It all boiled down to one game for the Oconto Falls American Legion baseball team in 2013.
Oconto Falls lost a 3-2 heart-breaker to Sturgeon Bay in the 2013 Class AA regional final, with Bay scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With the team coming up one game short of a state berth for the third time in seven seasons, first-year coach Chris Hillberg hopes the tide turns this season for Oconto Falls.
“I’ve been wanting to get over that hump for a lot of years,” Hillberg said. “Pretty soon they’re going to point the finger at coaching.”
Hillberg was an assistant coach in 2013 and replaces his brother Mark, who stepped down after six years with the team.
Oconto Falls, which plays in the North Division of the Fox River Valley American Legion League, opened practice Monday with five returning starters from last year’s team.
“I have a very good feeling going into the season because during the high school season, they had a very good year,” Hillberg said. “It’s been a while since they’ve had a good high school year to feed off. That Bay Conference is tough, and they lost a lot of close games. I think we’re in a better position this year than we were last year.”
However, the team will be without four players who are no longer eligible for the 19-and-under league. Second baseman Jake Mogged, the team’s No. 3 hitter, batted .400 in league play and scored nine runs. Falls also will need to fill the holes left by third baseman Tyler Magnin, first baseman John Thompson and pitcher Ethan Berth.
Hunter Magnin and Derek Zahn are the team’s top pitchers. Magnin finished 4-2 in league games last summer and notched 38 strikeouts, fifth in the FRV.
“We should be pretty solid pitching wise,” Hillberg said. “Pretty much when I gave those guys the baseball last year, it was seven innings. Very rarely did they get knocked out of the game.
“It’s just nice that you can give them the baseball and just walk away. It makes your pitching decisions a lot easier.”
Oconto Falls High School junior pitcher Riley Gruetzmacher also will be on the squad, but he also will be playing with Wisconsin’s Under-17 All-Stars, an 18-player traveling team described as a showcase of high school talent for scouts and college recruits.
“It’s a good opportunity for him to get his name out there,” Hillberg said.
Gruetzmacher can be on both rosters but has to commit to one team once the Legion playoffs start.
Returning to the team from college are Colton Giese, Taylor Brabant and Matt Fornier.
Giese, the shortstop in 2013, was 10th in the North Division last season with a .378 batting average and scored 11 runs. He will get some competition at the position from Mike Manns and Alex Johnson.
“I have three options at short, but I have no plans yet on who could win the position,” Hillberg said.
Hillberg will most likely have Dylan Woosman at first base and Sam Konitzer — who could get some time on the JV team — at second base. Brabant and Brett Ash will share catching duties.
In the outfield, Hillberg has viable options in Sam Shroyer, Bo Shroyer, Connor Sefcik, Luke Truckey and Hunter Magnin when he’s not pitching. Hillberg said he will shift the lineup depending on who is on the mound.
The team will play small ball, getting runners in motion to create scoring opportunities.
“We’re not going to be really powerful offensively, so I think if our pitching does well, which I expect, and our defense plays well, which I also expect, I think that’s going to be the key to our success,” Hillberg said.
Hillberg likes the way Giese, Johnson and Bo Shroyer swung the bat last summer. He also noted Sefcik, Truckey, Gruetzmacher and Konitzer have the potential to be good hitters.
“I think there’s a lot of potential there,” Hillberg said. “I know in the past that Derek Zahn has always had a big bat for us.”
Oconto Falls (7-5) is looking to make a run at the North Division title this season after finishing third in 2013. Marinette (11-1) will again be the favorite, and De Pere (9-3) should be strong again, according to Hillberg.
The division added an eighth team this summer with Antigo joining the mix.
“I think our division is going to be pretty competitive,” Hillberg said. “I think we’ll be right up there. … I see any of four or five teams could come out on top this year. … Our goal is to push for the conference championship and see if one of these years we can get out of the regionals.”
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