Edgar looks to maintain success

‘Cats won first regional last season

By Casey Krautkramer

Last season, Edgar’s varsity baseball team finished with an 18-4 record after winning the program’s first ever regional championship and competing in the sectional final. The majority of the talented baseball players who took the Wildcats’ program to new heights have since graduated, therefore this season third-year head coach Connor Handrick has the challenge of keeping the program strong this season and in the future.

“As we graduated over 60% of our starting lineup from a year ago, we still bring back a great core of senior baseball players that are hungry for more success after reaching the sectional finals a year ago,” Handrick said. “Last year’s team set the bar high for Edgar baseball and we have already seen this year’s underclassmen are up for the task to meet the expectations set by the 2021 team. As long as our guys stay hungry and keep working hard, we know they have what it takes to reach the goals they have set for themselves this season.”

Edgar has three returning starters from last year’s team including seniors Ashton Schuett, pitcher and shortstop; Jordan Bunkelman, pitcher and third baseman and Everet Brehm who plays shortstop, third base and left field.

The Wildcats lost ace starting pitcher Konnor Wolf to graduation last spring. Wolf tossed a no hitter in the team’s 10-0 home win in six innings against Rib Lake to win the program’s first ever regional championship last season. He also was the starting pitcher in Edgar’s 2-1 sectional semifinals victory against Three Lakes/Phelps. Even with Wolf having graduated, the Wildcats still have plenty of pitching arms remaining this season.

“As we head into the season, we have two dominant starting pitchers in Ashton Schuett and Jordan Bunkelman; both of them had very successful junior seasons on the mound as both ended the year with ERA’s under 1.5,” Handrick said.

“In the past neither of those two guys have had to carry the workload for a full season, but we as a staff are excited to see what they can do with a full season workload. Beyond those two, we have many pitchers behind them that will get their first look pitching at the varsity level. It is too early to tell which guys will truly step up for us as extra starters and relievers but I know that with the work the underclassmen have put in so far this season, we can build a good group of pitchers behind our two workhorses.” Mitch Mueller is in his second baseball season as Edgar’s varsity assistant coach. Shawn Bunkelman begins his third season as the Wildcats’ junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant. Josh Eberhardt is in his 10th baseball season as the school’s volunteer coach. Brian Halverson begins his third season and Kaden Goodwin his inaugural season as Edgar Middle School baseball coaches.