Redskins ‘aiming high’ this season

Published by Tecumseh Herald on Mon, 04/11/2016 - 10:04am
By: 
Mickey Alvarado

Clinton varsity baseball — Row one (l-r), Michael Sprau, Riley Jacobs, Brandon Studnicka and Ben Hubbard. Row two, Daniel Tomalak, Jason Ahrens, Kyle Staelgraeve, Alex McIntosh and Jesse Fisher. Row three, Trevor Austin, Clark Nelson, Ian Pizzo, Zane Woerner, Ryan Hoffman and coach Steve DeGood. Photo by Mickey Alvarado.

Two tight varsity baseball games turned into losses for Clinton as the Redskins fell 3-1 and 4-3 at home in Tri-County Conference action against Madison.
 
“In both games we left the bases loaded in the seventh inning,” said Clinton Coach Steve DeGood. “We just couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it.”
 
Junior Kyle Staelgraeve pitched in the first game, allowing five hits while striking out six.
 
Clinton was led at the plate by senior Jason Ahrens and junior Zane Woerner with two hits each. Juniors Staelgraeve and Alex McIntosh each added one hit.
 
Junior Daniel Tomalak allowed six hits and struck out eight in the second loss. 
 
Tomalak also led the Redskins at the plate, going 2-for-3. McIntosh went 1-for-3 for Clinton with a double and two RBI while Ahrens, Woerner, senior Jesse Fisher and junior Ben Hubbard each added one hit.
 
During a preseason interview, coach DeGood said that he expects his two senior co-captains, two-year varsity players Ahrens and Fisher, will be the team’s top leaders, along with three-year varsity player junior co-captain Staelgraeve. 
 
Ahrens is slotted to pitch, play third base and shortstop while Fisher is the starting catcher who will also receive pitching duties.
 
Staelgraeve will cover center field and also pitch.
 
Staelgraeve and Tomalak were the Redskins’ number one and two pitchers, respectively, last season. Tomalak will also cover shortstop.
 
“They’ll be back for another year after this too so I’m very happy for that,” DeGood said. “They will pitch a majority of the league games.”
 
Staelgraeve and Tomalak also led Clinton in hitting last season.
 
Before the season even started two returning outfield players had shoulder injuries that will keep them in the dugout for the early season. Sophomore Michael Sprau and junior Steven Laurell were both injured during the football season. “We don’t know how much they will be able to play. Definitely not the first month,” said DeGood.
 
Junior Alex McIntosh returns to the Redskins’ as first baseman while returning junior Zane Woerner will cover second base and also pitch. 
 
That’s all of our returners, so we’re still going to be pretty young,” said DeGood. 
 
Sophomore Clark Nelson will cover center field when needed. Junior Riley Jacobs will be in left field while junior Brandon Studnicka will be in right field.
 
DeGood said the team is “aiming high” this season. “We’re going for a league championship and trying to win a district so we’re going to have to play some good defense to do that,” said DeGood.
 
Tim Baker and Mike Staelgraeve are the team’s assistant coaches.
 
Clinton is scheduled to play next at Onsted on Monday, April 11, at 5 p.m.

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