APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence baseball team looked poised for a breakthrough season in 2006.
A slew of close losses prevented the Vikings from stopping a run of 15 consecutive losing seasons. Lawrence finished 14-20 a year ago, with 10 of the Vikings’ losses by one run and another five by two runs.
"I really hope it is,” Lawrence coach Korey Krueger said of the prospects of a breakout campaign. “All indications point to that as far as returning players, offensive strength, defensive strengths, pitching opportunities. If we can limit the crucial errors and the walks, we have a chance to win any game because we can hit and we can run.”
Lawrence, which opens play March 19 when it takes on Tufts in Greensboro, N.C., will be paced by its all-Midwest Conference outfield of Appleton’s Brad Hauser, Clintonville’s Tim O’Toole, Billy Bodle and Bryan Rosen. All four have earned all-conference honors during their career, and Krueger will have to find a way to get all four in every game.
Hauser hit .354 with 22 runs batted in last season, with Bodle at.346 with 32 RBI and Rosen at .356 with 17 RBI. Despite missing 10 games with a wrist injury, O’Toole batted .324 and swiped .92 bases per game (22 total), good for ninth-best in the nation.
“This is as good an outfield as I have seen in a long time,” Krueger said. “They can run, they can hit and play defense.”
The Vikings are going to try and use that depth, which includes junior Mike Butzen and freshmen Wes Otte of Appleton and Ashwaubenon’s Sam Laes, by turning some of them loose on the mound. New pitching coach and former Major Leaguer Chris Bosio has worked with Hauser, O’Toole and Butzen.
“What Bosio has done is made them contributors to our pitching staff,” Krueger said. “We’re going to be pretty strong out there no matter who we take out and put on the mound.”
Bosio has some talented arms with which to work, including newcomer Kevin Kangas, who transferred from UW-Oshkosh. Kangas played only his freshman season with the Titans but was a star last summer with the Appleton Legends. Kangas was 7-3 with the Legends, compiling a 1.85 earned run average and striking out 89 in 87 2/3 innings.
“He’s an immediate leader on this team, and he’s a go-to guy when we play a tough team,” Krueger said of Kangas. “He has really improved the talent level. All of the guys have stepped up with the addition of Kevin.”
The Vikings have three other pitchers on the staff who have earned all-conference honors in their careers. Former Xavier star Chris Clouthier went 3-2 last season with a 6.32 ERA and fellow senior Josh Richie had a subpar year with a 1-7 mark and a 5.63 ERA. Sophomore Alex Fritsch emerged as the team’s ace in 2006, posting a 3-2 mark with a 3.38 ERA.
Lawrence could also get contributions from freshmen Andy Frelich of Denmark, Oconto Falls’ Luke Kostreva and Ashwaubenon’s Kevin Penza.
The other big lift for the pitching staff comes from Bosio, according to Krueger.
“Bos adds to the technical side of things, and the other thing he really adds is the approach to the mental side of the game. Which pitches to throw, when to throw them,” Krueger said. “It has them thinking outs, and it has them thinking strikes. It’s a major turnaround from last year.”
The big question mark for the Vikings is the revamped infield. Two of the top players in last four years, Andrew Wong and Kevin Fitzsimmons, have graduated, and that provides some opportunities for others.
Mishicot’s Tommy Schmidt led the team in hitting last year by batting .439, including a blistering .489 in league play. Primarily used as the designated hitter a season ago, the 6-foot-5 Schmidt is the new target at first base.
“The one thing that stands out is that Tommy Schmidt was ready to play at that position last year but was beaten out by an upperclassmen,” Krueger said.
Former Oshkosh West star Frank Forseth, who posted a 3-3 record and 4.88 ERA as a pitcher last season, will likely slide into Wong’s position at third base.
“He has become a much better baseball player this year both on the mound and at third,” Krueger said.
The middle of the infield also has a change because shortstop Jordan Clark chose not to play this season after batting .359 with 18 RBI as a freshman.
Three players will likely man second base and shortstop. Junior Doug McEneaney is back at second base after hitting .305 with 14 RBI last season, and sophomore Evan Neuens also returns after hitting .286 a season ago. Sophomore Hawk Haiduke, who hit .333 with 17 RBI as a freshman, has moved from catcher back to his natural position of shortstop.
“You’re talking about a junior and a couple of sophomores ready to take over those positions, and that’s the natural progression that should take place,” Krueger said.
Haiduke’s position shift has opened the door at catcher for juniors Tim Salm and Adam Fritsch.
“Both are solid hitters and both are very good defensively,” Krueger said. “It’s going to work out that both of them are splitting time. Both have been on the verge of getting more playing time. It’s really their time to get an opportunity.”
Lawrence has depth on the infield as well, with freshmen like Matt Frelich of Denmark at first and Ashwaubenon’s Dan Behnke behind the plate.
The Vikings are also taking a different tack this season when it comes to their spring trip. Lawrence has been going to Fort Myers, Fla., over the last decade, but the Vikings are headed to North Carolina to take on a group of talented teams, including 2006 Division III World Series participant North Carolina Wesleyan.
Lawrence returns home for an exhibition game with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on April 3 before beginning conference play with a four-game series against Beloit on April 5.