Father, son headed to Milwaukee
By Greg Seubert
A father and son from Waupaca are heading to Milwaukee to play and coach in an all-star baseball game.
Parker Krcmar will suit up for the Stars team Sunday, Aug. 6, at the Wisconsin American Legion All-Star Game at American Family Field.
Meanwhile, his father, Jay, is one of the team’s three coaches.
Jay coached and Parker played on Waupaca’s Legion team that wrapped up its season July 23 at a regional tournament in New London.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” said Jay, who also coached in the all-star game in 2005 at Miller Park. “It’s a neat experience to see great kids from all over the state. It’s extra-special this time with Parker.”
The Stars team will face the Stripes team at about 5 p.m. following the Milwaukee Brewers’ game with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Joining Parker on the Stars team are Logan Baumgartner (Medford); Will Bieber (Marinette); Maddox Cejka and Caydon Lomas (Prairie du Chien) Casey Erickson and Calvin Hargrove (La Crosse); Cody Fredrick (Oconomowoc); Konner Giddley and Eric Halon (Beloit); Nathan Hartwig (Fort Atkinson); Caleb Hinkes (Watertown); Jeramiah Housworth Jr. (Oshkosh); Trace Jacobson and Jack Ryan (Janesville); Colin Kinas (Green Lake); Payton Kohnle (Kewaunee); Carson Martin and Connor Weltzien (Arcadia); Mason Meverden (Wittenberg); Bo Milutinovich (Westby); Logan Neitzel and Turner Wagoner (Lomira/Theresa); and Griffin Schultz (Onalaska).
The roster includes a number of players from northeastern Wisconsin.
“We see that on a daily basis whenever we’re playing,” Jay said. “There’s a number of them that are great players that didn’t get selected. That shows the quality of players and how much work they put in.”
The coaching staff besides Jay also includes Prairie du Chien’s Nate Cejka and Marshall’s Brady Schoenherr.
Players and coaches will attend a meeting and banquet Saturday, Aug. 5.
“The last time I coached, a lot of the kids were quiet at first,” Jay said. “The job of the coaches is to get them to know each other a little bit. The coolest thing for me is getting to know the kids and talking to the kids in the dugout. The kids will get announced before the game, so they’ll be out on the field. There are some neat things to do that you don’t get to do at a regular baseball game. (Waupaca’s) Alex Pankratz was on the field and (Milwaukee Brewers pitcher) Corbin Burnes threw him a ball. I think a lot of it is the opportunity to play on a pro field. It’s kind of a reward for everything you’ve done up to that point and to represent their school or area.”
Parker’s older brothers, Brandon and Drew, also played Legion baseball, but never played in the all-star game.
“In a way, it’s a closure,” said Parker, who graduated from Waupaca High School in May and is now headed to the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he will study sports management. “I’ve never been able to be around new players.”
Parker also played football and basketball in Waupaca and said baseball is his favorite sport.
“It’s always been my favorite,” he said. “I like the challenge. It’s a slower pace, which I like, but you don’t always know what’s going to happen. It’s an unforgiving game, but it’s fun that way because what’ll happen.”
Parker is looking forward to having Jay in the dugout with him.
“He’s always been my biggest supporter and helped me,” he said. “For my last game, it’s pretty special.”