Defense, pitching assets of Little Falls softball team
The Little Falls Flyers softball team won't have a problem finding senior leadership or experience.
The Flyers have six senior starters back from last year's squad that finished second in the South Subsection 8, Class 3A tournament.
Flyers coach Ron Hinnenkamp expects his team to be sound in two areas: Defense and pitching.
Shanna Bach, who was 11-7 with a 2.46 ERA, will shoulder the pitching load for the Flyers.
Little Falls Flyers
Baseball coach -- Scott Renning, 2nd year
Assistant coach -- Jeremy Stadum
Softball coach -- Ron Hinnenkamp, 22th year
Assistant coaches -- Anita Larsen, Ron Koski, Deb Yliniemi-Ahlin
Boys' track coach -- Brad Swanson, 1st year
Assistant coaches -- Kevin Condit, John Wagner
Girls' track coach -- Marge Brutsher, 1st year
Assistant coaches -- Stephanie Cory, Jim Askin
Tennis coach -- Rick Swenson, 1st year
Girls' golf coach -- John Haas, 1st year
Assistant coach -- Kevin Silbernick
Boys' golf coach -- John Filippi, 2nd year
Assistant coach -- Kevin Silbernick
Sammi Parker will provide a spark to the Flyers' offense. She led the Flyers with a .292 batting average and 16 RBI.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Shanna Bach, Holly Fuechtmann, Megan Germscheid, Angie Kliber, Jennifer LeBlanc, Sammi Parker, Theresa Cameron, Cassie Goldenstein, Rachel Grams, Tasa Leikvoll, Rachel Loscheider, Jessie Ylitalo.
Additional varsity candidates
Seniors- Susan Kramer.
Juniors- Elli Cameron, Kate Fogle, Heidi Fuechtmann, Victoria Holthaus, Stephanie Knopik, Laura Okroi, Nicki Olson, Jessica Ringwelski, Amy Schneider, Jodi Tonsager.
Baseball
Scott Denning is aware of how competitive the Central Lakes Conference is. One thing he can be thankful for is that he has 10 seniors on this year's squad, seven having seen extensive playing time.
First basemen Michael Schwientek, the Flyers' top returning hitter with a .375 average and two home runs, will be looked to provide firepower. Outfielders Matt Wenz and Michael Sobiech will also be asked to add to the offense.
Paul Herman and Noah Czech should carry most of the pitching load for the Flyers as they will rely on what Denning believes is a solid defense.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Michael Schwientek, Michael Sobiech, Noah Czech, Russell Fellbaum, Matt Wenz, Ryan Olson, Josh Gosiak, Paul Herman, Michael Brausen, Mike Darmante.
Additional varsity candidates
Seniors- Scott Fruedenrich.
Juniors- Brian Sanoski, Christian Larson, Tom Adamek, Joe Loscheider, Bo Corrow, David Sperl, Brian Pender, Paul Flahave, Justin Welle.
Boys' track and field
After qualifying 15 individuals for last year's Section 8, Class 2A meet, Little Falls is hoping a few of those individuals will take the next step and qualify for state in June.
With only three seniors on the roster, leadership responsibilities will fall on Luke Anderson, Brett Fortier and Josh Woolery.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Luke Anderson, Brett Fortier, Josh Woolery.
Juniors- Richard Backhaus, Andrew Feia, Josh Gold, Dan Kathrein, Tony LeMieur, Dereck Monnier, Quentin Plumski, Blake Smith.
Sophomores- Jordan Horejsi, John Loscheider, Kody Olson, Eric Sirrine, Tony Wiseman.
Additional varsity candidates
Sophomores- Brandon Kliber, Jared Asmus.
Freshmen- Jonathon Stoltman, Sean Freitag, Zac Preble.
Girls' track and field
First-year head coach Marge Brutscher should have some talent to work with as 10 individuals are back from last year's team that sent five individuals to the section meet.
Becky Anderson, Holly Beto, Rachel Davich, Holly Hoheisel and Jolene Then all were Section 8, Class 2A qualifiers in their respective events. Anderson, Beto, Angela Bratsch and Maari Hanson also made the section in the 4x800 relay.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Becky Anderson, Holly Beto, Rachel Davich, Colleen Roach.
Juniors- Angela Bratsch, Holly Hoheisel, Shannon McCoy, Kaarin Wasland.
Sophomores- Maari Hanson, Jolene Then.
Additional varsity candidates
Seniors- Lacey Bachan.
Juniors- Stephanie Chatfield, Kelly Feia, Natasha Yasgar, Tyler Young.
Sophomores- Allie Burgraff, Margit Carlson, Amanda Dunlap, Kenora Goodrich, Marisa Mowers, Michelle Nieman, Susan Sawtell.
Boys' tennis
Coming off a 9-7 season, the Flyers and first-year head coach Rick Swenson have the luxury of nine returning letterwinners, including six seniors.
Two seniors the Flyers will rely on are Eric Rakow and Mark Hartwig, who are both coming off successful hockey and basketball seasons.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Eric Rakow, Andy Spofford, Luke Godzala, Mark Hartwig, Phil Weiss, Josh Anderson.
Juniors- Brandon Staab.
Sophomores- Aaron Jorgensen, Matt Rakow.
Additional varsity candidates
Juniors- Ben Jorgensen, Nick Peterschick.
Girls' golf
The Flyers have only one senior, Jenna Herzog, on a roster that includes four returning sophomores, making first-year head coach John Haas' job challenging.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- Jenna Herzog.
Sophomores- Ashley Messerschmidt, Sarah Herold, Kayla Kluver, Paige Johnson.
Additional varsity candidates
Sophomores- Nicole Fortier, Angela Hoskins, Megan Lattimer.
Freshmen- Laura Herzog.
Boys' golf
George Fortier and John Patterson are the Flyers' only seniors.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors- George Fortier, John Patterson.
Juniors- Eric Knopik.
Additional varsity candidates
Seniors- Jason Cash.
Juniors- Jason Thielen.
Sophomores- Todd Anderson, Jeremy Nuehring, Zach Tabatt.