Head Coach: Shawn Schultz – third year as head coach.
Assistant Coaches: Rob Klug- 12 years, Mitch Osness- 7 years, Chase Nelson- 2 years, Trevor Asmundsen- 1 year.
2017 Record: 8-16, 2-10 (conference).
2017 Post Season: Lost to River Falls 6-5 in 8 innings in first game of regionals.
Key Returners: Coach Schultz noted, “We have Kobe Blake (SR) 2B, Mason Smith (SR) C, Zach Anderson (SR) OF/P, Adam Detert (SR) 1B/OF, Kole Meyer (JR) OF, Kordell Renken (JR) 1B and Vinnie Gallela (JR) returning as guys who started at least half of the time for us last year. We also have Chase Bonnell, Brant Raleigh and Brody Gehrke who started games for us last year as well.
“Adam and Kole were 1-2 on the team in RBI last season. Mason batted .400 in conference and then batted close to .500 during the summer. Kobe had a great season getting on base last year but ran into some tough luck at the end of the season. Kordell, Vinnie and Zach all showed that they could have an impact with the bat and will have higher expectations this season. We are looking for contributions from Brant and Brody as seniors who have worked hard to make this a successful year. Chase Bonnell, Holden Smith and Elijah Schelbert are ready to contribute as well. There are some younger guys who have looked strong in practice and will get opportunities to show what they can do at the varsity level.
“Vinnie Gallela and Zach Anderson did some pretty good work on the mound last year – each throwing over 20 innings. They form a nice 1 – 2. Behind them, we have Chase Bonnell and Adam Detert, as well as Brant Raleigh and Holden Smith. There are some younger guys who may get opportunities as well. Alex Gehrke has been throwing the ball well in practice and a few other younger guys are ready if needed.”
Key Losses: We lost 5 position starters and 100 innings on the mound.
2017 Recap: “We struggled last year in all three areas,” Schultz said. “It was tough to score runs on offense. Defense and pitching go hand in hand – both ways, good and bad. You need both to make the other look good. At times our defense affected our pitchers negatively and the other way around as well. We gained a lot of experience last year. The coaching staff has to make sure that we learn from those experiences and improve.”
2018 Outlook: “The key to our success is to improve,” Schultz said, “using the experience we gained last year. Offensively we have to make consistent, hard contact. We need to put more pressure on our opponents by getting on base consistently. Defensively, we need to make the routine plays. We must limit the other team to three outs per inning. Our pitchers must do the same – limit opportunities by forcing the other team to hit their way on by throwing strikes.”
2018 MHS Varsity Baseball Schedule
Tue, April 10- 4:30 p.m. vs. D.C. Everest
Thu, April 12- 4:30 p.m. vs. D.C. Everest (at Sun Prairie)
Fri, April 13- 4:30 p.m. vs. Lakeland (postponed)
Tue, April 17- 4:30 p.m. @ Wausau East
Thu, April 19- 4:30 p.m. vs. Wausau East
Tue, April 24- 4:30 p.m. vs. Wausau West
Thu, April 26- 4:30 p.m. @ Wausau West
Fri, April 27- 4:30 p.m. vs. Mosinee
Tue, May 1- 5:00 p.m. @ Marshfield
Thu, May 3- 5:00 p.m. vs. Marshfield
Fri, May 4- 5:00 p.m. vs. Medford
Sat, May 5- 11:00 a.m. @ Waunakee
Tue, May 8- 5:00 p.m. vs. SPASH
Thu, May 10- 7:30 p.m. @ SPASH
Sat, May 12- 10:00 a.m. @ Lakeland
Tue, May 15- 5:00 p.m. @ Wisconsin Rapids
Thu, May 17- 5:00 p.m. vs. Wisconsin Rapids
Fri, May 18- 5:00 p.m. @ Tomahawk
Mon, May 21- 5:00 p.m. @ Rhinelander