eagerness to learn and the want to be a successful baseball team,” ACGC head coach Chris Fellows said. “From day one to now, the team has grown immensely and we are very excited to see where this season takes us.”

Two former players that highlight losses in ACGC’s lineup are seniors Logan Straumann, who currently plays baseball at the University of

Minnesota-Morris, and Jack Peterson. The two veterans helped the Falcons to a 14-9 overall record in 2022.

Straumann, a catcher, was a West Central Tribune All-Area Second Team pick and Peterson, shortstop/ pitcher, was an area honorable mention.

Fellows and company will look toward their core four returning starters

to lead them to another strong season in 2023.

Those starters are seniors Keegan Kessler-Gross and Terrell Renne and sophomores Jaxon Drange-Leyendecker and Tucker Johnson.

Renne returns as one of ACGC’s top hitters from 2022. He hit .292 with a .308 slugging percentage and 13 RBIs on 19 hits.

“We are excited about

the upcoming season,” Fellows said. “We lost a great group of seniors this last season with a ton of varsity experience. We have a lot of question marks on our team, but that is what makes it exciting.”

Arguably one of ACGC’s biggest question marks will come on the mound. The Falcons return just one inning of pitching experience from 2022.

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ACGC FALCONS 2023 Varsity Baseball

April 4 at Dassel-Cokato, 4:30 p.m.

April 6 at Litchfield, 5 p.m.

April 11 at NLS, 4:30 p.m.

April 14 vs. Minnewaska, 4:30 p.m.

April 17 vs. Paynesville, 4:30 p.m.

April 20 vs. Royalton (DH), 4 p.m.

April 25 at Eden Valley-Watkins, 4:30 p.m.

April 27 at Maple Lake (2), 4 p.m.

May 1 at BBE, 4:30 p.m.

May 4 vs. Kimball (2), 11:30 a.m. at St. Cloud

May 8 at Paynesville, 4:30 p.m.

May 11 at Holdingford (DH), 4 p.m.

May 16 vs. Eden Valley-Watkins, 4:30 p.m.

May 18 vs. BBE, 4:30 p.m.

May 19 vs. West Central Area, 5 p.m.

May 23 vs. Montevideo, 4:30 p.m.

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune ACGC head coach Chris Fellows talks to his team prior to the start of a Central Minnesota Conference game against Eden Valley-Watkins on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at Kingery Field in Atwater.

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West Central Tribune

BENSON — Benson finished with a 1-18 overall record last season and will look to improve in 2023 behind eight returning starters.

Leading the way as players to watch noted by second-year head coach Tom Foley are sophomore pitcher Alex Claussen and freshman shortstop Max Nygaard.

“Alex had some very good innings on the mound last year as a ninth-grader. He has continued to gain some velocity and has become stronger over the summer,” Foley said. “Max was called up to play as an eighth-grader when we had some injuries at shortstop. He has a quick bat and is very quick on the base paths.”

There are three upperclassmen that return to Benson’s starting lineup: senior

Benson hopes experience pays off in 2023

infielder/pitcher AJ Klassen and juniors in third baseman/pitcher Garret Lenz and outfielder Mason Moe.

Also returning to the starting lineup are sophomores in catcher Grant Gunlogson, first baseman/pitcher Jack Storlien and second baseman/pitcher

Zach Wrobleski.

The Braves were 1-13 in West Central Conference action in 2022. Morris/ Chokio-Alberta won the conference, going 13-1 in the WCC and 18-5 overall. Sauk Centre (10-4, 13-7) and Minnewaska (10-4, 13-9) tied for second and Melrose (8-6, 10-10) was third, followed by Montevideo (7-6, 9-9), West Central Area (3-10, 3-12) and BOLD (3-11, 3-15).

Benson hopes to open the season on April 14 against St. John’s Prep at Schneider Field in St. Joseph after having to reschedule its first doubleheaders of the season because of inclement weather.

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune Benson junior shortstop Reece Larson comes up with a pop fly for an out during a West Central Conference game against BOLD on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at Benson.

BBE sophomore third baseman Luke Dingmann makes a throw across the diamond for an out at first during a

game against ACGC on Monday, May 2, 2022 at Kingery Field in Atwater. BBE junior first baseman Tanner Shelton extends out to get an out

a

Conference game against ACGC on Monday, May 2, 2022 at Kingery Field in Atwater.

BBE has a new coach, strong core

Ben Klaphake takes over the helm for Jaguars, where Tanner Shelton and Luke Dingmann are key returnees

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West Central Tribune

ELROSA — With some key pieces returning to its lineup, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa will look to improve upon its 2022 season, where it finished with a 14-12 record.

“While we only return four starters from last year’s team, we have some good young talent who are going to compete for playing time,” said BBE head coach Ben Klaphake, who enters his first season at the helm of the Jaguars after replacing long-time head coach Pat Illies. “I expect us to improve as the year goes on and compete each and every day. We are going to rely on good pitching and a solid defense.”

