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Pope County Tribune - Starbuck Times
Written by Zach Anderson - Starbuck Times New Editor   
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 11:59

2011 season is full of high hopes and expectations

The Lakers baseball team had a decent season last year but felt they underachieved. With an abundance of experienced, talented seniors, the 2011 season is full of high hopes and expectations.

Coach Chris Bennes sized up the season, "We have a great group of seniors returning this year that have a great deal of experience. We have a talented group of seniors and a few new juniors that will be able help us this season.  We are very deep in the areas of pitching and infield play, and we will have many players that are in competition for starting roles. We have plenty of talent and if we can become a cohesive unit, we will be tough to beat. We have talked quite a bit to our players about needing to raise our level of play in all areas, and we hope they are up to the challenge, so we can continue to find our way back to our style of baseball here at Minnewaska."

Minnewaska returning letter winners are:

Trenton Berg - OF/P-Sr.

(.417 avg., 12SB, 8-2B, 3-3B, 

4-2 (W/L) pitching, 3.132 ERA)

Kevin Jenks - IF/P-Sr.

(.277 avg., 2- 2B, 2HR,

.393 OBA)

Shane Bosek - IF/P- Sr.

(.501 avg., 4- 2B, 4-3B, 1HR,

18 RBI, 33 hits)

Dustin Helmick - IF/P- Sr.

Blake Helmick - C- Sr.

Aaron Geise - IF/P- Sr.

Mike Nielsen - IF/P- Sr.

(.311 avg., 2-2B, 2HR, 21 RBI, 19 hits, .408 OBA)

Eric Elbe - OF/P- Sr.

Andrew Amundson - OF/P-Sr. (.300 avg. )

Kameron Drange - C/IF- Sr.

Patrick Stumpf - OF/IF/P- Sr.

Some incoming new prospects are:

Sawyer Steidler-Thompson- 1B- Jr.

Cody Blevins- IF/P- Jr.

Blake Johnsrud- IF-Jr.

Blake Steinkraus- Jr.- OF

Austin Geise- IF/P- Fr.-

Injury (questionable)

Conference Outlook:

Minnewaska Area is in the West Central Conference South again this season.  The conference is going to be very close this season and the Lakers will be challenged by Paynesville, BOLD, Morris, and LQPV.

Section Outlook:

Section 6AA again looks to be one of the toughest in the State of Minnesota.  In addition to the returning State AA Champion (Cold Spring Ricori), St. Cloud Cathedral, Albany,  Little Falls, Paynesville, and Minnewaska should all have strong teams.

Eastern 6AA: Foley, Holdingford, Little Falls, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Milaca, Pierz, St. Cloud Cathedral, Browerville/Eagle Valley.

Western 6AA: Albany, Litchfield, Melrose, Minnewaska, New London-Spicer, Paynesville, Rocori, Sauk Centre.