File photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm’s Jace Schaefer delivers a pitch during a non-league game against Lake Crystal on May 14 at Johnson Park in New Ulm.

NEW ULM — Two of the biggest items going into the 2025 Tomahawk East League seasons are, one, the Courtland Cubs have been ranked by the Minnesota Baseball Association (MBA) as the number one team in Class C after a deep run last year in the Class C State Tournament where they made the Elite Eight going into the final weekend.

Two, The New Ulm Brewers are now in Class B and are ranked ninth in the MBA pre-season poll of Class B teams.

Here is a thumbnail sketch of each team and an outlook for the TEL this season.

COURTLAND CUBS

The Cubs return all of their players from last season, and the addition of pitcher Ansen Dulas from Watertown may give the Cubs the deepest pitching staff in Class C.

Dulas joins a staff of Josh Giefer, Teddy Giefer, Jackson Bode, Jaden Drill, Carter Lang and Chase Meyer. Teddy Giefer and Bode each struck out 69 batters last season. In 61 2/3 innings last year, Teddy Giefer had a 1.90 ERA, with Bode having an impressive 2.37 ERA in 60 2/3 innings.

Offensively, the Cubs are equally impressive with Bode posting a .424 batting average. Outfielder Mason Cox hit .358 last season, while Nolan Drill batted .350, Carter Lang hit .313, with Jaden Drill at .311 and Teddy Giefer at .306.

Jaden Drill led the Cubs with 30 RBIs and Teddy Giefer provided the long ball with seven home runs.

NEW ULM BREWERS

The Brewers return everyone from last years team as they play their first season as a Class B team in the postseason.

And they return an offense led by Hunter Ranweiler (.408) and Cole Ranweiler (.404).

Justin Hoffmann and Trevor Nissen each hit three home runs. Justin Hoffmann also led the Brew Crew with 39 RBIs and 23 stolen bases — one more than Cole Ranweiler.

As a team, the Brewers hit .327.

On the mound, right hander Mitch Bockenstedt was 10-0 with a microscopic 0.73 ERA. He fanned 97 batters in 74 innings. Left hander Adam Slander went 4-0 with a 4.42 ERA. Sam Keckeisen posted a 5-1 mark. In 32 innings, Keckeisen struck out 32 batters. Wade French (3-0, 25 Ks in 23 innings) and southpaw Ethan Stade (3-1, 70 strikeouts in 42 innings and a 0.85 ERA) bolstered a Brewers pitching staff that had a team ERA of 2.05.

SLEEPY EYE INDIANS

The Indians look to improve on their 5-13 mark last season with their entire roster back.

Matt Mielke is back and will be a key bat in the Indians offense. Key returnees are Luke Mielke, who had a strong last season, and Jake Mielke, who is a solid back-half bullpen arm and a quality bat.

The Indians also add some youth with pitcher Marcus Martinez and outfielders Johnny Petermann and Cody Schultz.

STARK LONGHORNS

Dusty Mangen and the Longhorns will be a team to contend with despite the loss of Sean Mathiowetz for the season due to an injury.

The Longhorns, who went 8-8 last year and lost in a state-qualifying game in the 2C payoffs, bring back David Surprenant (.352) and Nick Labat (.340 and two home runs).

Adam Sellner will be the Longhorns go-to guy on the mound this season after a 3-2 mark last year with a 3.58 ERA.

ESSIG BLUEJAYS

The Bluejays will see a new man at the helm this season in Sam Hansen.

Hansen said he hopes to have his young team improve on their 5-11 record in 2024.

Key players back for the Bluejays are Eric Scheibel, Nick Stadick, Winsten Nienhaus and Erich Prosch.

Essig does lose Kyle Helget from last years team.

Hansen feels that the Bluejays have a great core of players with some new players who can contribute to the Bluejays success this season.

LEAVENWORTH

ORIOLES

Under manager Dave Schroepfer, the Orioles ended last season at an impressive 17-5 and lost no players.

Five players — Austin Uecker, Jackson Huiras, Caden Evers, Javen Richert and Sam Piddle — hit over .300 last year.

The Orioles pitching staff boasted an ERA of 2.63 last year and bring back some pitchers back with added college experience in Mark Anderson (Bethel University) and Brandon Schmitz (Bethany Lutheran College). They also return pitchers Dylan Hillesheim, Hurias and Richert.

SEARLES GRIZZLIES

The Grizzlies are looking to move forward from last season’s 4-12 mark with a more consistent lineup.

