Wildcats getting freshmen up to speed

Without a junior varsity program, the tallest task for Gresham baseball program will be getting its freshmen ready for their first varsity game on April 4.

Second-year head coach Scott Cerveny expects three freshmen to play large roles early in the season: Justice Paiser (infield/pitcher), Anthony Creapeau (infield) and Anthony Juga (outfield).

“The new kids that are coming in, the freshmen, we are going to see what they can bring us,” Scott Cerveny said.

The freshmen will have to help fill the void created by the graduation of two all-conference selections from last season, Christian Haffner and Riley Nietzer, along with Kevin Ile and Kalen Fischer.

“Losing four seniors with two guys batting in the .280s and two in the .300s, to replace them with freshmen, and not have a JV program, presents a big challenge,” Scott Cerveny said.

To help ease the pressure is an experienced group of athletes, including senior Beau Hoffman and juniors Derek Bowman, Neal Cerveny and Ray Creapeau.

Hoffman, who batted .330 last season, will be a utility infielder. Bowman and Neal Cerveny, each second-team all-conference selections in the Central Wisconsin Conference-10 last season, remain the team’s top two pitchers.

“Pitching is going to be the key to our success this year,” Scott Cerveny said.

With all the returning players in critical positions, Neal Cerveny can’t find an area where he thinks Gresham could struggle this season.

“I think we are going to be better all around, better hitting, better fielding,” Neal Cerveny said. “We will bring more focus to the table this year instead of last year.”

Gresham went 13-7 overall and 12-6 in CWC-10 play last season, finishing fourth in the CWC behind Rosholt (17-1), Wild Rose (14-4) and Almond-Bancroft (13-5).

Rosholt, which defeated Gresham by a combined 21 runs in the teams’ two meetings last season, has won six consecutive conference championships.

“One of our main goals is just to beat (Rosholt),” Neal Cerveny said. “I think we will have a pretty good conference record, maybe third in conference. Hopefully better than that.”