I-S baseball team replacing five starters

By Holly Neumann

It’s a new year and the Iola-Scandinavia baseball team is anxious to get the 2017 season underway.

“We are looking forward to the season: new players, new challenges and the excitement of what the future holds for our team,” ” said Pete Timdal, starting his fifth season as the Thunderbirds’ coach.

The T-Birds will start the season with 20 players on the roster.

“Not only four new freshmen, but a few other first-time players are joining the team this year,” Timdal said.

Seth Korb and Jayden Sivertson are two of the team’s five seniors.

“Seth was one of our top pitchers last year and is ready to be a big part of the leadership on our team,” Timdal said. “Jayden will be a three-year starter in the outfield and was one of our most productive hitters last year. We look forward to him batting in the middle of our lineup and also being a valuable leader to our relatively young team.”

Also out for the team is Bryce Huettner, who sat out last season because of an injury.

Catcher Bryce Huettner stops the ball behind the plate. Holly Neumann Photo

The T-Birds finished fourth last year in the Central Wisconsin 8 Conference with a 6-8 record.

“Our team is going to be very young and our goal will be to find a way to continually get better each and every day,” Timdal said. “If that goal is accomplished, we should be able to compete with the top teams in our conference.”

He believes quality leadership from the team’s seniors and hard work at practices will lead to success.

The team is replacing 2016 graduates Cam Gruenwald, a first-team all-conference player last year, as well as second-teamer Nate Korb, Brady Snyder, Caleb Loken, Scotty Aasen and Austin Dyb.

“We need to replace five starters,” Timdal said. “We do not have a ton of experience, but we have plenty of quality players that will push each other to get better.”

The T-Birds are scheduled to open the season at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at Wautoma. The CWC-8 opener at home against Amherst is set for Monday, April 3, at Taylor Field.

The roster also includes seniors Karol Wroblewski, Nick Hansen and Gio Fredheim; juniors Ethan Olson, Jared Thulien and Kevin Wiskow; sophomores Kellan Wandtke, Alex Sharp, Gavin McClellan, Carter Kurki, Carter Snyder, Caden Prahl and Jordan Fuhs; and freshmen Connor Kurki, Anthony Petrosa, Brock Gullixon and Justin Sivertson. Timdal’s assistants include Jon Berg and Jenner Gullixon.

Timdal expects Pacelli and Bonduel to be in the mix for a conference championship.

“The goal is always to finish on top,” he said. “We obviously have our work cut out for us, but it is still our goal.”

Iola-Scandinavia 2017 Baseball Schedule

Varsity
Monday, March 27 – scrimmage at Almond-Bancroft, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 30 – at Wautoma, 5 p.m.

Monday, April 3 – vs. Amherst, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, April 17 – at Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18 – at Rosholt, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 – at Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, April 24 – vs. Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 – vs. Manawa, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 1 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 2 – vs. Wild Rose, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 4 – at Manawa, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, May 5 – at Weyauwega-Fremont, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 8 – vs. Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 11 – vs. Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, May 12 – at Amherst, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 13 – at Markesan (DH), 11 a.m.

Monday, May 15 – at Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 16 – vs. Pittsville, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 18 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, May 19 – at Marathon, 5 p.m.

Monday, May 22 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 23 – vs. Assumption, 4:30 p.m.

Junior Varsity
Saturday, April 18 – vs. Rosholt, Amherst at Rosholt, 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 16 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.