The biggest pieces returning, according to Klaphake, are senior Tanner Shelton

and junior Luke Dingmann.

Shelton, a 6-foot-2 first baseman/ pitcher/catcher, held an OPS (On-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.328 and a 1.61 earned-run average in summer ball.

“Tanner is a huge returning piece for us,” Klaphake said. “He is a middle of the lineup hitter who can use all parts of the field.”

Dingmann, a 6-4 third baseman/pitcher, returns for a second straight season at third base when he is not pitching.

“(Luke’s) glove has improved a ton and we are looking forward to him hitting in the middle of our lineup, along with contributing on the mound,” Klaphake said.

“(He) has power to all parts of the field and uses his athleticism on the base paths.

Rounding out the returning starters for BBE are senior pitcher Talen

Kampsen and sophomore shortstop/ pitcher Luke Illies.

“We, as a coaching staff, are excited to

see the identity this team forms and to see the progress we make throughout the year,” Klaphake said.

2023 Varsity Baseball BBE JAQUARS

MAY 12 .......TBA, 4:30 P.M. AT ELROSA

MAY 13 ...........TBA, 11 A.M. AT ELROSA

MAY 15 ......VS. PAYNESVILLE, 4:30 P.M.

MAY 18 ..................AT ACGC, 4:30 P.M.

MAY 19 ......AT MAPLE LAKE (DH), 4 P.M.

MAY 25 ........VS. UPSALA/SWANVILLE ...........................................AREA, 5 P.M.

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune

Central Minnesota Conference

during

Central Minnesota

BOLD looking for a return to form

All of Warriors’ starters return after going 3-15 last season

BY JOE BROWN West Central Tribune

BIRD ISLAND — A young BOLD squad took some lumps in 2022. After that experience, the Warriors hope to be a battle-hardened team this spring.

“Last year, we had a very tough year, but we didn’t have any seniors and only one junior who played,” said BOLD head coach Brian Kingery, who is 204-86 in 12 seasons as head coach, including state championships in 2013 and ‘19.

“We were very young. We are looking to take a step forward this season and hoping to be more competitive this season.”

In ‘22, the Warriors went 3-15 overall and 3-11 in the West Central Conference. It was a stark contrast to BOLD’s recent success. The previous four seasons, the Warriors combined for a 78-18 record, winning 20 games in 2021 and ‘19. There was no season in ‘20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tate Sheenan is back as BOLD’s top offensive player. The junior catcher/ pitcher batted .475 with 28 hits, seven doubles, 10 RBIs, nine runs and eight stolen bases, all team highs. On the

mound, he went 1-2 with 17 strikeouts and a 9.86 ERA.

Sheehan is one of four juniors returning to the lineup, joining Rylan Gass, Max Benson and Hunter Melvin. Gass was BOLD’s top pitcher last season, going 2-5 with a 3.87 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 34-1/3 innings. Benson is back in the outfield after batting .22 with six runs scored. Melvin returns as an infield option.

Senior first baseman Mason Uhlenkamp is back after hitting .211 in 27 plate appearances. The Warriors have another senior, Sam Sigurdson, that Kingery hopes can strengthen the pitching staff.

Four sophomores return to the lineup: outfielder/catcher Owen Flann; infielder/pitcher Daylan Weber; infielder/ pitcher Jack Kaiser; and outfielder

Freshman Hayden Edwards is back on the roster after making 49 plate appearances and tossing 8-1/3 innings as an

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune

Above: BOLD sophomore Jack Kaiser, right, beats the tag by a Benson infielder for a stolen base during a West Central Conference game on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at Benson. Below: BOLD sophomore pitcher Rylan Gass stares down the plate to set up a throw during a West Central Conference game against Benson on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at Benson.

CMCS banks on its experience

Bluejays return 10 starters from a young team that went 4-8 in 2022

BY MICHAEL LYNE West Central Tribune

PRINSBURG — With 10 returning starters, Central Minnesota Christian hopes to build on its 2022 season and string together early wins in its 2023 campaign.

The Bluejays’ overall record and Camden Conference record were both under .500 in 2022. They were 3-7 in the Camden and 4-8 overall, falling 14-4 to Yellow Medicine East in the first round of the Section 3A playoffs.

“As the season gets shorter and shorter, hopefully we can rattle off some wins very quickly to make some noise this year in the Camden,” said Jordon Daugherty,

The Bluejays have seven upperclassmen returning in 2023. That core group is led by seniors Ethan Bulthuis and Josh Nelson.

Bulthuis is a 6-foot-2 pitcher/shortstop and Nelson is a 5-10 pitcher/catcher.

“These two are the leaders of the team,” Daugherty said. “They will be leaned on to do a ton of pitching and offense for us.”

