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Putnam County
Coach: Chris Newsome (seventh season)
Last season: 17-6 overall, 10-1 Tri-County
Top returnees: Andrew Pyszka, jr., IF/C; Jackson McDonald, jr., P/IF; Drake Smith, sr., IF/P; Chris Uzella, sr., P/C/OF; Troy Petty, jr., P/IF; Austin Mattingly, jr., OF/IF/P
Key newcomers: Nick Curre, jr., IF/C/P; Josh Jessen, jr., P/DH/IF
Worth noting: The Panthers return plenty of talent from a team that won 17 games and placed second in the Tri-County Conference. They are led by All-Stater Pyszka (.444, 32 runs, 15 RBIs) and TCC Pitcher of the Year McDonald (6-1, .68 ERA), along with all-conference players Smith, Uzella and Petty. “Having a good chunk of returning players with varsity experience under their belt will be nice to have,” Newsome said. “This should allow our coaching staff to dig a little deeper into various aspects and finer details of the game.” Behind McDonald, the Panthers have plenty of options on the mound, including Mattingly, Smith, Petty and Curre. “I anticipate our pitching depth to be a strength for us,” Newsome said. “This depth has allowed us to schedule more games than what we typically would have based on pitch count restrictions.”
Mendota
Coach: Robert Nunn (first season)
Last season: 3-11, 1-9 Big Northern
Top returnees: Ted Landgraf, sr.; Emilio Perez, sr.; Andy Rivera, sr; Krew Bond, jr.; Dom Stamberger, jr.
Key newcomers: Drake Dennis, jr.; Landon Kreiser, jr.; Izaiah Nanez, so.; Justin Randolph, so.; Jae Baird, so.; Cale Strouss, so.
Worth noting: The Trojans are facing changes this season as Nunn moves from assistant to head coach and MHS moves to the Three Rivers Conference East Division. While Mendota is young with only three seniors, Nunn does have some experience to rely on in four-year varsity players Landgraf and Perez, classmate Rivera and juniors Bond and Stamberger, who both played major roles as sophomores. “With our team being young, our team is acting as students of the game,” Nunn said. “Players are quickly adapting to change, willing to try new things, learn, grow with clear goals for the future. Players have been competitively competing for open positions on the field and players have been unselfishly willing to take roles that will put them in position to help the team.” Nunn said the Trojans are focusing on throwing first pitch strikes, reducing pitch counts by having hitters put the ball in play and allowing the defense to make plays and being aggressive on the base paths and disciplined at the plate.
Princeton
Coach: Wick Warren
Last season: 14-4, 10-2 Three Rivers East
Top returnees: Ean Compton, sr.; Danny Cihocki, jr.; Bennett Sierens, sr.; Ryan Brucker, Jr.; Matt Lucas, sr.
Key newcomers: Augie Christiansen, jr.; Ace Christiansen, fr.; Jimmy Starkey, so.; Jordan Reinhardt, fr.
Worth noting: The Tigers return five key players from a team that finished 10 games above .500 and played for a regional championship. Compton (3-2, 2.15 ERA) and Cihocki (5-0, 1.66) will provide solid pitching, while Sierens (.322), Brucker (.400) and Lucas (.354) will bring experienced bats. Freshman Ace Christiansen will catch, Augie Christiansen will play in the outfield, Starkey will see time behind the plate and at first base and Reinhardt will pitch and play the infield. Other newcomers expected to contribute are senior utility players Wyatt Baker and Brad McCall, juniors Brady Piacenti and Karter Patterson and freshman Noah LaPorte.
Bureau Valley
Coach: Ryan Schisler
Last season: 4-13, 2-11 Three Rivers East
Top returnees: Sam Wright, jr. C; Adam Johnson, sr., P/OF; Carter Salisbury, sr., Ut.; Brock Foster, sr., Ut.; Bryson Smith, sr., IF/P; Sam Rouse, jr., IF/P
Key newcomers: Brik Rediger, jr., IF/C; Ethan Freeman, jr., IF; Seth Spratt, jr., IF/P; Dylan Macklin, jr., Ut.
Worth noting: The Storm return their top hitter from a year ago in Salisbury, who hit .297. Bureau Valley will rely on Rouse and Johnson on the mound. Both finished with ERAs under 4.00 last season.
