Repeating the fast start in last year’s Central Wisconsin Conference-8 race would be a great way to kick off the baseball season at Bonduel High School.
Bonduel went 4-1 to open the 2014 conference season before running into eventual league co-champs Pacelli and Shiocton, whose sweeps of their home-and-home series sent the Bears on a five-game losing streak and quashed their bid to defend the conference crown they won in 2013.
There is no waiting for the big games this time; Bonduel plays its second game of the season against Shiocton and travels to Pacelli for its fourth.
With four returning all-conference players, the Bears will be fielding an experienced group that coach Don Gruenewald called “a very talented team.”
Senior outfielder Colton Dobratz was a unanimous all-conference pick last year, one of two returning Bears first-team selections. The other was pitcher/outfielder/infielder Connor Rosin, who joins Dobratz, shortstop Hunter Vanderlinden and third baseman Travis Wollenberg in a nucleus of seniors upon whom Gruenewald is counting.
Vanderlinden and Wollenberg were honorable mention all-conference last season.
“We have three guys who are three-year starters, and we need them to provide leadership as we head into the season,” Gruenewald said.
A pair of second-team all-conference players — catcher Jacob Wudtke and pitcher/infielder Jake Luepke — are gone from last year’s group, as are outfielder Lloyd Allen and second baseman Kyle Fischer.
Three other letter-winners are back in the fold: senior outfielder Steven Olson, senior first baseman Jordan Richter and junior pitcher/catcher/infielder Trevor Pedersen.
“The team has a good overall attitude,” Gruenewald said. “Competition for playing time will be a year-round thing.”
Pushing the regulars and vying for spots will be senior catcher/outfielder Tanner Mews, senior infielder Austin Siolka, senior infielder Patrick Thiel and junior outfielder/infielder Bailey Dingeldein.
Bonduel will not see Shiocton a second time until April 28, unlike last year’s back-to-back games, and Pacelli not again until May 7. The Bears close out the regular season at home against Shawano.
“This will be a fun group to watch as the season unfolds,” Gruenewald said, “and hopefully doesn’t end until mid-June.”
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