OFHS pitching duo honored by Bay Conference

Team aces Hunter Magnin and Riley Gruetzmacher were not only co-Most Valuable Players on the Oconto Falls High School baseball team this season, but they also shared Bay Conference honors. Magnin, a senior, was named to the all-conference second team announced Monday after compiling a 5-1 record with a 2.50 ERA through 50.1 innings. Gruetzmacher, a junior, was an honorable mention selection. “I was very pleased by both selections because there are a lot of good pitchers in the Bay Conference,” Oconto Falls coach Charlie Rochon said. “I was a little surprised because I had a couple of bad outings, but feel pretty good about (being named to the second team),” Magnin said. Gruetzmacher (2-5) struck out 64 batters in 40.2 innings and compiled a 2.41 ERA. “He had a lot of hard luck losses, but he kept us in the game,” Rochon said. Gruetzmacher said his no-hitter against Shawano Community High School on May 3 was the highlight of his season. He struck out 11 and walked two in the 2-0 victory. “Everyone on defense was doing great and I was throwing strikes,” Gruetzmacher said. Magnin also registered a no-hitter May 14 at Marinette in a 1-0 win. He struck out four batters and walked two, and said much of the credit goes to the Panther defense. “Mainly everybody behind me played well since I only got four strikeouts,” Magnin said. Rochon was impressed with Magnin’s control, demonstrated by 42 strikeouts and 15 walks in 50.1 innings, and poise. “Nothing rattles him and he has great composure on the mound,” Rochon said. “Nearly 90 percent of his pitches are spot on.” Magnin will pursue a sports management degree at Lakeland College in Sheboygan in the fall. Gruetzmacher also hopes to play baseball at the next level when his high school career is over. “I know he is looking to play college ball, and he is definitely ready for it,” said Rochon, who wants the pitcher to continue developing his breaking ball and change-up. Gruetzmacher plans to use this year’s all-conference award as motivation. “I wasn’t expecting it at all,” he said. “But next year I hope to make it on the first team.” Oconto Falls is 7-12 overall and was seventh in the Bay Conference with a 5-11 record.