File photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm Brewers’ Hunter Ranweiler throws to first during a Region 2C amateur baseball playoff game with Lamberton in Sleepy Eye on Aug. 9, 2022.

The 2023 Tomahawk East League is set to begin their regular season this Sunday, with all 12 teams getting their season underway.

Four 1 p.m. games that day have Fairfax at Stark, Springfield at Sleepy Eye, Leavenworth at Lamberton and Courtland at Gibbon.

Two 5 p.m. first pitches see Essig at Searles and the New Ulm Brewers at Hanska.

Remember to go out and support your local amateur baseball team.

Leavenworth did not submit information for this preview.

Here is a thumbnail sketch of the teams, with a big thank you to the managers for their input.

Last season, the NEW ULM BREWERS went 30-4 and made as deep run into the final weekend of the Class C State Amateur Baseball Tournament before losing to Nisswa.

“The loss to Nisswa was tough because on the scoreboard we outhit them and we technically outplayed them,” Brewers manager Al Flor said. “We want to rebound and get back to that same position with the chance to win it all.”

Coming into this season, the Brewers are ranked sixth in the Minnesota Baseball Association preseason poll. The Stark Longhorns also received votes.

New Ulm returns everyone with the exception of Nick Fischer, who moved to Florida.

Back for the Brewers are three regulars who hit over .500 last season in Hunter Ranweiler (.571), Adam Nilson (.545) and Justin Hoffmann (.539).

Hoffmann had a team-high 53 RBIs and also led the BrewCrew with 10 home runs.

Hunter Ranweiler and Cole Ranweiler (.434) each had five home runs.

Hoffmann also stole a team-leading 35 bases.

As a team, New Ulm hit .379.

The Brewers are also looking for the return of Zach Hoffmann to the team this year under the hometown rule.

Pitching-wise, the Brewers were led by

left-hander Adam Slander, who went 7-0 with a 1.50 ERA. Mitch Bockenstedt was 6-2 and fanned 57 batters in 50 innings and carried a 3.20 ERA. Veteran Wade French posted a 5-0 mark, striking out 46 batters in 47 innings with a 2.30 ERA.

Minnesota State left-hander Ethan Stade is back after a 4-0 first season that saw the left-hander carry a miniscule .88 ERA in 30 innings, striking out 50 batters.

The Brewers mound staff had a combined 2.67 ERA.

And if you are at either Johnson or Mueller Parks this season for a Brewers game, stop down for the best food in the area.

The STARK LONGHORNS went 19-3 in the Tomahawk East League and 21-7 overall and 2-1 in the Class C state tourney.

Longhorns manager Dusty Mangen returns key players Zach Haala, who hit .402 last season with 20 RBIs. He also went 6-2 on the mound with a 2.33 ERA.

Mason Cox hit .366 with two home runs and 24 RBs and Sean Mathiowetz batted .377 with three home runs and 17 RBIs.

Adam Sellner ended last season with a .384 batting average and drove in 25 runs. He also posted an impressive 6-0 record on the mound and had a 2.66 ERA.

Stark will also see the return of Jon Kopacek after a two-season absence.

Mangen pointed to the New Ulm Brewers as the team to beat.

The COURTLAND CUBS, who finished last season 12-4 under manager Chase Meyer, are keyed for an improved season with a young but veteran team.

They bring back players who also have college experience under their belts, featuring Teagan Kamm, Teddy Giefer (Minnesota-Crookston), Josh Giefer (Buena Vista), Nolan Drill (Grand View), Jordan Drill, Maddox Mortenson and Carter Lang (Alexandria Tech).

The SPRINGFIELD TIGERS went 17-8 last season.

Tigers manager Steve Helget brings back every player.

Opposing teams will have to face Justin Haugo again this year. Last year he went 6-2 with an impressive 1.76 ERA. Also last season, Haugo had a game where he struck out 19 batters.

Brandon Wilhelmi also posted a 6-2 mark and an ERA of 2.37.

The Tigers have some quality depth on the mound to help Haugo and Wilhelmi in Jordan Milbrath, Mason Leonard, Tori Helget and Henry Scheitel.

Leonard is recovering from surgery.

On offense the Tigers are led by Decker Scheffler, who hit .396 with a slugging percentage of .566. Scheffler also led the team with 22 stolen bases.

Carter Erickson batted .370 last year and only struck out five times. Jordan Milbrath hit .360, with Sam Baier ending with a .340 average and a slugging percentage of .569 with 10 stolen bases.

