Iola-Scandinavia’s baseball team will look to defend its Central Wisconsin 8 Conference title this season.
The Thunderbirds are scheduled to open the season with a CWC-8 matchup Tuesday, April 7, at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, while the home opener at Taylor Field against Manawa is set for Thursday, April 9.
“I am beyond excited for the season to start,” coach Pete Timdal said. “I’m ready for some baseball.”
His players are ready to start as well.
“The kids are very excited,” Timdal said. “They were asking me when we could start having some open gym in December.”
With six starters and several pitchers returning, the T-Birds are expected to be very competitive again this season. The T-Birds won the CWC-8 with a 12-2 record and were 13-4 on the season.
“Our returning starters are Kal Fischer in left field, Holdyn Mast in right field, third base/pitcher Brady Snyder, shortstop/pitcher Nate Korb, catcher Steve Niemi and shortstop/pitcher Cam Gruenwald,” Timdal said.
Pitching will be the team’s strength, he said.
“Nate Korb was a second-team all-conference player and was 5-0 with a 1.77 ERA,” he said. “Cam was 4-2 with a 2.08 ERA and I’m looking forward to Brady pitching a lot more innings for us this year.”
The T-Birds will have to replace Hunter Gruenwald, John Prahl, Nick Wavruk and Connor Lodewegen.
“These guys were our leaders and will be tough to replace, but we have some guys who I think are ready to step up and fill in their roles,” Timdal said. “Scotty Aasen, Jayden Sivertson, Seth Korb, Brandon Barth and Austen Dyb are all players that may be ready to start on the varsity team this year. Everyone will have the opportunity to earn a spot in the starting lineup.”
Iola-Scandinavia 2015 Baseball
Schedule
Varsity
Thursday, April 2 – Scrimmage at Omro, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 9 – vs. Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 13 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14 – vs. Menominee Indian, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 16 – at Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 20 – at Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 23 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 24 – vs. Wild Rose, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 27 – at Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 30 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 1 – at Stevens Point Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. (rescheduled from May 18)
Monday, May 4 – at Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 7 – at Weyauwega-Fremont, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 – at Marathon (DH), 11 a.m.
Monday, May 11 – vs. Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 14 – vs. Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21 – vs. Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 23 – vs. Markesan (DH), 11 a.m.
Tuesday, May 26 – at Menominee Indian, Keshena, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 28 – at Waupaca, 4:30 p.m.