Saehr, Riley should help Pierz baseball team contend
With seven returning starters, including its entire pitching staff, the Pierz Pioneers baseball squad looks to contend for the Central Minnesota Conference and Section 6, Class 2A titles.
The Pioneers will be led by senior pitcher-shortstop Dan Saehr, who last year hit .407 with 13 stolen bases and was 6-3 on the mound with a 2.74 ERA.
Senior Jeff Riley is another Pioneer that will be counted on for leadership. Riley, who plays third base and pitches, hit .365 with two home runs. He also had the second-best ERA on the team (4.00).
Pierz Pioneers
Baseball coach -- David Rocheleau, 5th year
Career record -- 38-26
2001 finish -- 6-8 in CMC, 8-11 overall
Assistant coaches -- Simon Waltman, Scott Boser
Softball coach -- Mitch Becker, 2nd year
2001 record -- 1-15 in CMC
Assistant coach -- Adam Langer
Track coach -- Craig Johnshoy, 11th year
2001 finish -- Girls: 3rd place CMC outdoor, 3rd place CMC indoor, 5th place Subsection 5A; Boys: 3rd place CMC indoor, 5th place CMC outdoor, 5th place Subsection meet
Assistant coaches -- Rey Zimney, Karla Jensen, Justin Smith
Boys golf coach -- Leo Pohlkamp, 2nd year
2001 finish -- 3rd in CMC
Assistant coach -- Daryl Schomer
Girls golf coach -- Steve Holbrook, 8th year
2001 finish -- CMC champions
Saehr and Riley were first-team all-conference players. Senior Austin Krohn, who hit .308 last year, made the all-conference second team.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Dan Saehr, John Kahl, Austin Krohn, Nate Rothstein, Joe Funk, Ben Watercott, Jeff Riley.
Juniors- Craig Kapsner, Mitch Weber, Alex Gruber.
Additional varsity candidates
Juniors- Jeff Funk, Zach Grunst.
Sophomores- Craig Luberts, Zach Watercott, Joe Kahl, Eric Boser.
Freshmen- Nick Gruber, Preston Loidolt.
Girls' golf
One thing is on the mind of the Pierz girls' golf team: "Three-peat."
The two-time defending Central Minnesota Conference champions hope to continue their stranglehold on the title hardware as they return six members from last season's team.
One of those experienced golfers is 5-year letterwinner and all-conference senior Mary Virnig. She led Pierz with a scoring average of 45.83.
Also making the all-conference team was junior Kayla Boser, who had an average score of 46.16, second on the team.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Melinda Janson, Mary Virnig.
Juniors- Tracy Bell, Katie Athman, Carrie Korf, Kayla Boser.
Additional varsity candidates
Juniors- Nicole Meyer.
Sophomores- Diane Stangl, Becky Korf, Beckie Loidolt, Jenny Jamma.
Boys' golf
Expectations will be high as the Pioneers' boys' golf team enters the season with a wealth of experience.
With the entire team returning, the Pioneers, who finished third in the Central Minnesota Conference and sixth in the sub-section, look to reverse last year's fortunes.
Three Pioneers who will play a big role this year will be senior Chris Boser and juniors Doug Virnig and Dan Fischer. All three were all-conference last year.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Chris Boser.
Juniors- Doug Virnig, Dan Fischer, Mark Seelen.
Sophomores- Chad Schirmers.
Additional varsity candidates
Juniors- Anthony St. Sauver.
Sophomores- Alex Diwnebier, Brian Kummet, Brad Otremba.
Girls' track and field
The future looks bright for the Pioneers' girls' track and field team. Nine underclassmen return and look to improve on last season's Central Minnesota Conference indoor and outdoor third-place finishes.
The Pioneers shot out of the gates March 26 as they placed second in the CMC indoor meet.
Senior captains Stacy Gruber and Lisa Kummet will provide leadership for the young team, while Kaley Jensen, Theresa Gross and Kaitlyn Jensen will also help lead the team in their events.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Stacy Gruber, Lisa Kummet.
Juniors- Kim Talberg.
Sophomores- Kaley Jensen, Kristine Gruber, Cortney Waytashek, Lauren Dauphinias.
Freshmen- Theresa Gross.
Eighth graders- Kaitlyn Jensen, Jamie Talberg, Amber Welle.
Boys' track and field
With only one senior returning from last year's team that finished fifth in both the Central Minnesota Conference outdoor meet and the subsection 18 meet, the Pioneers are thin on senior leadership.
But that doesn't mean they won't compete.
Senior captain Brett Meyer will be looked at to lead, but juniors Ben Durheim and Josh Otremba, along with freshmen Zach Solinger, should make the Pioneers a team that will compete for the CMC title.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Brett Meyer.
Juniors- Ben Durheim, Josh Otremba.
Sophomores- Tony Andres.
Freshmen- Zach Solinger, Jesse Zajac.
Girls' softball
After finishing the 2001 campaign with a 1-15 record, second-year coach Mitch Becker is hopeful his core of returning players will turn around their misfortunes of a year ago.
One of the players Becker will lean on is Jenna Schubert, who led the Pioneers in hitting with a .262 average and made the all-conference second team.
Sheena Loidolt and Stacy Block will also help carry the load. Both sported .250 averages, with Loidolt earning all-conference honors. Block was voted team MVP.
Returning letterwinners
Shelly Boser, Jenna Schubert, Sheena Loidolt, Stacy Block, Kayla Pohlkamp, Katie Sullivan, Kristen Kapsner, Stacy Tretter.