Two Gillett seniors ended their high school baseball careers with a nice honor.
Eric Fischer and Derek Zahn were named All-Marinette & Oconto Conference, with Fischer selected for the second team and Zahn getting honorable mention.
“It’s nice for the program,” Gillett coach Pat Nelson said. “Last year we only had an honorable mention guy and we didn’t have a second-team guy. Hopefully we’re building on something.”
Fischer led the Tigers with 16 hits, seven RBIs and four walks during the 2014 season, including a three-hit game in Gillett’s 10-2 victory at White Lake to advance to the second round of the WIAA regional tournament.
“It’s a real honor to get recognized individually…. it has yet to set in,” Fischer said Tuesday morning. “I was really fortunate to get it in baseball because it is my favorite sport.”
It is Fischer’s first recognition in baseball after achieving second-team all-conference in football.
“He also plays a good first base,” Nelson added. “He only had a couple of errors, three or four.”
Fischer plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and major in communications, but will be without baseball for a year to focus on earning money for school.
Zahn was also all-conference honorable mention in 2013 as a pitcher. He won two games in 2014, but it was a tough season for the entire team.
“It’s a great honor and I really appreciate it,” Zahn said. “It’s just been a great time playing with the guys over the years and we’ve all bonded — just been really fun. Our record might not show it, but we work really hard out there and have a great time no matter what we do.”
Furthermore, Zahn is not done playing baseball. For the second season, Zahn is competing for the Oconto Falls American Legion team since Gillett doesn’t offer a summer baseball program. He is Gillett’s sole representative on the squad.
In 2012, Zahn played on the Abrams junior varsity Legion team with Oconto Falls players.
“It just feels like I’m one of the guys,” Zahn said. “I’ve just blended in so well and they’ve welcomed me and it’s been just great. It doesn’t seem like I’m an outsider at all.”
Seventh-year Oconto Falls Legion head coach Chris Hillberg has seen Zahn mesh with the other players.
“It’s not an easy situation to be the only kid from out of town and … play with kids that you don’t go to high school with,” Hillberg said. “The kids accept him very well and he’s just a great teammate with them.”
Last winter, Zahn attended Base Knox Sports Academy in Green Bay and was able to work on his pitching mechanics and speed. Zahn, who has a solid frame at 6-foot-2, added more velocity on his fastball and altered his changeup to be more effective.
“That helped me out a lot, just to get my arm in the correct spot for pitching and help me with breaking balls,” Zahn said.
Adding Zahn to the roster is a huge boost for Oconto Falls.
“With Legion baseball and all the games we play, you can never have enough arms,” Hillberg said. “To bring over another quality arm to your team is huge.”’
Zahn teams up with Hunter Magnin to provide a stellar 1-2 pitching punch for Oconto Falls.
“We seem to work together back-to-back and work well,” Zahn said. “We both have great off-speed breaking pitches and we’re both hard-working.”
Zahn had one pitching stint in the first three games of the season, throwing in relief June 11, logging 3 2/3 scoreless innings with one strikeout. He allowed two hits and walked none.
“He had really good command and his location was well,” Hillberg said. “He can throw the ball; he’s got a good arm.”
When Zahn isn’t on the mound, he’s generally stationed at third base or plugged in as a designated hitter. Zahn is a power hitter who can drive the ball into the gap.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a couple over the wall this year,” Hillberg said. “He’s a big kid and he hits the ball hard.”
Zahn’s goal is to have a great summer season and raise some eyebrows before heading off to college in the fall. He plans to enroll at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and walk on to the baseball team.
“I’m just hoping to keep my hard work ethic and show them what I have,” Zahn said. “Hopefully they’ll see I have ambition to play and hopefully it will work out.”
Zahn is thinking he will concentrate on pitching when he heads to Stevens Point, but he will play anywhere the coaching staff desires. Hillberg believes Zahn can be a difference-maker at the college level.
“I think he’s got the right attitude,” Hillberg said. “I think he’s got the size and he’s got the ability. I think once they get ahold of him and work on his form a little bit better and tweak a few things, he can definitely help them.”
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