Leader Staff
A first-division finish in the Bay Conference is a laudable and achievable goal for the Shawano Community High School baseball team, although with the solid nucleus of senior talent on board, don’t be surprised if it’s mid-May and the Hawks are still in the race for the league title.
Shawano returns four starters from last season’s 7-16 club, all of whom are seniors: pitcher Grant Wainio, center fielder Chase Henning, shortstop Zach Sousek and second baseman Ky Schmidt.
Wainio has already announced his arrival by posting a 10-strikeout, two-hit shutout against Oconto in the Hawks’ 6-0 season-opening victory. The same goes for Henning, a second-team all-Bay Conference selection a year ago. Henning socked a pair of doubles and drove in three runs for Shawano in the opener.
Sousek is a polished all-around athlete who along with Schmidt give the Hawks a solid middle infield defense that will make life easier for Wainio, Jack Lacy, a senior pitcher who also lettered last year, and the rest of the pitching staff.
Lacy, like another returning senior letter-winning pitcher, Tommy Stueck, also plays first base. Senior Brendan Cummings is another pitcher who coach Rob Wolff will count on to repel the likes of conference favorites Denmark, West De Pere and Menasha. Junior third baseman Tasa Grignon rounds out the returning letter-winners for Shawano.
“We should be strong in all areas of the game — pitching, strong defense and a good offense,” Wolff said. “I really think we can contend with the best teams in our league. I am really counting on the senior class to step up and get us back to one of the top teams in the conference.”
Three other seniors figure to see considerable playing time — pitcher/left fielder Mason Boogren, first baseman Brandon Warrington and outfielder Adam Bartz. Junior pitcher/infielder Nate Laude, junior outfielder Brady Belongia and sophomore catcher Jack Hanuer likewise can figure on significant turns in the field and at the plate. Laude made his presence felt on opening day, rapping out two hits against Oconto.
The season-opening win was a good omen for the Hawks, who last year got off to a sluggish 1-6 start that put them in a hole out from which they were unable to climb. This season’s schedule shakes out such that the showdowns with West De Pere, Menasha and Denmark all take place in May, by which time the Hawks will have any early-season kinks worked out in time to find out where they stand in the league.
“I’m really excited about the potential that this team has, and how they might jell as a unit,” Wolff said. “It could be a really successful season.”