“While still being a young team, many of our players have been thrown into the fire the prior two seasons and have developed the skills and experience to compete in a tough Little Eight Conference,” said second-year Head Coach Zach Stich.  “Nate Bermel (JR, CF, C, P) and Ethan Swedberg (SO, CF, P) will have another year of being our 1-2 pitching duo, while infielders Trey Swedenberg (SO, 3B, P) and Dan Reisch (JR, SS, 2B) have gained more confidence in the field and at the plate.  While the outfield is still in flux, Joe Torgerson (SR, RF, P) and Jonathan Wutka (SR, LF, P) have gotten comfortable in the corners, while Bermel and Swedberg have controlled centerfield.  Alexander Johnson (SR, OF) has also shown improvement and will get opportunities in the outfield.  I look for varsity contributors Isaac Iverson (JR, 2B, SS) and Luke McGuire (SO, 3B, OF, P) to get more opportunities and play a significant role on our team.”

Other returning varsity letter winners are Sam Reese (SR, 1B) and Griffin Haus (SO, C).

“We have some renewed interest in the program and will be able to field a JV team this season,” noted Coach Stich.  “Coach Matt Hendricks will be leading our JV team, while also lending his pitching expertise to our entire rotation.  I am excited to see what several of our younger players will do this season, especially Drake Veldhouse, Logan Kowalski and Eli Walkup.  While we have several players to choose form, depth and experience are our weaknesses.  First baseman Sam Reese is coming off an injury-plagued baseball season and another injury in football.  It will be imperative to find depth at that position.  We do have a few exchange students that have shown real promise in practice and we hope to get them up to speed quickly.”

Joe Barfknecht will serve as assistant coach and Josh Haus will be the varsity bench coach for the Comets.

Stich looks at New York Mill as the Section 6A favorite and sees Border West as the team to beat in the Little Eight Conference.