Joining Bulthuis and Nelson to round out the senior group are Ben Ryks and Maz Muzix. Ryks is a 5-8 first baseman/pitcher and Muzix is a pitcher/right fielder.

CMCS also has a trio of sophomores and freshmen returning to its starting lineup.

The three juniors are Kadin Dehmlow, Braelin Rime and Payton Meyer.

Dehmlow (catcher/pitcher) and Meyer (left fielder) are both 5-8. Rime is a 5-6

The three sophomores are Drew Duininck, Wesley Fussy and Riley Broberg. All of them are primarily pitchers. Duininck is a 6-0 pitcher/shortstop. Fussy and Broberg are both 5-9, except Fussy’s secondary position is infield while Broberg’s is outfield.

CMCS BLUEJAYS 2022-23 Varsity Baseball Schedule

April 11 vs. Buffalo Lake-HectorStewart, 4:30 p.m.

April 13 vs. KMS, 4:30 p.m.

April 18 vs. Dawson-Boyd, 4:30 p.m.

April 21 vs. Minneota, 4:30 p.m.

April 25 vs. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 4:30 p.m.

April 28 at RCW, 4:30 p.m.

April 29 vs. Edgerton, noon

April 29 vs. Hancock, 3:30 p.m.

May 1 at ORTONVILLE, 4:30 p.m.

May 2 vs. Canby, 4:30 p.m.

May 8 at TMB, 4:30 p.m.

May 11 at LQPV, 4:30 p.m.

May 15 at LAKEVIEW, 4:30 p.m.

May 18 at YME, 4:30 p.m.

May 22 at MACCRAY, 4:30 p.m.

Schedule sponsored by:

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune

Above: CMCS freshman third baseman Wesley Fussy waits to field a chopper during a Camden Conference game against YME on Monday, May 16, 2022 in Prinsburg. Below: CMCS sophomore catcher Kadin Dehmlow is greeted at the dugout by assistant coach Mason Dehmlow during a Camden Conference game against YME on Monday, May 16, 2022 in Prinsburg.

Dawson-Boyd junior Aiden Swenson looks on as he hits the ball to the outfield for a double during a Camden Conference game against MACCRAY on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at Lilleberg Field in Raymond. Macy Moore/West Central Tribune

Lots of experience gives Dawson-Boyd hope

Five starters and 13 letterwinners are back and ready to go for the Blackjacks

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West Central Tribune

DAWSON — Dawson-Boyd returns

13 letterwinners and five players to its starting lineup for the 2023 season.

The Blackjacks held an 8-8 overall record in 2022 with a 6-5 mark in the Camden Conference.

“Our infield will be led by two-year starter Blake Thompson and one-year starters Grayson Olson, Tygan Long and Kameron Sather,” said Dawson-Boyd head coach Daren Swenson, who enters his seventh season at the helm of the Blackjacks. “Our outfield will be led by three-year starter Aiden Swenson.”

Swenson, a senior center fielder/ utility player, is Dawson-Boyd’s top returning hitter. He batted .381 and recorded a .500 on-base percentage with 16 hits, 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored.

Thompson, a junior, and Long, a sophomore, were the Blackjacks’ top pitching duo last season.

Thompson threw 37-1/3 innings in eight games, holding a 3-3 record with a 4.875 ERA, 21 strikeouts and 15 walks. Long pitched 30-2/3 innings in eight games, earning a 4-0 record with a 3.424 ERA, 18 strikeouts and 15 walks.

The Blackjacks finished in the middle of the pack in the Camden, which was won by Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg. The Fighting Saints went 11-0 in the conference and 21-3 overall. MACCRAY (7-4, 17-7), Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (7-4, 16-7), Lac qui Parle Valley (7-4, 14-7), Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (7-4, 13-8) and Yellow Medicine East (7-4, 11-9) all tied for second. Just below Dawson-Boyd in the Camden were: Minneota (5-5, 7-8), Central Minnesota Christian (3-7, 4-8), Renville County West (2-9, 4-11), Lakeview (1-9, 2-13) and Canby (1-9, 1-11).

DAWSON BOYD BLACKJACKS 2022-23 Varsity Baseball Schedule

April 11at Ortonville, 4:30 p.m.

April 13 vs. Russell-TylerRuthton, 4:30 p.m.

April 14 at Clinton-GracevilleBeardsley, 4:30 p.m.

April 18 at CMCS, 4:30 p.m.

April 25 vs. TMB, 4:30 p.m.

April 28 at Lakeview, 4:30 p.m.

May 2 at LQPV, 4:30 p.m.

May 4 at Canby, 4:30 p.m.

May 8 vs. RCW, 4:30 p.m.

May 11 vs. YME, 4:30 p.m.

May 15 vs. MACCRAY, 4:30 p.m.

