The defending Wisconsin Baseball Association state champion River Falls Fighting Fish have picked up right where they left off.

River Falls, which is coming off of its second state championship in the last three seasons and third in franchise history, has begun the 2023 campaign with a flawless 13-0 record. The Fish also remain unblemished (3-0) in St. Croix Valley Baseball League action thus far.

While River Falls has unquestionably built one of the most talented rosters in the state, longtime player/manager Josh Eidem believes it’s the chemistry in the dugout that separates the Fighting Fish from other elite town ball programs.

“I think the strength is the dugout,” Eidem said. “It’s just a lot of guys who are back and love playing baseball with each other, and it gives everybody confidence. We’ve gone into the season a little thin, but that was on purpose because the chemistry is so good. We didn’t want to add a whole bunch of guys just to add them.”

River Falls’ 2023 roster features 19 returners from last year’s state championship team, a title it claimed in a 3-2 victory against the Tilden Tigers in Onalaska last August. The Fish’s 2022 championship-winning roster was among the most offensively dominant in franchise history.

Outfielder Spencer Diedrich – who hit a pivotal home run late in that state title game – set franchise’s single-season records last summer in home runs (12), RBIs (50) and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.301).

Diedrich anchored the lineup alongside longtime outfielder Brian Giebel, who has been on the team since its inaugural season in 2008. He has been an integral member of all three state championship teams in 2011, 2020 and 2022.

Giebel has set Wayne Gretzky-like career records for the Fighting Fish that are unlikely to be challenged for at least a decade. He is the franchise all-time leader in games played, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI and a litany of other offensive statistics.

Giebel, Diedrich and several of the other leading offensive contributors have been around for years, which means they’re getting older. Eidem expects River Falls to have another strong season offensively, even if it isn’t as reliant on the long ball as in years past. 

“Guys have been hitting home runs, but it was more common last year,” Eidem said. “I think we’re more of a doubles team this year than we are a home run team. That will be different for us, but we’re pretty confident in picking up where we left off (offensively).”

Despite an aging group of core players, River Falls has had no issue hanging crooked numbers this year. The Fighting Fish are averaging 8.6 runs per contest and have scored in double figures six times through the first 13 games.

River Falls’ most recent offensive explosion was in its 12-5 win against the Champlin Park LoGators at the First National Bank of River Falls Field on June 7. The Fighting Fish hit home runs in each of the first two innings and built an early 7-1 lead.

River Falls held its six-run advantage until Champlin Park scored a pair in the top of the seventh inning to make it a 7-3 contest. The aforementioned Diedrich slammed the door on any hope of a LoGators comeback when he blasted a two-run home run to straightaway center in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it a 9-3 game.

Diedrich’s bomb sparked the Fighting Fish’s five-run bottom of the eighth inning that ultimately culminated in the 12-5 victory. While Eidem was happy with his team’s offensive production, he marveled at what second-year pitcher Charley Griffin did in his seven innings on the mound.

“Champlin is a good team and Charley Griffin is throwing the ball well, but I didn’t expect him to do that tonight,” Eidem said. “He was money tonight and that’s the best I’ve ever seen him throw.”

Griffin, who saw limited action in his debut season last summer, surrendered just three runs and struck out four batters across seven innings on Wednesday night. Griffin’s role is expected to grow this season, especially as River Falls eases its veterans back into the pitching rotation.

The Fighting Fish will look similar on the mound this summer as in years past. Longtime pitcher Kyle Fritz, who started last year’s state title game, will be back near the top of the rotation. Jake Lindsay will also slot into one of the top spots along with Griffin and Matt Doornink.

“Jake (Lindsay) and Kyle (Fritz) threw so much at the end of the summer last year that we’re kind of easing them in this year,” Eidem said. “Charley (Griffin) will throw more innings this year and Doornink will throw more too. It’s mostly the same guys.”

While River Falls features more than a dozen returning veterans, the Fighting Fish have a pair of 19-year-old players who have already made an impact in their first two seasons with the team.

Ragan Pinnow was the starting third baseman on last year’s state championship team in his first summer with the Fighting Fish. Will Smoot, who played more of a utility role last year, has moved into the starting catcher slot with the departure of Andy Metcalf.

“Ragan Pinnow gets back from school this weekend and that will be huge for us,” Eidem said. “He’s going to be back playing third again. Will Smoot was around enough last year, wasn’t with us for the playoffs, but we know him well and he’s fit right in coming back from college.”

Given River Falls’ mix of savvy veterans and fresh young talent, Eidem expects the Fighting Fish to be in contention for another state championship this season.

“We expect to be there on the last day again,” Eidem said. “I think that’s realistic, but you just have to have a lot of things go your way. If we can stay healthy, we’ll be in good shape.”