Patriots working on fundamentals early in season

With just three 2016 Shawano Community High School graduates on the team, development of younger players will be the biggest factor in the success of the Shawano American Legion baseball team this summer.

The Patriots lost a lot of familiar names from last season’s squad, including Chase Henning, Ky Schmidt, Zack Sousek, Jack Lacy and others.

Coach Ryan Koenig said the Patriots will rely on depth to help keep the momentum going from last year’s successful Legion season.

“You really have to prove to the coaching staff who wants to play, who can put the ball in play and who can do their fundamentals of the game, and they’re going to get more playing time,” Koenig said. “It’s really a new season is how we are approaching it.”

After Shawano High’s four-win season, Koenig also is working to keep the team positive over the course of the summer.

“It’s always positive. You’re always cheering your teammates. You’re always picking up teammates,” Koenig said. “I’ve seen in the first couple of games, we’ve had to correct some things said, and that’s the big thing.”

The Patriots have gotten by so far with their youth, scoring a 6-3 victory in the season opener over Bonduel, falling to Clintonville 14-6 and downing Bay Port in their first Fox River Valley league game Sunday.

Shawano has a strong pitching staff to count on, with Nate Laude and Dylan Sumnicht at the top of the rotation. Tasa Grignon, Casey Baumann and Bryce Gagnow also should be able to eat up innings over the course of the season.

Infielders Kasey Kristoff, Cole Nelson and Brad Bartz will be counted on to continue to improve and to cut down on errors as the season goes on. Shawano committed five errors in its loss to Clintonville but rebounded with one error against Bay Port.

The players will have to show Koenig they are ready to play each and every game.

“It’s going to take a team effort, and that’s the big thing we’re going to stress this year, and I’ve been stressing with them,” Koenig said. “It’s going to take all 17 of us, playing at the right time and cheering each other on.”