If Weyauwega-Fremont baseball coach Joe Sambs has his way, the momentum from last year’s unexpected deep run into the WIAA tournament will carry over to this season.
“We won’t know until we play our first game, but I sure hope so,” he said. “The guys are excited and it definitely helps build excitement around the program when you can win games.”
The Indians came up one win away from state last year after knocking off Central Wisconsin 8 Conference champion Iola-Scandinavia 3-0 in a Division 3 regional final. The win sent the Indians to the Oconto Sectional, where the team beat Athens 4-3 before dropping a 4-0 decision to eventual state runner-up Oconto.
W-F posted a 6-8 record in the CWC-8 and were 16-11 overall. The Indians overcame a 1-4 start to the season and rattled off six straight wins at the end, including state tournament wins over Manawa, Rosholt, Iola-Scandinavia and Athens.
“We’re getting all our pitching back from that playoff run we were able to make last year, so that’s a good thing,” Sambs said. “It’s going to be all hands on deck because we probably only have about 10 or 11 guys on the varsity squad. Everybody’s going to play a role.”
The Indians have some players to replace, including first-team all-conference catcher and second-teamer Zach Costello.
“It’s pretty hard to replace a guy like Adam Krause, but we’ll find a way,” Sambs said. “We lost a good shortstop and a good first baseman. Those are things we have to do. We’re going to be moving some guys around. Pitching-wise, we’re getting a lot of experience back, especially guys that have pitched in big games. You can’t put a premium on good pitching. We’re definitely looking forward to that.”
Iola-Scandinavia won the CWC-8 with a 12-2 mark, followed by Bonduel (11-3), Stevens Point Pacelli (10-3), Shiocton (9-5), W-F (6-8), Amherst (4-10) and Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Manawa (2-12).
“I think everybody’s going to be tough,” Sambs said. “It’s a good conference and I don’t think it’s going to get any worse this year. Iola, Bonduel, Pacelli, everybody’s good. There’s not one game where you can say, ‘OK, this is a win.'”
The Indians were scheduled to open their season March 31 at home against Wautoma before heading to Mosinee today (Thursday, April 2) for another nonconference matchup. The Indians’ CWC-8 opener is slated for Tuesday, April 7, at Amherst.
“There are going to be changes from last year,” Sambs said. “We’re not the same team and we have try to fill guys in different spots, but they’re willing to do what they have to do to get back to where we were.
“Everybody’s working hard and they’re excited to play,” he added. “That playoff run last year got people excited and they want more of that.”
W-F 2015 Baseball Schedule
Varsity
Tuesday, March 31 – vs. Wautoma, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 2 – at Mosinee, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7 – at Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 9 – vs. Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 10 – vs. Omro, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 13 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14 – at Wild Rose, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 16 – vs. Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17 – vs. Clintonville, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 20 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 23 – vs. Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 – at North Fond du Lac (DH), 10 a.m.
Monday, April 27 – at Stevens Point Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 30 – vs. Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 4 – at Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 7 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 11 – at Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 14 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 16 – at Adams-Friendship Invitational, 11 a.m.
Monday, May 18 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 22 – vs. Waupaca, 4:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity
Tuesday, March 31 – at Wautoma, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 2 – at Mosinee, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 9 – at Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 10 – at Omro, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17 – at Clintonville, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 20 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 23 – at Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28 – at Rosholt, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 4 – vs, Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 14 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 15 – vs. Rosholt, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 18 – vs. Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 28 – vs. Menominee Indian, 4:30 p.m.