Fillmore Central/Lanesboro > Head Coach: Keith Larson. Last Year: 13-4 in TRC (East 2nd Place), 18-6 overall (made Sub-Section Final Three). Key Returnees: Logan Corson (Sr. P/SS > .477, 24 R, 13 RBI, 9 1/3 IP, 3-1, 8 K, 3.00 ERA), Colten Kraling (Sr. P/1B > .333, 5 doubles, 9 R, 14 RBI, 23 2/3 IP, 3-1, 26 K, 4.14 ERA), Josh Peters (Jr. OF > .392, 15 R, 11 RBI), Cody Schoenmann (SR. P/1B > 12 IP, 0-0, .580 ERA, 11 K), Carson Schwichtenberg (Jr. OF > .300, 7 R, 9 IP, 1-0, 11 K, .000 ERA), Brady Ristau (Sr. C), Ryli Tostenson (Sr. OF). Synopsis: Last year was the Falcons’ best team-season, record-wise, in over a decade (maybe ever). FC went 2-2 in the play-offs. The Falcons graduated six key starters including all four of their All-TRC picks and their three best pitchers (by ERA). Corson and Kraling lead a 10-man senior class this year, as Coach Larson looks to re-tool. Athlete Nate Haugerud joins the team.
Rushford-Peterson > Head Coach: Jordan Aug (new). Last Year: 4-13 in TRC, 9-15 overall. Key Returnees: Ben Ansell (Sr. P/SS, All-TRC > .367, 1 HR, 26 R, 11 RBI, 37 2/3 IP, 3-4, 2.78 ERA, 31 K), Halen Schwendinger (So. 2B/3B > .367, 17 R, 18 RBI), Dawson Dahl (Sr. OF > .297, 17 R, 15 RBI), Shawn Marg (SR. P/OF > .270, 8 R, 12 RBI > 48 IP, 3-6, 2.33 ERA, 51 K), Carter Weidemann (Jr. C > 15 R, 5 RBI), Nolan Mueller (Jr. P/3B > .224, 5 R, 9 RBI, 35 IP, 2-2, 4.80 ERA, 19 K), Payton Hahn (Sr. OF > .254, 16 R, 7 RBI, 26 2/3 IP, 1-3, 5.25 ERA, 19 K), Sam Schwendinger (Sr. C/SB > 9 R), Keegan Dittman (Sr. 2B). Synopsis: The Trojans played four play-off games last year, losing to 1A top seeds W-K (2-1) and Randolph (3-2) each by one run. Former assistant Aug (a Fillmore Central grad) has nearly everyone back, including 151 2/3 of 155 innings pitched, four guys with 10-plus RBIs last year. Other sport stand-out athletes Jake Paulson, Landon Skalet, and Ethan Sense join the team. R-P has seven seniors. Ansell, Dahl, and Marg have all enter their fourth years on varsity. Of 162 hits last season, R-P had just 17 of the extra-base variety.
Chatfield > Head Coach: Brian Baum. Last Year: 9-8 in TRC, 10-11 overall. Key Returnees: Jake Mandt (Sr. P/3B, All-TRC > .352, 12 R, 6 RBI, 19 1/3 IP, 0-1, 2.17 ERA, 20 K, 2 saves), Ben Ihrke (Sr. P/OF, All-TRC > .390, 14 R, 10 RBI, 12 double’s, 16 IP, 11 K), Robert Crouch (Sr. P/3B > 7 RBI, 31 1/3 IP, 5-3, 3.57 ERA, 26 Ks), Bennett Gathje (Sr. P/2B> .212, 9 R, 4 RBI), Terron Ostby (Sr. OF > .250, 7 R, 4 RBI), Jacob Gillespie (Sr. P/IF > 13 1/3 IP, 5.77 ERA), Lincoln Salisbury (Jr. C/IF), Cole Sprau (Sr. OF), Nathaniel Fox (Sr. C). Synopsis: The Gophers were middling last season. They scored three or less runs 12 times last season. They return two of their three All-TRC selections and all but one pitcher. They have 11 seniors and six juniors for a 17-man varsity. A couple underclassmen are likely to see time as well.
GMLOK > Head Coach: Jamie Fenske. Last Year: 5-13 in TRC, 8-16 overall. Key Returnees: Drew Copley (Jr. P, All-TRC > .419, 12 doubles, HR, 20 R, 18 RBI, 64 2/3 IP, 4-5, 2.06 ERA, 81 K), Cody Merkel (Sr. OF > .306, 14 R), Zach Myhre (Sr. C/OF > .379, 10 doubles, 23 R, 12 RBI), Zach Bubany (Sr. P/IF > .222, HR, 7 R, 12 RBI, 45 2/3 IP, 3-7, 4.60 ERA, 36 K), Ethan Fenske (Sr. 3B > .280, 8 R, 14 RBI, 24 IP, 4.67 ERA, 16 K), Reid Kruegel (Jr. 2B > .262), Dylan Lunning (Jr. IF), Grant Skifter (Sr. IF), Jacob Welch (Jr. OF), Nolan Skifter (So. IF). Synopsis: Bulldogs graduated just one senior off last year’s team that played four play-off games. Football this year took its toll though. Copley and Merkel suffered severe knee injuries. They may make it back for late in the baseball season. GMLOK has five juniors and seniors each. Myhre, Bubany, G-Skifter, and Fenske all enter their fourth years on varsity.
Mabel-Canton > Head Coach: Karl Urbaniak. Last Year: 2-9 in SEC, 3-14 overall. Key Returnees: Drew Wyffels (Jr. P/SS, All-SEC > .413 15 R, 15 SB, 25 2/3 IP, 1-4, 32 K), Logan Richardson (Sr. P/IF > .239, 10 RBI, 6 R, 43 2/3 IP, 2-7, 30 K), Michael Selness (Sr. IF/P > .237, 4 R, 5 RBI, 6 IP, 0-1, 5 K), Cody Hershberger (Sr. OF > 6 R, 7 RBI), Parker Ingvalson (So. P/OF > 7 R, 10 2/3 IP, 7 K), Caden Stoen (So.). Synopsis: Cougars return four of five top hitters, but only one hit above .300. They return 86 of 92 innings pitched. Richardson and Wyffels pitched nearly 70 innings combined. The Cougars are without Jack Arneson (recovery from car accident). Stats courtesy of Lee Epps.
Houston > Head Coach: Jason Carrier. Last Year: 0-10 in SEC, 1-15 overall. Key Returnees: Jaytin Millen (Jr. C, All-SEC > .319, 5 R, 5 RBI), Brady Happel (Sr. SS/P > .286, HR, 7 R, 9 RBI, 25 IP, 1-4, 5.88 ERA, 20 K), Joey Fishel (Jr. P/OF, 22 2/3 IP, 0-5, 7.41 ERA, 22 K), Damon Carrier (Sr. 1B > 7 RBI), Jaden Abraham (So. OF/P), Zach Brueggen (Sr. IF), Cade Roth (So. O.PF). Synopsis: Hurricanes have struggled for wins the past few seasons. They scored just 38 runs in 16 games last year. They have four seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and two freshman.
*All ERAs are per seven innings pitched.