May 18 vs. KMS, 4:30 p.m.

May 22 at Minneota, 4:30 p.m.

Check the schools website for a updated events list Schedule sponsored by:

WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West Central Tribune

KERKHOVEN — Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg is fresh off an 11-0 Camden Conference record and 21-3 overall mark from the 2022 season.

But it enters 2023 with the loss of two key players.

Gone are Wylee Lottman and Alex Call. Both are currently playing college ball. Lottman attends the University of Wisconsin-Superior and Call attends Bethel University.

“With the loss of Wylee (Lottman) and Alex (Call) — our main battery from a season ago — we have some holes to fill,” said Wade Adamson, who enters his second season as the KMS head coach. “We feel with certain kids being another year older, we should be able to overcome those losses as a team.”

Leading the charge to fill the void are a trio of seniors in Chase

KMS has some big shoes to fill

The Fighting Saints, coming off a 21-3 record, must replace Alex Call and Wylee Lottman

KMS pitcher Jared Cortez throws for the Saints as they played on the road against Paynesville on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Bottom left: KMS sophomore Luke Jeseritz catches a pop fly during a Section 6A baseball tournament matchup against New York Mills on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at Minnewaska Area High School. Bottom right: KMS junior third baseman Jaiden Henjum throws the ball across the diamond for an out during a Section 6A game against New York Mills on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at Marthaler Field in Glenwood.

Magaard, Jaiden Henjum and Isaac Rudningen and a trio of juniors in Jared Cortez, Luke Jeseritz and Evan Zimmer.

Henjum, Cortez and Magaard will be at the forefront of KMS’ pitching staff and offense.

Henjum pitched 21-2/3 innings, holding a 5-0 record with a 0.65 earned-run average and 29 strikeouts. Cortez recorded a 2.95 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. Magaard threw 15-2/3 innings, where he held opposing batters to a .175 batting average and struck out 19 hitters.

Rudningen joins Cortez and Henjum who batted over .300 at the plate in 2022. Cortez led the way with a .440 batting average.

“We expect to be very competitive in the conference and section once again,” Adamson said. “We will need some kids to step up, but we feel we have some that are capable of competing up at the varsity level.”

KMS FIGHTING SAINTS 2022-23 Varsity Baseball

April 3 at Canby, 4:30 p.m.

April 11 vs. BBE, 5 p.m.

April 13 at CMCS, 4:30 p.m.

April 18 vs. YME, 4:30 p.m

April 21 at Brandon-Evansville, 5 p.m.

April 25 at Minneota, 4:30 p.m.

April 27 vs. Benson, 5 p.m.

April 28 vs. MACCRAY, 4:30 p.m.

May 2 at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 4:30 p.m

May 4 vs. TMB, 5 p.m.

May 8 vs. Lakeview, 4:30 p.m.

May 11 at RCW, 4:30 p.m.

May 12 TBA 4:30 p.m. at Elrosa

May 13 TBA at Elrosa

May 15 vs. LQPV, 4:30 p.m.

May 18 at Dawson-Boyd, 4:30 p.m.

Photos by Macy Moore/West Central Tribune

New coach, fresh faces dot LQPV roster

Alumnus Darby Bjorgan takes over Eagles for long-time head coach Bart Hill, who retired

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West Central Tribune

MADISON — Lac qui Parle Valley

enters the 2023 season with plenty of fresh faces.

Darby Bjorgan enters his first season as the LQPV head coach. He replaces long-time head coach Bart Hill, who coached the Eagles for 27 seasons and had a 378-211 record. Bjorgan also was a former player and played under Hill in 1998 and ‘99.

Coming off a 14-7 season in 2022, the Eagles return one starter to their lineup in junior pitcher/outfielder T.J. Mitchell. Mitchell batted .220 his sophomore year with six RBIs and six runs scored.

“Our team will be young and inexperienced,” Bjorgan said, “But that can be just as much a positive as it is a negative.”

Dyllon Geiser returns for the Eagles after missing his sophomore season due to a knee injury.

Other players to watch according to Bjorgan include: seniors Ethan Schommer and Joseph Ramsbacher and juniors Kaden Molden, Peyton Rademacher, Kaden Mortenson, Cael Benson and Bradyn Danzeisen.

“With little returning experience, everything will be wide open for us,” Bjorgan said. “These players have logged significant innings the last two years at the JV level and should bring good baseball IQ to the varsity level this year.”

LQPV went 7-4 in the Camden Conference last season, tying for second place. The Eagles made a long run through the Section 3A playoffs, opening with wins over Lakeview (9-1) and Yellow Medicine East (7-0). After falling to Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (3-2), LQPV moved into the losers’ bracket at Milroy. They beat Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 15-2, then saw their season end with a 12-1 loss to Murray County Central.

LQPV Eagles 2023 Varsity Baseball Schedule

April 13 at RCW, 4:30 p.m.

