Seven letter winners return to Frazee line up
Sports | Published on April 2, 2024 at 3:51pm EDT | Author: frazeevergas
0Hornets to switch to Section 5A for baseball
Derek Zitzow connects on a pitch during a game in Frazee last season. The Hornets will look to replace five starters who were lost to graduation last season.
By Chad Koenen
Publisher
There will be a fair amount of new faces in new places for the Frazee baseball team this spring. Not only did the Hornets lose five starters from last year’s team, but they will also be transitioning from Section 8AA to Section 5A this season. The move means the Hornets went from one of the smallest schools in Class AA to one of the larger ones in Class A.
Asher Blaine rifles a throw across the diamond during a game in Frazee last season.
However, if the Hornets want to be competitive this season, they will need to fill some big gaps left by five seniors who graduated from last season.
Frazee will be led into action this season by seven returning letter winners including: Drew Mekalson, Derek Zitzow, Cael Pausch, Asher Blaine, Logan Brekke, Jesse Rollins and Will Olson.
“(The) Hornets have a great group of high character, studious, and coachable baseball players. I’m looking forward to a great season,” said head coach Andy Mekalson.
As the team looks to fill the gaps left by the graduation of Zach Longfors, Mark Jaroszewski, Kale Osvak, Caden Frank and Gage Post from last year’s team, they will turn to a number of non-letter winners who could make an impact on the varsity level. Among the non-letter winners who could make an impact this season are: Chandler Ullrich, Andrew Aho, Karson Krause, Adam Vigen, Conner Erickson and Dawson Lyman.
Heading into the season, Mekalson said the Hornets hope to stay positive, learn the game and win the close games.
“With four returning starters, and our younger players without varsity experience (but a young talented crew) our goals are to stay positive, learn and adapt after each game, stay competitive, and win those close games,” he said.
Mekalson said Perham and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton will be among the favorites in the conference this season, while New York Mills will be the favorite in Section 5A.
Mekalson said the Hornets have 29 players in grades 9-12 this season. He will be joined on the coaching staff by Brandon Olson as the varsity assistant, Jason Bauer as the JV coach and Brady Breitenfeldt and Jeremiah Prellwitz who will be coaching junior high.