Baseball returns to Pierce County, with each of the county’s teams looking to take another step forward toward their goals.

For the River Falls baseball preview, see Greg Peters’ opening day article in this edition.

Returning starters/contributors

Ellsworth Head Coach Brandon Voelker: “Ellsworth will return seven starters - a veteran group defensively and offensively who has seen lots of playing time over the last few years which we will look to grow on.”

EPC Head Coach Cory Brathall: “Seven returning players with varsity experience: Lucus Glaus, Ari Perez, Sean Sagini, Nick DeLong, Robbie Duffy, Logan Auth, Hudson Hewitt were all contributors on the varsity last season.”

Spring Valley Head Coach Brandon Walczak: “Cade Stasiek will be the staple of our outfield, Caleb Bartko will be our catcher and hopefully pace our lineup, Trevor Forster will be our utility infielder and pitcher and Will Biggs will most likely serve as the number one in our pitching staff.”

Prescott Head Coach Jeff Ryan: “Cole Plaston (.364, 3-2 on the mound 1.67 ERA, Second Team All Conference, Honorable Mention All District). Barrett Temmers (.322, First Team All Conference, Second Team All District, three-year letterwinner, Second Team All District as a junior). Will Rohl - .257, 12 runs batted in. Max Monteith - (.356, Second Team All Conference, 3-1, 2 SV,  1.35 ERA - right now has arm problems). Dain Pechacek (.297, 3-2 1 SV ERA of 1.98).”

Who are you looking to for leadership?

Voelker: “With returning seven starters I will look to those guys to lead, anytime you have that much varsity experience I would expect the leadership to come from a group versus an individual. We have created a leadership council consisting of two seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and one freshman - out of this we are hoping to have these guys be the voice of the leadership back to us so that players can be heard collectively with suggestions or concerns.”

Brathall: “Lucus Glaus – Three-year starter and returning Second Team DSC All Conference selection in 2024. We will look to Lucas to provide leadership this season.”

Walczak: “All seniors but really anyone who is willing to show leadership.”

Ryan: “We have four three-year letterwinners and multiple numbers of guys who have been playing varsity for two years. We have a veteran club so leadership expectations will fall on everybody.”

Team strengths

Voelker: “I think our biggest team strength will be experience. We have seven returning starters - five of which are juniors and seniors. If we can use our experience to start to put together some of the other little things, it’s going to be a special group.”

Brathall: “Experience will be a strength; many of our core players are returning.”

Walczak: “I feel like we should be a well-rounded team. Offensively we should be solid in the top half of our lineup and we are hoping some guys make some strides and step up in the bottom half. Defensively we should be fairly solid; however, there will be two spots filled by guys who have no varsity innings but I’m hoping our leadership will help maintain our defense. Our area of biggest concern is pitching. We are having to fill a lot of innings this year but I’m fairly confident that we have a few guys who are capable of doing that.”

Ryan: “We return the bulk of the pitching staff that had a team ERA of just over 2.00. We have a very experienced ball club and should be very strong defensively.”

Goals for the season

Voelker: “Our goals for the year are simple - grow each day - with any spring sport there are plenty of challenges in the early season - weather being a big one. If we can grow each day, I think we will be right there at the end. The thing I find special about baseball is really the regular season is all live practice with the build up to the postseason at the end of May.”

Brathall: “We would like to take a jump in the win column and be in the top half of the conference winning percentage wise.”

Walczak: “I think a good team gold for us is to finish in the top 3 teams in our conference. It will be difficult, but I believe we have the guys to do it as long as we can play fundamental baseball and minimize our errors.”

Ryan: “The team hopes to compete for the conference championship and to advance in the playoffs. The guys are coming off a 19-6 season - the best improvement from one season to the next in Cardinal baseball history. Lost to La Crosse Logan, who advanced to the state tournament last year. We have an extremely tough conference but hope the experience that will be on the field will translate into success.”

Who do you expect to be the conference leaders?

Voelker: “The MBC is one of the toughest teams around. Truthfully if I look across the board, I see a wide-open conference with lots of teams that are going to compete for the top spot.”

Brathall: “Mondovi, Boyceville and Glenwood City.”

Walczak: “Elk Mound, Boyceville and Mondovi.”

Ryan: “Altoona, St. Croix Central, and Somerset (and Prescott) are picked as the top teams. We are ranked #5 in the WBCA Division 2 Preseason Coaches’ poll and Altoona is ranked #9 and St. Croix Central is ranked #21.”