April 14 vs. Ortonville, 5 p.m.

April 18 vs. TMB, 4:30 p.m.

April 20 vs. Hancock, 4:30 p.m.

April 25 at MACCRAY, 4:30 p.m.

April 28 at YME, 4:30 p.m.

May 2 vs. Dawson-Boyd, 4:30 p.m.

May 4 vs. Lakeview, 4:30 p.m.

May 8 at Canby, 4:30 p.m.

May 9 vs. Morris/CA, 5 p.m.

May 11 vs. CMCS, 4:30 p.m.

May 13 vs. TBA, 10:30 a.m. at Madison

May 13 vs. TBA, 1 p.m. at Madison

May 15 at KMS, 4:30 p.m.

May 16 at Pipestone, 4:30 p.m.

May 18 vs. Minneota, 4:30 p.m.

May 23 vs. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 4:30 p.m.

Schedule sponsored by:

Dragons hope to build on last season’s highlights

BY MICHAEL LYNE West Central Tribune

LITCHFIELD — Litchfield enters the 2023 season with a positive outlook for the future.

A young team in 2022, the Dragons had inconsistent pitching that led to their second losing record in the past 17 years. Litchfield finished the season with a 9-13 overall record and 5-9 record in the Wright County West.

But some big wins throughout 2022 has Litchfield’s hopes up this season. The Dragons beat the Wright County West champion in Annandale, the Section 5AA champion in Watertown-Mayer and the No. 1 seed in Section 5AA in Southwest Christian.

“With all but three starters returning, including the entire pitching staff, the Dragons have good reason for optimism entering the 2023 season,” Litchfield head coach Jeff Wollin said. “With the addition of several players from another

winning JV team, a dozen or more players will have the opportunity to compete for a role as the Dragons look to return to their customary spot among the contenders in the perennially strong Wright County Conference and Section 5AA. The key will be how much improvement these players have made after gaining valuable experience last spring and summer.”

Litchfield returns three full-time and six part-time starters to its lineup in 2023.

The trio of full-timers coming back are seniors Caden Besemer and Connor Taber and junior Hunter Schultz. Besemer is listed as a pitcher/catcher/infielder, Taber is an infielder and Schultz is an outfielder/pitcher.

“Caden is our best pitcher, catcher and most versatile player. As a third-year varsity player, he should be a key hitter near the top of our lineup and an experienced leader,” Wollin said, “Hunter was our leading hitter last year as a sophomore.

… He leads by example by working hard in practice and playing hard in games.”

The Dragons also have four seniors who return as part-time starters from 2022. That core of players are infielder/ pitcher Calvin Jones, pitcher/outfielder Ashton Sullivan, catcher/pitcher/third

baseman Bradley Larson and pitcher/first baseman/third baseman Owen Carlson. Returning as part-timers who are looking to make an impact as well are junior outfielder Jack McCann and sophomore catcher/outfielder/third baseman Anthony Estrada.

LITCHFIELD DRAGONS

2023 Baseball Schedule

April 6 vs. ACGC, 5 p.m.

April 13 at Rockford, 4:30 p.m.

April 15 at Southwest Christian, 5 p.m.

April 17 at NLS, 4:30 p.m.

April 18 vs. Maple Lake, 4:30 p.m.

April 20 vs. Glencoe-Silver Lake (DH), 4 p.m.

April 24 at Watertown-Mayer, 4:30 p.m.

April 27 vs. HLWW (DH), 4 p.m.

for a winning season!

April 28 vs. Eden Valley-Watkins, 7 p.m.

May 1 vs. Rockford, 4:30 p.m.

May 4 at Dassel-Cokato (DH), 4 p.m.

May 8 vs. NLS, 4 p.m.

May 11 at Annandale (DH), 4 p.m.

May 13 vs, Zumbrota-Mazeppa, noon at U of M

May 15 vs. Watertown-Maye

Sponsored

to the ACGC Falcons & to the Litchfield Dragons

Photos by Macy Moore/West Central Tribune

Left: Litchfield freshman Anthony Estrada, left, beats the throw home to score a run after a wild pitch during a non-conference game against EV-W on Monday, May 23, 2022 at Watkins. Right: Litchfield junior Caden Besemer fires off a pitch during a non-conference game against EV-W on Monday, May 23, 2022 at Watkins.

Litchfield had some big wins in an uncharacteristic 9-13 season in 2022

MACCRAY aims for a return to state

Wolverines must do it without three All-Area players after finishing fifth in Class A in 2022

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West Central Tribune

CLARA CITY — Long-time MACCRAY head coach Nate Hebrink enters the 2023 season with a handful of returners that will look to step up in replacing three graduated Wolverines who were on the West Central Tribune All-Area Team in 2022.

