Chatfield > Head Coach: Brian Baum. 2018 finishes: 9-7-1 in TRC, 9-9-1 overall (lost to PEM in 1AA East quarters). Key Returnees: Max Aug (So. P/SS > All-TRC), Zach Roline (Sr. P/1B), Seth Allen (Sr. OF), Lincoln Salisbury (Sr. 3B), Henry Gathje (So. C). Synopsis: Gophers graduated two All-TRC picks in Jake Mandt and Robert Crouch. Aug (.489, HR, 6 2B, 8 RBI, 15 R) had a fabulous debut season batting as a frosh. He is the only returning pitcher to toss 10-plus innings (12 1/3 IP, 9.65 ERA, 0-2). Chatfield graduated 80 1/3 of 105 2/3 total innings pitched. The Gopher line-up fluctuated last year, but only Aug was a recurrent top-of-the-order hitter (sometimes led-off). Gathje (.318) also swung a good young bat last year as a frosh. Salisbury, Allen, and Roline are the only three seniors. They were middle to lower of the order hitters last year.
Rushford-Peterson > Head Coach: Jordan Aug. 2018 finishes: 8-8 in TRC, 15-10 overall (Section 1A Champs, state participant, lost to Hinckley-Finlayson in state consolation semis). Key Returnees: Carter Weidemann (Sr. C), Nolan Mueller (Sr. P/IF), Halen Schwendinger (Jr. 3B). Synopsis: Trojans enter coming off state run, but graduated five starters including All-TRC picks in Dawson Dahl (CF), Ben Ansell (P/SS), Shawn Marg (P/1B), and Payton Hahn (P/OF). Another would-be starter (Landon Skalet) is not out. Weidemann (.412, 2 HR, 4 3B, 8 2B, 31 RBI, 16 R) and Schwendinger (.364, 9 2B, 14 RBI, 14 R) bring good bats, as they were “top six” in the order hitters last year. Mueller (10 GP, 27 2/3 IP, 3-3, 5.31 ERA) is the only returning pitcher to toss 10-plus innings. R-P graduated 115 2/3 of 161 innings pitched, and lost 130 2/3 total innings pitched. Weidemann and Mueller are the lone seniors. R-P has as many freshman (8) on varsity as sophomores, juniors, and seniors (8).
GMLOK > Head Coach: Dakotah Rostad (new). 2018 finishes: 6-9 in TRC, 7-10 overall (lost to Byron in 1AA West quarters). Key Returnees: Drew Copley (Sr. P/SS > Missed most of 2018 per injury, All-TRC in 2017), Dylan Lunning (Sr. 3B/P), Jacob Welch (Sr. 1B), Nick Ramaker (Jr. IF/P), Reid Kruegel (Sr. OF/P), Nolan Skifter (Jr. C/P). Synopsis: Rostad takes over for Jamie Fenske as GMLOK’s “manager.” Bulldogs graduated their two All-TRC picks in Zach Myrhe (P/OF) and Zach Bubany (P/SS). They return five every day guys from last year, Welch (.342, 7 RBI, 9 R), Ramaker (.324, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R), Skifter (.324, 11 R), Kruegel (.283, 8 R), and Lunning (.282, 6 RBI, 8 R). All hit .280 or better and are third-year starters. Kruegel presumably returns to the lead-off spot. Two thru four will be somebody new. Copley’s return critically strengthens a pitching corps that graduated 85 2/3 of 88 2/3 innings pitched. As a sophomore, he was an All-TRC pick (.419, HR, 18 RBI, 20 R, 64 2/3, 4-5, 2.06 ERA), the ace of the staff. Kolten Arndorfer (OF/IF) and Christian Millette (2B/C) round-out a 6-man senior class.
Houston > Head Coach: Jason Carrier. 2018 finishes: 4-8 in SEC, 5-11 overall (lost to Schaeffer Academy in 1A East quarters). Key Returnees: Jaytin Millen (Sr. C/P), Jaden Abraham (Jr. P/OF), Cade Roth (Jr. P/OF), Caiden Olson (So. P/IF), Landon Carrier (So. IF). Synopsis: Hurricanes had just an All-SEC HM selection last year (Damon Carrier), and he graduated. Millen (.326, HR, 12 RBI, 11 R), for a second straight year, led the team in hitting. Abraham (10 1/3 IP) is the only returning pitcher to toss over 10 innings. The duo batted two-three (Abraham, Millen) last year. Football and basketball All-SEC pick James Hongerholt (Sr. IF/P) re-joins the team. He was a starter as a sophomore. Alex Alfson (Sr. P/OF) re-joins the teams. He pitched 21 1/3 innings as a sophomore. Dakota Stampka (Sr. IF/OF) and Chace Stroh (Sr. P/OF) make it a five-man senior class.
Mabel-Canton > Head Coach: Karl Urbaniak. 2018 finishes: 1-8 in SEC, 2-12 overall (lost to Southland in 1A East quarters). Key Returnees: Drew Wyffels (Sr. P/SS > All-SEC), Dawson Wilder (Jr. IF), Parker Ingvalson (Jr. IF/P), Randy Gerard (So. 3B), Dawson Wangen (So. IF), Spencer Arnold (Sr. IF). Synopsis: Lead-off man Wyffels head-lines M-C’s cast. A three-time All-SEC pick and four-sport athlete (baseball and track/field in the spring), he will be busy again this season. He hit nearly .600 last year. He and Ingvalson have pitching chops. Jack Arneson (So. IF) returns after missing last year. Brandon Schneider (OF) makes it a three-man senior class. The Cougars have just five combined juniors and seniors. They have five sophomores and nine kids 7th through 9th on varsity.
Fillmore Central/Lanesboro > Head Coach: Kyle Blahnik (new). 2018 finishes: 5-8-2, 5-9-2 (lost to La Crescent in 1AA East quarters). Synopsis: Falcons graduated seven starters and lost a couple kids to the track team. They have zero seniors and just two juniors, so program decides to just play a JV schedule.
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