Ridgewater College baseball outlook
COACH
Joel Barta, 1st year
ASSISTANT COACH
Mike Thompson, Dennis Boe
LAST SEASON
Southern Division: 1st place
Overall: MCAC champions, Region 13 champions; 4th place NJCAA III national tournament
KEY DATES
Minnesota opener: April 1 at Willmar, 1 p.m. Central Lakes College
MCAC State Tournament: May 1-3
Region 13: May 8-10 at Willmar
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
SOPHOMORES
Justin Schroeder, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, LHP/OF
FRESHMEN
Aaron Adelman, Ortonville, 3B/1B
Mitch Allore, Mankato, P/Utility
Chris Braaten, Sunburg, PHP/3B
Kyle Burg, St. Martin, RHP
Matt Christensen, Aitkin, P/INF
Mitch Fodstad, Eden Valley, OF
Luke Frauendiest, Henderson, OF
James Gilbertson, Whitehall, Wis, SS/RHP
Tyler Kanten, Montevideo, LHP/OF
Benji Hager, Owatonna, SS/OF
Adam Luberts, Spicer, C
Adam Marynik, Grand Forks, N.D., RHP/OF
Aaron Pickle, Willmar, C
Travis Radermacher, Orton-ville, INF
Patrick Rients, Lakefield, 1B
Derrick Roush, Farming, OF
Ryan Speltz, Winona, RHP/OF
Luke Stadther, Olivia, C/RHP
Bobby Tyndall, Ashland, Wis, P
Jacob Wahl, Walnut Grove, LHP/OF
OUTLOOK
Ridgewater College has a new head coach for the first time in 11 years. Joel Barta, a North Dakota native with head coaching experience at four-year colleges in Wisconsin and Texas, begins his first season with 20 first-year college players and one holdover, Justin Schroeder. Former coach Dwight Kotila departed to become athletic director and instructor at Century College in White Bear Lake. His teams had unequalled success advancing to five of the past six NJCAA Division III national tournaments while dominating the MCCC Southern Division.
The Warriors went 3-6 on their spring trip to Phoenix against Division II junior colleges and senior college JVs. Barta got a look at 10 pitchers. Starters were Justin Schroeder, Chris Braaten, Matt Christensen, Bobby Tyndall, Tyler Kanten and Jacob Wahl. Also getting mound time were Ryan Speltz, who could be the leading reliever, Mitch Allore, James Gilbertson and Adam Marynik. Adam Luberts caught all 67 innings on the trip; first backup Luke Stadther was unable to make the trip due to National Guard commitments. Aaron Pickle also backs up. Travis Radermacher looks solid at second and Gilbertson will get a long look at shortstop. Barta wants to find anchors for the corners but so far no one has claimed a spot; Aaron Adelman, Kyle Berg, Braaten, Patrick Rients and Christiansen are possibilities. Slated for outfield duty are Benji Hager, Luke Frauendiest and Schroeder. Also battling for outfield spots are Derrick Roush, Kanten, Mitch Fodstad and Speltz. Wahl appears to have won the DH role in Arizona.
- Rand Middleton
