2001 Greyhounds blend youth, experience

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Cathedral High School returns a good nucleus of players to begin the 2001 baseball season for coach Bob Weier.

Back from last year's 9-11 squad are a group of seniors -- shortstop Joey Schugel, catcher Brandon Reinarts, third baseman Joey Penkert and outfielder Hans Biebl.

Junior returnees are Jacob Mertz along with Brandon Goblirsch, Corey Schnobrich, Kyle Helget, John Knisley and Tony Moldan.

First base will see Goblirsch, along with Penkert, vying for that position. Dusty Wilfahrt, who started at second base last year, is back in that spot again.

Schugel, who hit .321 for the Hounds last year and is perhaps the best shortstop in the area, with either Helget or Knisley battling over the third base spot.

Weier has four players seeking the three outfield spots -- Biebl (.212 last year), Mertz (.371) and Moldan along with sophomore Mitch Palmer, who spent the majority of the season injured last year.

Reinarts, who hit .246 last year and led the team in stolen bases with 10, is back behind the plate.

Weier sees his pitching staff as a big question mark.

"We have some individuals who have experience," he said. "And we are hoping that through some more game experience, they can get better and we can find more pitchers."

Weier looks for Penkert (1-4; 4.04 ERA) as one of the keys on the hill. "He gained a lot of experience last year with Legion Blue and he came on for us late in the season."

He is also looking towards sophomore Wilfahrt, who was 1-1 last year. "He had some nice outings for us and gained experience with the Junior Legion. He will have to step up and win some games for us this year."

Weier said that he is looking for additional pitching which will have to come from underclassmen.

Mertz is being counted on for pitching. "He had some nice outings for us last year as a sophomore, especially against GFW and a good game against Eden Prairie in the Shakopee Tournament, so we are looking for good things from him," commented Weier.

Knisley has potential with a strikeout an inning average. "He has a nice, live arm and if he keeps his self-confidence, he can be a good pitcher."

Also, Moldan has some experience. "He is a little bit of an unknown; he did some B-squad pitching last year and also on the VFW."'

Then Weier will throw into that pitching mix Schugel and Helget. "We need them to come through to get us through the thick part of our schedule."

Weier feels that the Hounds have good team speed (31 stolen bases last year) "and the top part of our lineup will have some good hitters. We need people to come around. I don't think that we will be a power-laden team, but we will be a team that will put the ball in play."

Inexperience, especially in the lower part of the line-up, will be a weakness this year.

"It will be a jump for some of our kids who are moving to varsity baseball from the B-squad," he said. "We lack some power offensively, which may hurt."

Weier looks for St. Mary's to be a force this season in the conference, and also in the section.

The Hounds are scheduled to open their season Friday at Mankato Loyola.