The three all-area picks were catcher/ pitcher Dreyer Homan (first team), pitcher/outfielder Brooks Asche (second team) and shortstop Isaac Strommer (second team). The trio all currently plays in collegiate ball.

Homan plays baseball at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul. Asche plays at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. Strommer plays at Bethel University.

MACCRAY is coming off a 2022 campaign where it held a 17-7 overall record and made an appearance in the Class A state tournament for the first time in 13 years.

MACCRAY won the Section 3A title by beating Russell-Tyler-Ruthton two out of three, including a 2-1 victory in the final at Milroy. That sent the Wolverines to state, where they lost 10-0 in five innings to Randolph in the Class A quarterfinals at St. Cloud’s Joe Faber Field. MACCRAY then captured the consolation championship with a 5-1 victory over Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale, then a dramatic, 8-7 victory over New Ulm Cathedral in the fifth-place final.

The Wolverines will look toward seniors Joe Heidecker and Emery Aker to lead them back to that territory. The two veterans return to MACCRAY’s starting lineup as the only upperclassmen. More returnees to the Wolverines starting lineup are sophomores Grayson Ahrenholz, Ethan Strommer, Xavier Noble and Jase Dirksen.

Other noted players to watch by Hebrink are sophomores Wyatt Swenson, Keegan Rand, Angel Mendoza and Tobyn Dalle.

MACCRAY WOLVERINES 2023 Varsity

April 13 at YME, 4:30 p.m.

April 18 vs. Lakeview, 4:30 p.m.

April 20 at Montevideo, 5 p.m.

April 22 vs. St. Clair at Wellcome, TBA

April 22 vs. TBA at Wellcome, TBA

April 25 vs. LQPV, 4:30 p.m.

April 28 at KMS, 4:30 p.m.

May 2 at TMB, 4:30 p.m.

Baseball

May 4 vs. RCW, 4:30 p.m.

May 8 at Russell-TylerRuthton, 4:30 p.m.

May 11 vs. Minneota, 4:30 p.m.

May 15 at Dawson-Boyd, 4:30 p.m.

May 16 vs, Adrian/Ellsworth, 4:30 p.m.

May 18 at Canby, 4:30 p.m.

May 22 vs. CMCS, 4:30 p.m.

May 25 vs. Ortonville, 4:30 p.m.

Joe Brown/West Central Tribune MACCRAY head baseball coach Nate Hebrink addresses his team prior to the start of Game 1 of the Section 3A championship against R-T-R on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at Yankee Field in Milroy.

Optimism abounds for Lakers in 2023

Minnewaska returns a strong nucleus from a 13-9 team in 2022

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune

Big summer gives Thunder Hawks hope for

Montevideo won the state Junior Legion Division II state title last August

BY MICHAEL LYNE West Central Tribune

MONTEVIDEO — The Montevideo

Thunder Hawks enter the 2023 season with confidence.

Montevideo returns six starters and many of its players won the Division II Junior Legion state championship last summer 2022.

These factors have the Thunder Hawks feeling optimistic after a 9-10 season in 2022.

a big year

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West

Central Tribune

GLENWOOD — With plenty of youthful returning starters coming back for the 2023 season, Minnewaska will look to build on its 13-9 overall record from 2022.

“(We) return a strong nucleus from last year’s very successful season,” Minnewaska head coach Joe Alexander said.

“Our ability to fill a few slots in our

lineup and in our rotation will determine our level of success in the very tough West Central Conference and in Section 3AA play.”

Leading Minnewaska’s core of returning players is junior Dylan Alexander. The catcher/outfielder/pitcher was a West Central Tribune All-Area First Team selection last season.

LAKERS: Page 17

MINNEWASKA LAKERS

2023 Boys Varsity Baseball

April 4 at Melrose (DH), 4 p.m.

April 6 vs. Redwood Valley, 5 p.m.

April 11 vs. BOLD, 4:30 p.m.

April 14 at ACGC, 4:30 p.m.

April 18 at Morris/CA, 5 p.m.

April 21 at BOLD, 5 p.m.

April 25 vs. Sauk Centre (DH), 4 p.m.

April 28 vs. NLS, 4:30 p.m.

May 2 at Montevideo (DH), 4 p.m.

May 4 vs. Osakis, 4:30 p.m.

May 9 at West Central Area (DH), 4 p.m.

May 12 at Fergus Falls, 5 p.m.

May 16 vs. Benson (DH), 4 p.m.

May 19 at Paynesville, 4:30 p.m.

May 22 vs. Morris/CA, 5 p.m.

“(We feel we) will be in the hunt for a conference title and could also contend for a Section 3AA title,” said Montevideo head coach Tim Epema, who enters his 17th season at the helm.

Montevideo senior Brady Snell highlights the list of returners.

