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April 20, 2009

Area baseball team preview capsules

Daily Tribune Staff

Adams-Friendship

• Coach: Andy Kolff
• Conference: South Central
• How far they got: Lost to Portage 3-2 in Division 2 regional quarterfinal.
• Top returners: Dustin Davis (Jr., 3B); Tyler Ritchie (Sr., OF/2B); Brandon Sleeman (Jr., P/2B); Cole Trezsniak (Jr., 1B); Tom Baggs (Jr., C/OF); Ryan Johnson (Jr., SS).
• Key newcomers: Kason Morley (So., 2B); Nick Becker, (Fr., C/OF); Kincaid Hodkiewicz (So., P/OF).
• Season outlook: The Green Devils are off to a slow start (0-7, 0-2 South Central), having given up 10 runs or more in each loss.

  Assumption

• Coach: Mike Schulte, eighth year
• Conference: Marawood South
• Last year: 14-6, 12-2 Marawood South
• How far they got: Lost 4-3 to Athens in Division 4 regional semifinal
• Top returners: Alex Erdmann (Sr., SS); Kyle Steele (Sr., C); Adam Irwin (Sr., 1B); Elliot Eichinger (Sr., OF); Ryan Strobel (Sr., 3B/P).
• Key newcomers: Travis Primeau (Soph., 2B/P); Nick Buntrock (Fresh., P/OF); Brad Birkhauser (Fresh., 3B/P/OF); Brad Rosandick (Sr., OF); Colin Reffner (Fresh., UT).
• Season outlook: Assumption lost five seniors off last year's team, including all of its top-flight pitching. Erdmann was a second team all-Marawood pick, while Irwin earned honorable mention honors.

  "Pitching is an area we're trying to develop. We have two freshmen and a sophomore (at the top of the roatation). We do have some solid athletes and we're very athletic," Schulte said. "We're telling kids not to look at the scoreboard. Just try to get better each game. We're hoping when regionals come around that the other team is like, 'I'm hoping we don't get them.' I think we'll be an improved team. Maybe we'll be that team that sneaks up on somebody."

  Pittsville

• Coach: Bill Urban, eight year
• Conference: Marawood South
• Last year: 6-13, 6-8 Marawood South
• How far they got: Lost to Owen-Withee 6-5 in Division 3 regional quarterfinal.
• Top returners: Pat Minor, Brad Zimmendorf, Kyle Krohn, Ryan Schwanebeck, Jordan Rayburn, Gavin Hautala.
• Key newcomers: John Chasteen, Jacob Ortner, James Droste, Troy Van Vleck, Chris Downs.
• Season outlook: "This season will depend on our pitchers' ability to throw strikes," Urban said. "We are a young team and will have to play at a high level to compete with the area teams. Marathon and Stratford are the teams to beat in the Marawood South."

  Port Edwards

• Coach: Tim Martin, first year
• Conference: Central Wisconsin-10
• Last year: 8-11, 6-10 Central Wisconsin Conference-10
• How far they got: Lost in Division 4 regional semifinals.
• Top returners: Adam Neve (Sr., CF); Aaron Eichsteadt (Jr., 1B/P); Jeff Reinke (Jr., C); Dylan Smith (Jr., LF); Matt Weller (Jr., P/3B); Matt Corbett (Soph., SS).
• Key newcomers: Kyle Reinke (Jr., IF); Wes Goodwin (Soph., IF); Brenton Vruwink (Soph., IF); Zach Ghiloni (Soph., C); Max Ayres (Fresh., 2B); Adam Hannigan (Fresh., 1B/P); Zach Koosmann (Fresh., RF).
• Season outlook: With only 13 players out, and just one senior, depth and experience could be a problem, especially early in the season. The Blackhawks welcome back junior Kyle Reinke, who missed the last two seasons with injuries suffered while competing on the ATV circuit.

  "We're hitting the ball much better than I thought we would this early, but we definitely have got to reduce the mental errors we're making," Martin said. "From what I've heard it's the top two teams -- Rosholt and Marion -- and then the next eight. It would be nice to be the best of the eight."

  Wisconsin Rapids

• Coach: Bob Gawlitta, 16th year
• Conference: Wisconsin Valley
• Last year: 13-9, 10-6 Wisconsin Valley
• How far they got: Lost 7-1 to Eau Claire Memorial in Division 1 regional final.
• Top returners: Brent Dobratz (Sr., P/3B); Scott Killian (Sr., OF); Matt Schoff (Sr., 1B); Adam Miner (Sr., P); Jeff Baltus (Jr., SS); Joe Schuerman (Jr., 1B); Cody Knutson (Jr., C); Kade Kolo (Jr., 2B).
• Key newcomers: Joey Fredrick (Soph., OF/C); Gunnar Smith (Soph., P/3B); Brad McCarthy (Jr., OF); Josh Coyer (Jr., 2B/P); Bobby Blom (Jr., OF); Kevin Bengsch (Sr., P/3B); Cory Esselman (Jr., OF); Nick Wittenberg (Jr., C); Kevin Abel (Soph., IF).
• Season outlook: "We're young again, but the kids are a year older and a year stronger, and a little more confident. To have some success last year helps," said Gawlitta, whose team has opened the season 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the Valley. "We don't have anyone that sticks out, but all of them are above average."