4/2/2009 8:31:00 AM Baseball: Off and Running Boys of spring return to diamond in new conference
Returning letterwinners for the Verona baseball team (front, from left) are: Detric McCain, Trevor Burmeister and Derek Robinson; (middle) Brian Stampfl, Ben Schappe and Nick Olson; (back) Mason Meyer, Sam Riebau and Sean McGowan.
Verona baseball enters the 2009 season in the highly competitive Big Eight Conference with question marks around the diamond. But the team has great depth and several returning players that look to step in and hit the ground running.
"This year's team will be young and mostly inexperienced," head coach Brad D'Orazio said. "We lost a lot of offense and the pitching is mostly untested."
That pitching staff will be hurt with the loss of junior Sean McGowan, who came on strong at the end of the 2008 season but is recovering from shoulder surgery. The Wildcats do return starter Derek Robinson, a left-hander who was 3-0 last season. Several younger pitchers who saw some time on the mound during the summer will also vie for a spot.
Verona's defense should be a strength this season, as several players return along with a number of position players that gained valuable experience during the summer.
Leading the way is four-year starter Trevor Burmeister, a versatile player who saw most of his 2008 season in the outfield and batted .450 with 15 runs batted in. Burmeister will also likely see time as a starting pitcher.
Junior Nick Olson, the likely starter at shortstop this season, also returns as well as senior Detric McCain, who returns as the team's second leading hitter. Sam Riebau, Brian Stampfl and Ben Schaape are also returners that will compete for starting spots.
"Overall depth of the team will be a strength, as should our defense," D'Orazio said. "We hope to be able to compete with our young pitchers and defense."
Verona will have to contend with teams like Madison Memorial, Middleton and Sun Prairie in its new conference. The Middleton squad is ranked second in the state entering the season, and boasts a strong lineup.
The Wildcats are set to open their season Friday on the road at Milton in a non-conference game before jumping head first into the lion's cage. Verona will host Madison Memorial Tuesday afternoon, before hitting the road next Thursday to take on Middleton.