Snell, a 6–foot-1 pitcher/first baseman, won the 2022 West Central Conference Most Valuable Player award and was a West Central Tribune All-Area Second Team selection. He held a .444 batting average and a 4-4 record with a 1.25 earned-run average. He struck out 62 in 44-2/3 innings on the mound, holding

opponents to a .179 batting average. Montevideo also returns a pair of all-conference seniors in left fielder/ designated hitter Grayson Eisenlohr and utility player Ethan Moravetz.

Seniors Mason Jerve and Luke Kuno and junior Cooper Dack also return as starters for Montevideo.

The Junior Legion Division II State Tournament was played Aug. 4-6 in Ely. Montevideo opened with a 4-3 victory over Ely. It then beat Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 8-2 in the semifinals. Montevideo then beat Le Sueur-Henderson 2-1 in the championship game to claim the title. This year’s Junior Legion Division II State Tournament is in Granite Falls.

MONTEVIDEO THUNDER HAWKS 2023 Varsity Baseball

April 4 vs. BOLD, 5 p.m.

April 18 at Sauk Centre (DH), 4 p.m.

April 20 vs. MACCRAY, 5 p.m.

April 21 at NLS, 4:30 p.m.

April 25 vs. West Central Area (DH), 4 p.m.

April 27 at BOLD, 5 p.m.

May 1 vs. YME, 5 p.m.

May 2 vs. Minnewaska (DH), 4 p.m.

May 5 at Paynesville, 6:30 p.m.

May 9 at Benson (DH), 4 p.m.

May 12 at Redwood Valley, 5 p.m.

May 16 vs. Melrose, 4 p.m.

May 23 at ACGC, 4:30 p.m.

Check

Schedule sponsored by:

Minnewaska junior catcher PJ Johnson, right, tags out NLS' Gavin Radabaugh at home to end the bottom of the fourth inning during a non-conference game Monday, May 9, 2022 at Green Lake Diamonds in Spicer.

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune Montevideo sophomore Cooper Dack fires off a pitch during a West Central Conference game against Melrose on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Montevideo.

Bulldogs hope to reload after a great 2022 season

LAKERS

From Page 16

Alexander hit .488 with a .577 on-base percentage. He also held a 1.000 fielding percentage.

“Dylan is a tremendous all-around player,” Joe Alexander said. “He is as good of a hitter as you will see at our level of high school baseball. He also does an excellent job commanding the game from behind the plate, limiting the opponents’ base running with an elite arm and putting our pitchers in great positions to succeed with his ability to call a game.”

PJ Johnson, a pitcher/catcher/infielder and two-time All-West Central Conference honorable mention, also returns to

Minnewaska as a senior leader.

Joe Alexander noted Johnson is a player to watch alongside Jack Majerus, a junior outfielder/infielder/pitcher, who will lead-off for the Lakers this season.

Majerus was an All-WCC pick and broke the program record for stolen bases.

Nathan Dell (infield/outfield/pitcher), Alex Panitzke (pitcher/infield/outfield), Ryland Martin (pitcher/infield/outfield), Levi Johnson (pitcher/infield) and Noah Jensen (catcher/infield/outfield/pitcher) also return as starters for the Lakers.

“We will, again, rely on our great team defense and tremendous overall team speed to put us in a strong position to succeed,” Joe Alexander said. “If our hitting and pitching continue to develop at the rate we have seen so far, (the team) should be as complete a team as there is.”

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune Sloshing through a wet infield, Minnewaska sophomore third baseman Ryland Martin fields a ground ball during a nonconference game against NLS on Monday, May 9, 2022 at Green Lake Diamonds in Spicer.

fresh off a 21-2 record and section runner-up

Paynesville,

year, must develop a young pitching staff

BY MICHAEL LYNE West Central Tribune

PAYNESVILLE — Paynesville enters the 2023 season off a strong 2022 campaign, where the Bulldogs finished with a 21-2 overall record and 14-0 Central Minnesota Conference record.

Paynesville’s pair of losses from last season came against Fairmont in the Section 3AA championship. The Cardinals went on to capture their first Class AA state title.

With question marks around its pitching staff, Paynesville is hoping its young pitchers develop well by the postseason.

The Bulldogs will be without their ace in senior pitcher Eli Nelson, who suffered a torn ACL during basketball season, and will miss the entire season. He held a 6-1 record on the mound and hit .454 at the plate.

“We will really miss Eli,” Paynesville

head coach Brad Skoglund said. “We have only three wins returning from our pitching staff. We have some good young pitchers, but will they get outs at the varsity level is a huge question mark.

“I think we may take some lumps early as our pitching will need time to develop. But I think we could be a decent team around tournament time.”

Paynesville’s pitching staff this season includes juniors Bryce VanderBeek, Josiah Utsch and Brandon Carlson.

The Bulldogs’ top returner in 2023 is senior shortstop Grayson Fuchs. He batted .446 last season and plans to continue his baseball career at St. Cloud State University.

