Elk Mound baseball team hopes to defend D-SC conference title
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THE ELK MOUND BASEBALL TEAM is ready to defend the Dunn-St. Croix and regional championships it won a year ago. Front row L to R): Ian Gerrits, Blake Klempka-Bramblett, Lance Gorham, Brayden Borek, Jace Peterson, Kaden Moyer, Cayden Brunner and Joshua Braker. Middle row (L to R): Jacob Osborne, Brady Amble, Kamron Diermeier, Carter Garnett, Caden Steffen-Ludwig, Carter Vieth, Ryan Bartig, Peyton Vieth, Jon Olsen and Mason Books. Back row (L to R): Adrian Lombard, Logan Brost, Landon Casselius, Lucas Johnson, Gabe Jenson, Victor Noller, Kaden Russo, Ben Jenson and Quintin Spehle. Missing are Jerome Delikowski, Arlo Tormoen and Aaron Dostal. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
by Marlys Kruger
Sports Correspondent
ELK MOUND — After winning the Dunn-St. Croix Conference championship a year ago with a 13-1 record, the Elk Mound baseball team will need help from some younger players this season if they want to defend their title.
The Mounders also won the regional championship in 2022 but lost in the sectionals to La Crosse Aquinas.
They lost some valuable players from that squad including Avery Kaanta, Joseph Javanovich and Ethan Johnson. Kaanta and Javanovich both logged about half of the teams innings on the mound and Johnson was a great defender in the outfield. All three contributed at the plate, according to head coach Paul Andrea who begins his 24th season leading the team and brings a 289-147 record to the ballfield.
Returning letter winners include Jerome Delikowski at first base, Kaden Russo, a pitcher and utility player, catcher Carter Vieth, Ryan Bartig at shortstop or second base and Kamron Diermeier, a pitcher and center fielder.
The rest of the varsity roster is undecided yet but Andrea believes there are several players from the junior varsity squad from last season who will need to step in and contribute this season for it to be a success and be able to defend the conference and regional title.
Strengths for the team will be pitching and defense but lack of depth and consistency up and down the line-up are weaknesses, according to Andrea.
Goals for the team are pretty simple which are competing for the conference title and improving as the season moves along in order to have success in the postseason.
Andrea expects Boyceville and Mondovi to be the main competitors for the conference title because of who they have returning at key positions and because they pushed the Mounders to the limit last year in both regional games. Spring Valley is young but are very well coached and always provide Elk Mound with a battle when they square off.
Andrea will be assisted by Jon Chisholm.
2023 Roster
Seniors: Jerome Delikowski, and Ryan Bartig.
Juniors: Brady Amble, Cade Steffen-Ludwig, Carter Garnett, Carter Vieth, Gabe Jenson, Jacob Osborne, Kaden Russo, Lance Gorham, Landon Casselius and Lucas Johnson.
Sophomores: Aaron Dostal, Adrian Lombard, Brayden Borek, Cayden Brunner, Ian Gerritts, Jace Peterson, Josh Braker, Kamron Diermeier and Mason Books.
Freshmen: Arlo Tormoen, Ben Jenson, Blake Klempka-Bramblett, Jon Olson, Kaden Moyer, Logan Brost, Peyton Vieth, Quintin Spehle and Victor Noller.