Infield is first line of defense

By JIM BASTIAN


NEW ULM — Pitchers will tell you that the one thing that makes a good pitcher even better is a solid infield defense behind them.

Last year, the New Ulm Cathedral baseball team finished 17-7 and returns the entire infield defense as Greyhound coach Bob Weier begins his 16th season as head coach.

Back are sophomore Zach Fischer at first base, junior second baseman Derek Wilfahrt, senior Ben Wolf at shortstop along with sophomore third baseman Kyle Fischer.

Senior Luke Zollner will patrol left field with Ty Seller in right field with Chris Berg looking to break into the outfield line-up.

“We are moving Drew Wenninger to center field,” Weier said. “He had played left and right field last year. We also have a junior in Craig Fischer who is also going to be playing a lot of outfield because all of our outfielders are pitchers. We have four outfielders that pitch so there will be some rotation there.”

Weier’s pitching staff will start the season with nine players who have all been on the mound.

Wenninger, Zollner, Mark Giesen, Sellner — all seniors — will be the mainstays early.

“We also have Wolf who can pitch as a closer for us and we will try and use him in that role again this season,” Weier said. “But when we put him on the mound, it creates a big hole at shortstop for us. He did come in on some critical situations for us last year and was successful in all of them.”

Craig Fischer and Brock Sieve will also see mound action.

Weier said that right now the lefthanded Wenninger will be the ace for the Greyhound pitching staff.

“But this is a new year and everyone starts out the same. Right now, I could not say who our ace is. Drew probably has the most experience but we are also counting on Luke Zollner also for a good year.”

Whoever pitches will be throwing to Kurt Domeier.

“He is a junior who is up from the B-squad. He has a lot of experience but he needs experience at this level. He is a hard worker and has worked on his mechanics. He has a fair arm.”

Weier said that this is a veteran team that will be led by Wolf

“Our ultimate goal is to get to the state tournament and win it,” Wolf said. “Our infield will be strong — our pitchers need to throw strikes for ground balls and we need to field them clean and get outs.”

Weier looks towards Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s as the pick in the Tomahawk Conference with Wabasso and Cathedral, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop and Minnesota Valley Lutheran pushing the Knights. “Buffalo Lake-Hector is also improved — there is no team that is an automatic win.”

Last year, the Greyhounds lost to Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial in the sectional tournament.

“That left a sour taste in our mouths so right now,we just want to get back out and play baseball again,” Wolf said.