By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
One year removed from a Land O’Lakes championship appearance, the Burlington Barons could be on their way to another strong postseason run this summer.
The team, which consists of some collegiate players and local veterans, is 9-1 in the Land O’Lakes, good for first place. However, the team is 3-10 in the Langsdorf League.
Pitching has been the key to the team’s success this season.
The Barons’ top two starters from last season, Karl Richter and Brian Henschel, are back in the mix and continue to give Burlington a chance to win every game. Both were all-league performers.
Henschel has been lights out, with a 5-1 record and a 1.40 ERA.
Other key returning players this season include catcher Paul Archambault, second baseman Justin Molle, center fielder Dylan Friend, left fielder Alex Hallenbeck, right fielder Ben Edmundson, Joey Hodkiewicz and Nolan Friend.
“Joey and Nolan mainly pitched last year but are unable to do so this year due to injuries,” said player/manager Ryan Hoffman. “Both have become very consistent hitters that have helped fill the void of the handful of players who are not with us this summer.”
Another key returner is shortstop Mac Shepherd, who missed last season with a knee injury. He is filling in for Tell Taylor, who is playing in the Alaskan Prospect League this summer.
Shepherd has returned with a vengeance, as he recently earned a spot on the Land O’Lakes all-star team. “Mac has done an outstanding job and even earned all-star recognition this year,” Hoffman said.
A key newcomer is making up for the loss of two starting outfielders, including last year’s league MVP, Jon Schoch.
Grant Alderman, a 2013 Catholic Central graduate, has joined the team this year and taken over as an everyday outfielder.
Currently, Alderman is tied for the team home run lead with three (Henschel).
Nolan Friend boasts a .444 batting average to lead to the Barons, and Shepherd is hitting .375.
As for expectations this season, Hoffman said the Barons will contend for the LOL Southwest Division title again. However, lack of depth is playing a factor, as five former Barons are playing in elite summer baseball leagues this summer, including the Northwoods League.
Though it slightly hurts the Barons, the exposure these players are getting is impressive.
“Whenever you have consistent starting pitching you expect to be very competitive,” Hoffman said. “We have struggled a bit in the Langsdorf League as we just don’t have as much depth as we did last year.
“The success of some of the players from Burlington high schools has helped to build this program in recent years, but the Barons are feeling the side effects of that success this year. There are as many as five local players participating in collegiate wood bat leagues this summer. It’s a tribute to their hard work and dedication to the game of baseball and a great opportunity for them to show their talents. It does however leave us a little shorthanded.”
Along with Shepherd, other Barons that earned Land O’Lakes all-star spots are Archambault (starting catcher), Henschel (starting pitcher), Molle and Richter. Also, Hoffman was chosen as a manager.
The Barons play most of their remaining games at home, at Beaumont Field in downtown Burlington.
A July 16 home matchup with the Waterford Rivermen will be key to the Barons’ division title chances, Hoffman said.
“We have a pretty tough run the rest of the month of July,” Hoffman said. “We will be playing a pretty full schedule as we have a few rainouts to make up. The game against Waterford will be key, but we have a few teams within a game or two of us so they will all be important.”
Burlington 3-7, Oconomowoc 1-3
The Barons enjoyed a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Titans Sunday afternoon at Beaumont Field.
In game one, Henschel was dealing, with one earned run allowed in seven innings and six strikeouts.
Shepherd opened up the game with a leadoff triple and was drove in by Alderman’s double.
Hoffman’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0 Barons after one.
Burlington’s offense then sputtered, but the Barons hung on for the 3-1 victory.
In game two, former Burlington star Trent Taylor overcame some shaky defense in the first inning to hold Oconomowoc to two runs.
“That was big for Trent and the team,” Hoffman said. “Trent has limited pitching experience and has a tendency to let an inning get away from him. We made a few blunders in the field, and he kept his composure and kept us and himself in the game.”
Taylor went four innings and earned his first win.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Barons blew things wide open. With the bases loaded, Shepherd singled to drive in two runs. Then, Nolan Friend scored on a wild pitch. Alderman finished the rally with a two-run bomb.
Shepherd shut the door with three scoreless innings in relief to earn the save.
Schedule
(home games in bold caps)
July – 9: DOUSMAN. 10: ROME. 13: at Genesee (DH). 15: at Kenosha Kings. 16: WATERFORD. 19: NO. ILLINOIS (DH). 20: IXONIA. 22: KENOSHA. 23: WAUKESHA. 26: SHEBOYGAN (DH). July 31-Aug. 9: Langsdorf playoffs. Aug. 2-10: LOL Southwest playoffs.
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