“We should be pretty solid on the mound and defensively,” acknowledged Head Coach Ryan Hendrickson.  “Last season we had some really solid defensive numbers to put us in positions to win, and our team ERA of 3.26 was the fourth lowest all-time for OTC.  We will have nine seniors and return seven starters.  I am looking forward to those guys leading us to success.  Nothing is going to come easy, but we grind away and work for our wins.  I would really like to see ten-plus wins in the conference, but like I said, nothing will come easy and we will have to post good pitching numbers and have a solid offensive attack.”

Cole Brandner (C, P) returns as a 3-year captain and 3-year starter.  He was the recipient of the 2018 Team Mr. Hustle award and was the winner of the Outstanding Pitcher award, boasting an ERA of 1.40. 

Daxton Olson (P) will join Brandner and Drake Larsen as captains.  He is also entering his third year as a starter and is coming off a season where he threw 37 innings and posted an ERA of 2.08, while facing the toughest opponents on the Bulldogs schedule.

Larsen (P, SS) is a first year captain and 3-year starter who batted .312 in 2018 while striking out just five times.

“Cole has an outstanding work ethic and ability to lead, all while being a fund, outgoing athlete,” reported Coach Hendrickson.  “Cole will be a great leader on and off the field.  He will be our starting catcher and will log a lot of innings on the mound also.  I look forward to him being a big threat in the RBI spots of our lineup.  Daxton was and will be one of our biggest pitchers this season.  We also look forward to him being a big threat for us offensively, hitting towards the top of the lineup.  Drake is another outstanding pitcher and a top of the lineup hitter.  I look forward to him taking over the shortstop position this season.”

Andy Weniger (2B) cracked the team top ten in all-time defensive assists last season and will be in his second season as a starter.  In addition to being a solid defender he hit a respectable .289 last year.  Nik Gardin (OF) played JV all of last season but is the front runner to replace Bennett Cameron in center field.

“In order to achieve some team goals this season we will have to post higher batting averages and get some RBI guys,” said Hendrickson.  “I believe our pitching and defense will keep us in positions to win, we will just have to aggressive offensively.  Wadena-Deer Creek is one of our top opponents in both the section and the conference.  They are a scrappy team with a good mix of experience and great pitching.  New York Mills and Parkers Prairie are two solid conference teams that have winning programs.  In order to be the top you have to beat tough programs.  These games will let us know where we stand amongst the tough Park Region Conference teams.”

Hendrickson will be assisted by Evan Meece (3rd year, JV Coach, Varsity Assistant), Mark Oscarson (6th year, Junior High Coach) and Dakota Aeling (2nd year, Junior High Coach).