Bonduel returns for another season of Class A American Legion baseball with a new field manager and a team comprised mostly of Bonduel High School varsity players.
After manning the dugout for four years, Jason Luepke opted to step aside and instead oversee the operations as team manager. Kevin Thiel will take over as field manager, with Joel Dobratz serving as his assistant.
“I was looking at getting more people involved, and Kevin and Joel stated they would like to help,” Luepke said.
The squad, which finished 10-3 last season in the Central Wisconsin American Legion Baseball League, features 11 of the 15 players from this year’s BHS sectional-qualifying squad, including two first team all-Central Wisconsin Conference-8 players in left-handed pitcher Connor Rosin and shortstop Travis Wollenberg.
“It is pretty much the high school team, and everyone knows what they can do,” Thiel said. “We expect good things this year. We have the same team as last year.”
Thiel said the team will be strong on pitching with Rosin and Trevor Pedersen as the two front-line starters. He plans to mix in Wollenberg and Hunter VanDerLinden, as well.
“We are going to be sound on the mound and play solid fundamentals,” Thiel said.
When Pedersen is not pitching, he will be behind the plate. Rounding out the infield will be Jordan Richter, Austin Siolka, VanDerLinden and Wollenberg.
Centerfielder Colton Dobratz will bat leadoff.
Bailey Dingeldein, Colton Dobratz, Richter, Austin Siolka and Patrick Thiel also return this year.
“I am looking at for an excellent year,” Luepke said. “We only lost one guy (Jacob Luepke), and that is what will make us a strong team.”
The team lost its season opener Tuesday at Shawano in a 10-inning marathon. The first game of the season, against Iola, was cancelled due to the WIAA playoffs, and the second game was rained out.
