Elk Mound boys will have to reload in 2014
ELK MOUND — After winning four conference and regional championships in the past five years, the Elk Mound baseball team will have to replace a ton of starters from those winning teams if they want to continue to be successful this season. The Mounders compiled a 13-2 record in 2013 and won the Large Dunn-St. Croix Conference title with a 7-1 record. Their season ended with a 3-0 sectional semi-final loss played in a steady drizzle against Osseo-Fairchild.
Paul Andrea will begin his 18th season leading the Mounders and will be looking at finding players to fill just about every position this year. Replacing four time All Conference player Garett Phillips who completed his high school career with a 28-3 record on the mound (6-1 last year), and was one of their leading hitters and a third baseman, along with Hunter Dicus who led the team in batting average at .467, and two time AC players, shortstop Dan Bachman and catcher Nick Heit will be a tough chore. Add to that, they lose Hunter Hermes who was the starting right fielder, Nate Spehle, another leading pitcher (6-0 last season) along with Seth Kruger who patrolled centerfield. Reserves Nick Woodley and David Henningfeld are also gone through graduation.
Seniors looking to fill those positions are Hunter Kohls, Marcus Klug and Derrick Redwine. Kohls is one of two returning letter winners for the Mounders, playing in all 15 games last year while Klug and Redwine saw action in six. Juniors working towards a varsity position are Aaron Burgess, Shawn Flynn, Brody Bergh, Jon Storing, Zach Mohr and Christopher Wolf. A large group of sophomores hope to find a spot on the varsity including Jared Puzio, Austin Kaiser, Brandon Bohl, returning letter winner Cole Tyman, Alex Hollister, Jordan Van Schoonhoven, Ryan Conlin, Hayden Kohls and Grant Kjellberg. Rounding out the squad are freshmen Troy Mohr, Hunter Adleman, Carter Pritchard, Matt McLaughlin and Dane Lew.
Although there is a lack of experience this year, coach Andrea doesn’t seem to be too concerned.
“We have some really talented young kids who will be able to step in very well,” he said. “I like what I see in practice and how hard they are working. I feel we will be able to compete in our conference and also within our regional. These kids will improve as the season goes on if Mother Nature will allow it. The weather will be a factor and we will have games bunched up, possibly with some double headers so anything can happen,” he added.
Andrea expects Colfax and Mondovi to be the teams to beat in the five team Large D-SC, since they are the only teams that have any returning All Conference players.
The Mounders have already had some postponements but hoped to travel to Mauston this past Saturday for a game against Chippewa Falls McDonell.