Mason Rummel is also back behind the plate with a .315 batting average.

Helget said the Tigers will again be a running team. Last year they stole more than 100 bases and had been thrown out only nine times.

Helget sees the Tigers in the mix of the top teams battling for a state tournament berth.

Collin Helget takes over the helm for the SEARLES GRIZZLIES this season as manager.

Last year the Grizzlies had a disappointing 4-12 season.

Helget said that he is looking for

productivity at the plate from Kasey Kuck as a power source.

Collin Helget will also return to the mound after shoulder surgery and will add depth to the Searles mound staff behind Casey Lux and Nick Dewanz.

Searles has added some youth this season in Cody Serbus and Graham Glaser.

They will also get catcher Landon Barstad back and have a consistent nine players each game.

Helget looks to the Brewers, Stark and Springfield as the top teams in the TEL.

The HANSKA LAKERS bring back a veteran squad from last season’s 13-12 team.

Lakers manager Chris Koob brings back three hitters who ended the season with .400-plus batting averages.

Eric Portner led the Lakers with a .474 batting average and drove in 13 runs. Sam Knowles hit .450, with Kevin Larson ending last season with a .411 average. Chris Knowles was the Lakers’ long-ball threat with six home runs and 26 RBIs to go with his .375 average. His 26 RBIs also led the team.

On the mound, Branson Peterson was the leader of the Lakers mound staff with a 4-1 mark, with Brady Mosenden at 3-2.

Ethan Mixdorf led Lakers pitchers with 25 strikeouts in 28 innings.

Koob looks to the Brewers and Stark as the preseason picks.

The FAIRFAX CARDINALS look to improve from their 2-15 mark under manager Scott Black.

Black said tha the Cardinals will be a very young team this season but more competitive.

Back for the 2023 campaign are pitcher/utility player Tom Lokensgard, who won both games on the mound last year.

Black looks to Isaac Louwagie and Dylan Maiers to add quality depth on the mound.

Rafa Herrara and Jacob Meyer will pace the Cardinals’ offense this season.

Black pegs Springfield, New Ulm, Stark and Courtland as the top teams in the TEL.

The LAMBERTON LONG SOX will be a force again this season after a 12-4 mark and a third-place finish in the Region 2C tournament.

The Long Sox bring back key hitters in Colby Pack and Neil Eichten, along with two quality pitchers in Eli Fest and Carter Benz.

They also welcome back Seth Guetter via the hometown rule.

Lamberton manager Derrick Jenniges said the Long Sox will have a unique situation this season.

Lamberton will not be able to play any home games due to the construction of a new high school that will block access to the field.

“We willl be Road Warriors this year,” Jenninges said. “We will play some home games at Milroy and Wabasso.”

A young and building ESSIG BLUEJAYS squad looks to keep making progress.

And like young teams in the TEL facing veteran teams, it was tough as they went 2-16.

“We have added some new players, so we are still in the devlopmental stage, but hopefully we can find a little more pitching and play the game right and be more competitive,” Bluejays manager Terry Helget said.

Key returners for Essig are Hunter Sehr, Erich Prokosch, Jay Helget, Jake Stadick and Mason Sellner. Veteran Kyle Helget has elected to retire.

Terry Helget looks to New Ulm, Stark, Springfield and Courtland as the top teams in the TEL.

The GIBBON REDS went 3-13 last season and also earned a win in the Region 2C tourney.

“It was a year where we struggled to play a complete game,” Reds manager Ryan Panning said.

Josh Wasmund was a bright spot for the Reds as he hit .367 and belted three home runs.

“We will have most of the same team back from last season with the addition of a few additional younger players that we hope can contribute to the team,” Panning said. “Every year is different, and I am hopeful that we can put together more complete games and be competitive.”

He looks to New Ulm, Stark and Courtland as the top teams.

But as anyone who has seen the Reds play, they have one of the best fan followings by far in the league.

Scott Salfer takes over the reins of the SLEEPY EYE INDIANS this year as manager.

Last year the Indians were 4-12.

They will look to replace Matt Mielke, who led the Indians with a .475 batting average.

Matt Sellner is back with his .353 average from last year.

Alan Woitas (.323) and Jonny Petermann (.250) also return.

Salfer looks to Alan Woitas, Luke Mielke and Matt Sellner as key players this year.

Salfer looks to New Ulm and Stark as the teams to beat.