Bonduel Legion eyes regional title, state trip

With the American Legion Class A State Tournament being held in Clintonville this summer, there’s no reason Bonduel can’t be there competing for a state title.

Bonduel head coach Jason Boldt is confident in his team despite a couple of relatively unproven pitchers seeing time on the mound.

“I’m expecting us to be playing in Clintonville for state. There’s no reason (not to),” Boldt said. “We’re just as good as anybody else.”

The team’s top pitcher, Wyatt Erb, will be around for only a couple of the team’s game because he is also playing with the Wisconsin All-Stars, a traveling baseball team that competes from Milwaukee to New York.

With Erb gone, Jordan Boldt will be the team’s top arm, with Brent Pieper, Riley Allen and Isaac Boldt also eating up innings over the course of the season.

“I think where we might lack a little bit is at pitching,” Bailey Dingeldein said. “I think we’ll have enough of a good hitting team to have enough run support, so I’m expecting good things.”

Dingeldein, the only senior returning from 2016, will provide a big bat at the plate and versatility in the outfield. Brandon Olsen will join Dingeldein and Jordan Boldt in the grass.

Bryce Weier will continue his familiar position at second base, and Brent Pieper will move back to third base to hold down the hot corner. Isaac Boldt will see time at shortstop. Bryce Engel and Dalton Cairns are working to find time at first base as well.

Josh Richter will remain behind the plate for Bonduel.

“We have some younger guys that are going to have to step up this year, like Riley Allen and Dalton Cairns, who didn’t play Legion last year,” Jason Boldt said.

Defensively, they could be asked to make more plays to help offset the younger pitchers.

“I’m just hoping they’ll all step up. It could be a long summer, it could be a good summer,” Boldt said. “I don’t know yet.”

Bonduel will host a Class A regional, which is a double-elimination tournament from July 19-23 to decide which team goes to state. Clintonville, which receives an automatic bid to the state tourney as host, will likely be in the regional, which could make the road easier for Bonduel.

With 11 regular-season games on the docket beforehand, Bonduel doesn’t want to look too far ahead.

“Ultimately, I’d like to win regionals, obviously,” Dingeldein said, “but I think before we focus on that, just focus on having a winning record.”