Searles brings back Casey Lux, Collin Helget, Dan Rienke, Kasey Kuck, Kedar Schmitz, Noah Wilmes and Nick Dewanz.

New players to the Grizzlies are Landon Barstad, Ian Brudelie, Kolton Achman and Graham Glaser.

Lux, Dewanz and Toni Gieger wil handle the bulk of the pitching duties with Collin Forstner and Achman seeing some action.

Searles was hoping to have pitcher Mark Schommer back for the season, but Schommer will be in Colorado playing for the Grand Junction Jackalopes of the Pioneer League.

Behind the plate will be Josh Johnson and Barstad with newcomer Ben Dumoneaux, a Becker High School graduate who lives in Mankato seeing some time.

SPRINGFIELD TIGERS

The Tigers, who are ranked ninth in the Class C preseason polls, bring back a solid mound core led by the return of Jakob Nachreiner, who dealt with arm injuries last year. He will get some help from young arms Noah Neperman and Kade Nachreiner. Veteran Brandon Wilhelmi led the Tigers with a 3-0 mark along with a 1.06 ERA and 42 strikeouts. Justin Haugo was 4-2 last year with a 3.43 ERA and 65 strikeouts.

Jordan Milbrath had a 3.35 ERA and 56 strikeouts and Tori Helget was 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA.

Offensively, Decker Scheffler led the Tigers with a robust .472 batting average.

Ryan Sturm hit .386 and had a slugging percentage of .566 and an on-base percentage of .472.

Aiden Moriaty hit .362 in his first year with the Tigers, with Milbrath at .324.

New players for the Tigers this season are catcher/third baseman Tyler Hatch and infielder/outfielder Zander Koy.

Also back will be Sam Baier.

The Tigers will look to run as they stole 55 bases last season and were only caught stealing six times all year.

LAMBERTON LONGSOX

The Longsox lost to Hanska in a state qualifying game last year.

This season Lamberton is going to have to deal with the loss of pitcher Holden Salfer, who had been a key part of the Longsox team the past decade.

But Lamberton will see the return of Josh Altermatt via the Heritage Rule after a year in Jordan, and Travis Willhite is back after two years in Tracy as Tracy no longer has an amateur baseball team.

The Longsox mound staff will be solid with a trio of left handers in Eli Fest, Brady Bierl and Jake Wahl. Hudsen Jenniges, Quinton Vold and Austin Inker are young arms that Lamberton will rely on.

On offense, Neil Eichten, Will Carlson and Luke Willhite provide speed on the bases, and all of them hit over .300 last summer.

GIBBON REDS

The Reds and manager Ryan Panning are looking for a youth movement to take a step forward this summer and play some good baseball.

Panning said that the Reds’ youth may surprise some people.

Dominic Rose, Alex Berkner, Layton Hames, Devon Schwarzrock saw mound action for Gibbon last season.

On offense, Panning looks to Nolan Huiras, who hit .355 last season will again have a good season. Josh Wasmund (.288 with four home runs and 13 RBIs), Ethan Schwarzrock (.310 with two home runs and 15 RBI’s) and Rose (.250 with three home runs and 12 RBIs) can add muscle to the offense.

Rose (23 1/3 innings pitched with 17strikeouts) and Huiras (37 IP with 35 strikeouts and a 3.89 ERA ) can bolster the Reds’ mound staff.

FAIRFAX CARDINALS

The Cardinals look to improve on last year’s overall record of 6-13. Players back are catchers Tom Lokensgard and Andrew Willemssen, outfielders Jacob Meyer, Will and Luke Bastian, Carter Peterson and Cale Luthens. Infielders returning are Andres Herrara, Tyler Fish, Elway Berg, Andrew Peterson, Scott Palmer, Owen Swenson and Ethan Louwagie. Utility players returning include Issac Louwagie and Ike Case.

Newcomers are outfielders Jaden Schnobrich, Matthew Lee and Kellen Nachreiner.

The Cardinals mound staff will see Issac and Ethan Louwagie, Andres Herrera, Tyler Fish, Elway Berg, Andrew Willemssen and Scott Palmer.

The Cardinals did see the departure of veteran players Zach Black and Rafa Herrera — both of whom played 10 years with Fairfax.

“I did not think that we could have gotten younger, but we did,” Fairfax manager Scott Black said. “We are looking to be competitive with our full team but numbers of players at a game are always an issue.”