Expectations remain high in Bonduel

The loss of a dominant senior class that secured a Central Wisconsin Conference-8 baseball title last season would dampen expectations for most teams.

But with returning letter winners in a variety of positions, led by returning starters Trevor Pedersen at pitcher and Bailey Dingeldein moving to the infield, Bonduel head coach Donnie Gruenewald isn’t ready to let up on this year’s group.

The biggest challenge will be getting the team — which also includes returning letter winners Bennett Gunderson, Blake Stoss and Wyatt Erb — used to playing alongside each other, he said.

“I think it’s just a matter of getting out on the field and taking some ground balls and hitting some fly balls and just seeing that they actually can do the job, and I think they can work through any little discomforts that come along,” Gruenewald said.

Pedersen, who played catcher a season ago in addition to pitching, could move to shortstop if junior Josh Richter can make a jump and show improvement behind the plate.

Despite being one of the top catchers in the CWC-8, Pedersen would be more valuable to the Bears on the infield when he isn’t on the mound, according to the fifth-year head coach.

“If (Josh Richter) really steps up at catcher, then we don’t have to worry about putting Trevor (Pedersen) back there,” Gruenewald said. “Josh Richter could be the biggest impact if he steps up.”

If the Bears are able to replace graduated seniors such as Connor Rosin, Travis Wollenberg, Colton Dobratz, Jordan Richter and Hunter VanDerLinden, Pedersen thinks the team can maintain the school’s baseball tradition.

“Bonduel baseball has a good tradition historically, so we want to compete for that conference championship, get that regional title, and this year, we are going to shoot hard for a sectional title, which we haven’t had for a long time,” Pedersen said.

Gruenewald, even after losing the talented class from a season ago, does not expect a drop off in execution with the new players.

Iola-Scandinavia and Pacelli are the early season favorites in the conference, which for the most part, remains a wide-open race, he said.

“Like I said last year, it was going to be an enjoyable year,” Gruenewald said. “This year, I think it will be, too, because I don’t think a lot of people expect a lot out of these guys, but to tell you the truth, I kind of do.”