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Parker baseball team to feature speed

JANESVILLE — An abundance of speed, along with an improved defense, should help Janesville Parker High School’s baseball team rebound from a disappointing 2007 season.

The Vikings were 3-13 in the Big Eight Conference a year ago, but coach Brian Martin is not dwelling on the past. Parker returns six starters, including all-conference selections Matt Beyer and Garrett Morris, and Martin is focusing on the present.

“This is the most speed we’ve had in my eight years,” Martin said. “We’ve got seven guys that can run at any time, and we’re hoping to take advantage of that.

“And defensively, I think we’re going to be solid. If our pitchers can throw strikes, we’ve got kids that can make plays behind them.”

The top returnee for the Vikings is centerf fielder Matt Beyer. The senior was second-team all-conference a year ago after batting over .300 and also had a solid summer with Janesville’s American Legion team. Beyer will bat third and is part of a speedy outfield.

“Matt’s a kid that kind of came out of nowhere and had a great year for us last season,” Martin said. “I expect much of the same this year.

“With him in the outfield, along with Alex (Koel) and Ian (Larson), we have the best combination defensively that I’ve ever had. Those three can all run, and any balls that are hit in the gap, they’re going to run down.”

Koel, a junior, will start in left, and the senior Larson is slated for right field. Other outfield candidates are juniors Ross Mauermann, Jason Atchinson and Shane Kilmer. Mauermann, the Big Eight Player of the Year in hockey, will likely open the season as the designated hitter and also can play first base.

The infield returns three starters, led by junior David Jacobson at shortstop and senior B.J. Scharenbroch at second base. Jacobson also is expected to pitch, while Scharenbroch can play any of the four infield positions.

“B.J’s been on the varsity for three years and is probably the most versatile player on the team,” Martin said. “David was really playing well at the end of last season and has looked good so far this year.”

Morris, an honorable mention all-conference pitcher a year ago, will play third when he’s not on the mound. Sophomore Tyler Teubert also can play third, along with second or first base.

Juniors Brodie Meehan and Ben Koning are in a battle at first base, along with Mauermann.

“A lot of our lineup is going to depend on who is pitching that day,” Martin said. “I’ve got a number of kids that can play more than one position, and that should help.”

Morris, a righthander, had a record below .500 a year ago but had a decent ERA in gaining all-conference recognition. Like Beyer, Morris also had a successful summer playing on the American Legion team.

“The thing about Garrett is that he kept us in games last year,” Martin said. “Now, he’s gotten bigger and that has allowed him to add some miles per hour to his fastball.

“When he throws strikes, he is very effective. That’s going to be the key for him.”

The second and third starters are likely to be sophomores. Teubert, who pitched for Janesville’s 14-year old Babe Ruth team that played in the World Series, will be one starter along with Josh Garcia.

“Any time you have to put a 10th-grader on the mound, you’re getting into dangerous territory in our league,” Martin said. “But Tyler’s got good stuff, and Josh throws harder than anyone we have. They’re going to get their chance, and we’ll see how they perform.”

Scharenbroch, Koel, Jacobson and Beyer also could get time on the mound, as Martin hopes to avoid wearing down Morris—especially if the weather forces Parker to reschedule games for later in the season.

“If there are weeks where we have to play three or four games, we’re going to have to have plenty of arms available.”

Senior Kevin Hesser and junior Kelly Silha are in a close battle for the catching duties, the one position Martin is most concerned with due to a lack of experience.

With defending champion Middleton and Sun Prairie getting most of the preseason recognition, Martin is hoping his young Vikings can sneak up on the competition.

“I think by the end of the year, we could be a pretty good team,” Martin said. “I think we can score some runs with our speed, but we have to find a way to get on base first.

“Right now, it’s tough to tell where we are at because we’ve only been outdoors once.”

Parker’s schedule:

(Home games at Riverside Park)

APRIL: 1—Madison La Follette, 5 p.m; 3—Middleton, 5 p.m.; x5—Elkhorn (At Metrodome in Minneapolis), 7 p.m.; 7—At Janesville Craig, 5 p.m.; 9—At Beloit Memorial, 5 p.m.; 15—Madison West, 5 p.m.; 17—At Sun Prairie, 4:30 p.m.; x18—Hartford, 5 p.m.; 22—Madison East, 5 p.m.; 24—At Madison La Follette, 5 p.m.; 29—At Middleton.

MAY: 3—At Madison Memorial (DH), 11 a.m.; 6—Janesville Craig, 5 p.m.; 8—Beloit Memorial, 5 p.m.; x12—At Oconomowoc, 4:30 p.m.; 15—At Madison West, 5 p.m.; x19—Rockford Boylan, 4:30 p.m.; 20—Sun Prairie, 5 p.m.; 22—At Madison East, 5 p.m.

x—Nonconference