Weekly Practice Report: 2/11/05

The Saint Scholastica Saints Baseball team has been hard at work in practice for two weeks now and things are really starting to shape up. The team has been practicing for six days a week for about two hours per session. The team lost six seniors from last years team, that will be hard to replace, but the hard work this year’s team is putting in, is definitely setting them up to succeed. The team does not require time in the weight room, but players very rarely can thrive without it. In fact, former Saints player and team Hall of Famer Greg Young makes strength and weight training programs for the players.

As far as how certain aspects of the 2005 Saints are looking in practice, team captain Kenny Kolquist was able to give some insight. There are no players who are really standing out in practice, but according to Kenny, “(The) pitching staff and hitters are showing early signs of dominance.” That pitching staff is anchored by seniors Jake Eiler, who pitched in the summer for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League, D.J. Lahti and sophomore Keith Ritsche. Kenny spoke of the off season work ethic by saying, “It is clear that guys worked hard in the off season so that when it came time to actually start the season up again, we were not starting from square one.”

Sophomore Brandon Swartz echoed Kenny and also added some praise of senior Tom Simonson by saying that, “Simo has been swinging it good, as usual.” Simonson hit .425 last season and is the unquestioned leader of the Saints at the dish. Kenny Kolquist wrapped up the first two weeks of practice by saying, “We are very happy with where we are, the work ethic towards success is very impressive.” This team is really shaping up to do some special things this season in the NCAA.