Other returnees include: seniors Max Athmann (outfield/catcher/second base), Austin Pauls (center field) and Spencer Eisenbraun (third base), and junior Isaac Lieser (catcher).

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune Paynesville pitcher Eli Nelson stares down his next pitch while taking on New London-Spicer at home on Monday, April 11, 2022.

PAYNESVILLE BULLDOGS 2022-23 Varsity Baseball

May 4 vs. Maple Lake (DH), noon at St. Cloud

May 5 vs. Montevideo, 6:30 p.m.

May 8 vs. ACGC, 4:30 p.m.

April 17 at ACGC, 4:30 p.m.

April 20 vs. Holdingford (DH), 4 p.m.

April 25 vs. BBE, 4:30 p.m.

April 27 at Royalton (DH), 4 p.m.

May 1 at Eden Valley-Watkins, 4:30 p.m.

May 11 at Kimball (DH), 4 p.m.

May 15 at BBE, 4:30 p.m.

May 18 vs. Eden Valley-Watkins, 4:30 p.m.

May 19 vs. Minnewaska, 4:30 p.m.

YME has lots of experience

Sting will be led by eight seniors and five juniors after going 11-9 last season

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West Central Tribune

GRANITE FALLS —

Coming off an 11-9 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the Camden Conference, Yellow Medicine East returns much of its core for the 2023 season, including eight seniors and five juniors.

“We have a large

number of players who have had varsity experience,” Sting head coach Trevor Schulte said. “They are a great group of kids who come ready to play each and every day. They are looking to improve on last year’s accomplishments and create their own success.”

Leading the charge for YME will be seniors Cody

Dahlager and Bryce Sneller, both of whom return as three-year starters.

Sneller batted .343 with 16 RBIs and Dahlager hit .310 with 14 RBIs. Sneller also pitched 34-1/3 innings with 44 strikeouts and Dahlager had 6-2/3 innings on the mound with 13 strikeouts.

Schulte also listed seniors Nolan Hildahl and

Jake Odegard and juniors Drew Almich and Connor Fagen as players to watch for YME.

Hildahl and Odegard are two-year starters. Almich and Fagen both broke out as starters in the 2022 season.

Odegard recorded a .283 batting average with 10 RBIs and Hildahl hit .182 with seven RBIs. Almich

Jaguars hope to up their batting average

Renville County West had no player hit .300 last year, but hopes are high

BY MICHAEL LYNE

West Central Tribune

RENVILLE — Renville County West will look for a better finish to the 2023 season behind its pitching and defense.

The Jaguars, who finished with a 4-11 overall record in 2022, return six starters to their lineup.

Seniors Isaac Haen and Carter Rice and sophomore Griffin Howard will be at the forefront of RCW’s lineup, which is looking to hit the ball at a higher percentage this season.

Haen, an outfielder/ catcher, batted a teamhigh .273 in 2022. Howard, a shortstop/pitcher, hit .267 and Rice, a third baseman/pitcher, held a .233 average at the plate.

“Everyone wants to win

the conference and play for the section title and that also includes us,” RCW first-year head coach Steve Agre said. “But I also want to improve each day and each week to be a fun team to watch come playoffs.”

Also returning to the Jaguars as starters are senior outfielders Eddie Morales and Carson Allex and junior outfielder Jack Wertish.

Agre noted the following players as some to keep an eye on this season: juniors Trevor Peterson (first base/pitcher), Brendan Petesron (infield/pitcher), Zac Gustafson (infield/ pitcher) and sophomores Braylon Hinderks (outfield), Austin Rice (catcher) and Jacob Valdovinos (infield/pitcher).

“All these players except

spring

Jacob played last year and had a good junior varsity season for us last year and did get their feet wet on varsity,” Agre said. “Jacob is a very athletic player with a huge upside.”

RCW went 2-9 in Camden Conference play, picking up league wins over Central Minnesota Christian and Canby. They then lost to Dawson-Boyd in the first round of the Section 3A playoffs.

pitched 25-2/3 innings, the third most of any YME player in 2022, with 28 strikeouts. Fagen added 10 innings on the mound with seven strikeouts for the Sting.

“We are anxiously awaiting our first day outside as this will provide us a glimpse of who we are as a team and what improvements we need and can

make,” Schulte said. “We will need to take each game one at a time, and hopefully, we will be playing our best baseball by the end of the season.”

Also returning are seniors Landon Anderson, Tarrick Rupp, Nahum Tarin and Owen Torvik, and juniors Owen Cherveny, Andrew Flaten and Adam Stengel.

YME Sting 2023 Varsity Baseball Schedule

Macy Moore/West Central Tribune YME junior Cody Dahlager slides safely into home for a run during a Camden Conference game against CMCS on Monday, May 16, 2022 in Prinsburg.