Earlville
Coach: Dillon Reel (fifth season)
Last season: 6-10 overall, 4-6 Little Ten
Top returnees: Carter Gaubacz, sr., OF/P; Keegan Jungels, sr., OF; Bryar Keller, sr., C/P; Clay Phillip, sr, CF/P; Anthony Towne, sr., OF/P; Jeremy Weymouth, sr., SS/P; John Ballas, jr., UT; Garrett Cook, jr., IF/P; Ryan Browder, so., 3B/P; Griffin Cook, so, IB/P; Trenton Fruit, so., OF/P.
Key newcomers: Keegan Bottom, sr., 2B; Jack Balas, so., UT; Nate Crook, so., UT; Trey Gauer, so., IF; Carlos Gonzalez, so., IF; Kyleon Fruit, fr., OF/P; CJ Fuller, fr., OF.
Worth noting: The graduation of pitcher Davis Sweeney (4-3, 2.65, 62 K in 34.1 IP) and three others from the 2021 club leaves a hole in the order and atop the staff. Speed is key after the Raiders had 76 stolen bases in only 16 games a year ago. “Because we’re not a team that’s going to hit the ball out of the park every other pitch we’re looking to get on the base paths and create some kind of havoc that will work out to our advantage,” Reel said. “Baseball is a game of pressure and if we can put pressure on a team, we will. You have to make things happen for yourself.” Reel said the Red Raiders will have to rely on younger players on the mound. “It’s going to be hard to replace an arm as dominant as Davis’ was. We’re going have to have the younger guys step up, know their roles and take advantage of what opportunity they have. Everybody’s going play and we’re going to figure this out on the run and do it together, as a team.” – Charlie Ellerbrock
Fieldcrest
Coach: Mark Brown (20th season)
Last season: 11-8 overall, 8-3 Heart of Illinois
Top returnees: Kade Buchanan, sr., IF/P; Timmy Luckey, sr., SS/P; Kolton Kearfott, so., OF/P
Key newcomers: Clayton Shirley, sr., OF; Lane Spencer, sr., Ut.; Coltin Perry, jjr., C; Carter Stimpert, jr., 1B/3B; Nathan Buchanan, fr., Ut.; Jordan Heider, fr., Ut.; Zach Johnson, fr., Ut.; Kade Kearfott, fr., Ut.; Tyler Serna, fr., P/3B
Worth noting: Gone is a large senior class that dominated playing time a season ago, led by Koy Allen (.322, 15 R, 35 RBI; 2-4, 1.77 ERA, 66 K in 352 IP) and Noah Nordstrom (.414, 19 R, 17 RBI). However, Luckey (4-0, 2.70 ERA) and Shirley, a varsity starter as a freshman who missed last season with a broken arm, lead this unusually small, 12-player club, and it will only be that many when Heider is cleared from a basketball injury. Because of pitch counts, the Knights will lose some Saturday doubleheaders and their JV schedule. “To be honest, I’m learning a lot this year because our numbers are not what we’re accustomed to, so it will be interesting to see how this season plays out,” Brown said. “The best thing about it is that we’re over that, the guys we do have want to be here. They’re excited and working really, really hard. We’ll be young in a few spots, but that’s not an excuse. The kids are awesome about it, and we’re moving forward.”
— Charlie Ellerbrock
Henry-Senachwine
Coach: Matt Emmons
Last season: 10-7, 3-5 Tri-County
Top returnees: Colton Williams, jr., C/P; Troy Westerdahl, sr., P/IF; Holdyn Carr, sr., P/IF; P.J. Ehrat, sr., P/OF; Eric Garrison, sr., P/OF; Preston Rowe, so., P/OF; Mason Johnson jr., P/IF/OF; Lance Kiesewetter, so., P/IF
Key newcomers: Mason Guarnieri, so., OF/P; Grey Thompson, jr., OF
Worth noting: The Mallards have plenty of experience as they graduated only two players who were regular starters last season. Along with the veteran roster, the Mallards will rely on pitching depth and speed. Emmons said Kiesewetter has improved a lot in the offseason and will be Henry’s ace. Garrison, a lefty, will be the No. 2, while fellow southpaws Johnson and Guarnieri will also log innings. “Our pitching depth is very good,” Emmons said. “We have a clear No. 1 in Lance Kiesewetter, and Eric is going to be our No. 2 this year. Our Nos. 3-6 are not a lot different in a good way.” The Mallards used their speed last year to steal 122 bases in 22 games, and Emmons expects Henry to be running a lot again while also using its speed on defense. With experience, pitching depth and speed, the Mallards are looking to win 20 games, place top three in the Tri-County Conference and win a regional title. “I’m not worried about our pitching or defense,” Emmons said. “We just have to hit. They know that. We’ve talked about that in the preseason. If we can hit, we can be a really good team.”