D-R-S White Division 2013 Preview
– WHITE DIVISION –
Prior Lake Mudcats Greg Faue returns as the manager of the Prior Lake Mudcats, which had an outstanding tournament run that saw them advance to the second round of the State Class C Tournament. The team had a 22-21 overall record last year.
The Mudcats will look to replace two retired players, Justin Schlipe and Tom Borrell. Top players on the roster include Gary Mariscal, Cole Bjorke, BJ Benz, Casey Johnson, Noah Rezac, Jake Lehrer and Levi Schneider, who will also be assistant coach.
The pitching staff includes Jake Schmidt, Ben Morrisson, Ryan White and Sean Greywitt. Catchers are Schneider and Ryan Rose.
Top hitters include Mariscal, Bjorke, Mason Holmquest and Lehrer.
In the infield look for Holmquest, Casey Johnson, Rezac, Tony Adderley and Jared Lehrer, while Mariscal, Bjorke and Benz will be in the outfield.
Faue rates St. Patrick, St. Benedict and New Market as the teams to beat.
“Most of the key players are back and it should be a good year for the Mudcats,” Faue said. “The league is very competitive, but New Market is loaded.”
Prior Lake will play in the Green Isle-Hamburg Tournament June 21-24.
St. Benedict Saints Wade Olsen returns as manager of the Saints, who won the White Division Championship last year with a 21-2 record. Andrew Huss is the assistant coach. The Saints came up just short of qualifying for their first state tournament berth.
The team will stand pat with its roster, for the most part. Top returning pitchers are Chris Hartman, Jacob Wolf, Steve Weiers and Tanner Oakes. Jacob Riesgraf will handle the catching duties. Top infielders include Scott Eischens, Michael Pauly and Dave Sherry, with Jeremy Heitkamp back in the outfield.
Olsen says Prior Lake, New Market and St. Patrick are the teams to beat in the three divisions.
“We have most of our core back from a strong team last season,” he said. “We are looking to take the next step this season and make it to state.”
The team will play in the New Prague Tourney May 31-June 2, and has scheduled exhibition games with Belle Plaine, Jordan, Le Sueur and Cannon Falls.
Lonsdale Aces Phil Tisdel is the new manager of the Lonsdale Aces, with Mike Tschida and Thomas Hoppert as assistants. The Aces struggled with injuries to key players last year and finished with a 9-15 league record, 11-19 overall.
Two of last year’s players are off the roster this year. Derek Christenson, who was player/manager last year, is injured and Cole Sirek has moved.
Lance Anderson, Darren McEathron and Tyler Sticha have joined the Aces this year.
This year’s pitching staff includes Tisdel, Jaron Christenson, Anderson, Grant Mohwinkel, Tyler Lapic, Justin Scheffler, Aaron Kes, Paul Tisdel, Jerrod Novotny and Sticha. Tyler Bednar, Hoppert and Tschida will handle the catching duties.
Infielders include Kevin Kalina, Brian Rud, Darren Lapic, McEathron, Kes, Dalton Zeug and Scheffler, while outfielders are Tisdel, Travis Scheffler, Hoppert, Anderson, Tyler Bastyr, Tschida, Kes and Sticha.
The Aces have exhibition games scheduled with the Cleveland Condors, Randolph and Le Sueur.
Veseli Warriors Chris Hertaus returns as manager and will again be assisted by Scott Johnson.
The Warriors are coming off a 3-20 record last year and hope to pick things up this season.
“We are going to have a young team, but with added experience we hope to improve our record and extend the season in the playoffs,” Hertaus said.
Ryan Boegeman has been added to the Veseli roster this season.
Top pitchers for Veseli include Luke Giesen, Casey Berens, Matt Perkinson, Mike Bartusek, Tyler Buening, Nick Hertaus and Jason Kazlauskas. Offensive firepower will come from Eric Steinhoff, Giesen, Berens, Travis Vikla, Bartusek, Nick Hertaus and Cody Shimota.
Hertaus, Perkinson and Jordan Holicky will handle catching duties for the Warriors.
Infielders are Corey Friedges, Shimota, Kazlauskas, Steinhoff, Perkinson, Berens and Boegeman. Outfieldes are Bartusek, Curt Brezina, Chad Krenik, Matt Novak, Friedges, Brian Jones, Vikla and Berens.
Hertaus said Union Hill, St. Benedict and New Market are the top teams in the three divisions.
The team will play in the New Prague Invitational on May 31- June 2.
