Bulldog baseball team looks to compete for conference championship
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THE BOYCEVILLE Baseball team has great numbers as it looks to win a Dunn-St. Croix championship this season. Front row (L to R): Bradley Maes, Isaac Williams, Jack Kurschner, Braden Roemhild, Trenton Miller, Ryker Benitz and Nate Jens. Middle row (L to R): Carson Roemhild, Landyn Leslie, Jack Phillips, Frank Fetzer, Talen Kietzer, Owen Rydel, Riley Schutz, Owen Konsti and Owen Duncan. Back row (L to R): Nick Olson, Parker Coombs, Devin Halama, Chase Hollister, Zach Hellendrung, Treylin Thorson, Blaine Severson and Dominic Anderson. Missing are Carter Katuin, Paul Kurschner, Reid Fenton, Wyatt Sell, Zach Kersten and Carson Lindstrom. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
by Marlys Kruger
Sports Correspondent
BOYCEVILLE — After finishing in second place in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference behind the Elk Mound team a year ago, the Boyceville Bulldogs have high hopes of finishing at the top this season. The Bulldogs were 15-4 overall and 11-3 in conference play and ended their season with a regional final loss to that same Mounder team 5-4 despite out hitting them 8-1.
Gone through graduation are Jacob Granley, the Co-Player of the Year in the conference and first-team all conference selection, along with Dawson McRoberts, another first-team all conference pick. The Dawgs also lost Ira Bialzik, a second team selection, Isaac Bartz, honorable mention in the conference and Tyler Dormanen.
There are plenty of experienced players back for coach Michael Roemhild who begins his ninth year leading the Bulldogs.
Senior Chase Hollister should be the leading pitcher for the team and will also play in the infield. Junior Braden Roemhild, a second-team all conference selection last year returns in the outfield for his third season, junior Devin Halama was a starter in the outfield last year and will compete with Hollister for the number one pitching spot and Nick Olson has experience in the outfield and infield and may be the starting shortstop this year. There are also multiple freshmen who could be vying for varsity positions this year.
Newcomers who have some potential include Reid Fenton as a catcher while Wyatt Sell, Zach Kersten, Parker Coombs, Paul Kurschner and Ryker Benitz are all trying to show that they have what it takes to pitch at the varsity level. Jack Phillips is going to do whatever he can to get on the varsity field, according to coach Roemhild.
“Winning games is a strength for the Bulldogs since these young men are used to winning and will do what it takes to make sure we continue to stay on that winning patch,” coach Roemhild said. “We also have 30 guys out for baseball so everyone knows their job is never safe. They are going to have to compete at every practice and every game to keep their spot. Pitching may be a weakness right now. I will need more than Devin and Chase to throw the whole year if we want to reach our ultimate goal,” he added.
Offensively, the Bulldogs need to increase their base hits and on base percentage, Roemhild believes. They will also need to take a better approach at the plate so they are striking out less.
Defensively, the pitchers need to trust their fielders and not give hitters easy ways to get on base by cutting down on walks and hit batters.
But, competing for a conference championship is always one of the goals for the Bulldogs and they would also like to make it to the sectionals this year. With the weather not cooperating there will probably be a lot of double headers and anything can happen when you play two games in one day.
As far as conference contenders go, coach Roemhild believes Elk Mound is going to have a very good team again since they are young and have the top pitching staff in the area. Mondovi could take a big step ahead and be fighting for the top spot as well and you can never count out Spring Valley since year after year they are always near the top of the conference.
Assisting Roemhild this year are Brian Roemhild, Jayme Retz, and junior varsity coaches Trevor Hollister and Chris Ames.
2023 Roster
Seniors: Chase Hollister, Jack Phillips, Frank Fetzer and Carter Katuin.
Juniors: Braden Roemhild, Devin Halama, Nick Olson, Reid Fenton, Paul Kurschner, Wyatt Sell, Parker Coombs, Zach Kersten and Treylin Thorson.
Sophomores: Ryker Benitz, Dominic Anderson, Riley Schutz, Carson Lindstrom, Nate Jensen, Blaine Severson and Talen Kietzer.
Freshmen: Carson Roemhild, Zach Hellendrung, Landyn Leslie, Owen Rydel, Trenton Miller, Bradley Maes, Owen Konsti, Isaac Williams, Owen Duncan and Jack Kurschner.