Taking a step back this year to be ready for the future

GILMAN BASEBALL PREVIEW

Participation numbers are improved over 2021’s Covid-altered baseball season, but they still weren’t to the point where the Gilman Pirates felt comfortable committing to a varsity schedule and competing in the Eastern Cloverbelt Conference this spring.

So, with the help of three young players from Lake Holcombe, Gilman is taking a different approach to 2022, playing a JV schedule with hopes of getting its roster that is heavy on freshmen and sophomores ready for varsity play, hopefully by next year.

The additions from the west bring the roster to 12, with all except Grady Kroeplin and Wayne McAlpine, both juniors, being in the younger grade levels.

“There’s no stress,” head coach Dave Kroeplin said in an April 13 interview. “It’s all about fundamentals and learning right now before they get to the varsity level. That’s what I’m trying to tell the kids. Winning is great, but if you win and you’re not learning, then you’re not winning. I think they’re going to catch on real quick.”

Gilman had just four players interested in baseball last spring and was fortunate to latch on with Thorp for a successful one-year Covid co-op. The team went 15-7 and won a WIAA Division 3 regional championship before falling to Eau Claire Regis in a sectional semifinal game played in Cumberland.

The teams expressed interest in keeping the co-op going, but Gilman’s administration ultimately kept its program solo as sports life returned to normal this school year. As spring approached, it became apparent Gilman wasn’t quite going to have enough bodies to make a varsity team work and pulled out of conference play and this spring’s WIAA tournament.

“We were thinking about doing a varsity schedule, but one injury, one grade, one sickness, one anything and we can’t play a game,” Kroeplin said.

Upon learning Cornell and Lake Holcombe were also struggling with numbers, talks of a co-op started and resulted in Luke Hilger, Trent Nitek and Trent Lee of Holcombe coming on board.

“The kids from Holcombe, they wanted to play,” Kroeplin said. “Thorp gave us the opportunity for our four kids to play last year, so that was great. Now we’re just kind of paying it forward and letting them play the greatest game on Earth.”

The JV team made its playing debut in an 11-7, five-inning loss at Thorp on April 11. Like most teams in the area, Gilman went into its first game with virtually no outside practice other than taking some fly balls in the parking lot. Kroeplin said Gilman’s field was maybe one warm, dry day away from being ready to play, but last week’s rain and cold foiled that.

“It went about as good as I thought it could,” said coach Kroeplin, who is assisted by Justin Young. “Just a little inexperience at this higher level. It’s JV but it’s still a little faster and a more mentally strong game. We had a few good hits, a few nice plays. Our pitching wasn’t bad. They did pretty good with pitching. We just have a lot of learning to do yet.”

Gilman brings nine players to the team, the most experienced of which is Grady Kroeplin, who had a starting role on last year’s Thorp-Gilman team as an outfielder. Sophomore Dalton Wisocky also played in the co-op last year, mostly at the JV level.

Kroeplin could play shortstop, will certainly pitch and could even catch if needed. Wisocky also figures to fill multiple roles as a pitcher, an outfielder or potentially a second baseman.

McAlpine hasn’t played in several years, but coach Kroeplin said his fearless attitude might help him become a catcher. He’s also getting time at third base.

Sophomore Adam Draeger has returned to the sport after some time away. Gilman’s five freshman representatives are Brayden Olynick, Talyn Podolak, Joey Syryczuk, Trevor Vick and Wyatt Webster. The freshmen all have played the game to some degree while growing up, which should help them adjust to high school ball.

“They’re having a good time,” coach Kroeplin said. “I told them it’s all learning right now. They’re working hard and having fun doing it. I don’t see any heads hanging, even the other night at the game, no one hung their heads. They have good attitudes. We just have to learn from the mistakes.”

As of now, the Pirates have worked out a schedule that could get close to 10 games if everything holds together. Thorp, Stanley-Boyd, New Auburn, Mc-Donell Central and Owen-Withee are the opponents so far. Of course, Mother Nature hasn’t helped much and things could change.

“We have a couple of weeks we can fill in,” Kroeplin said. “We’re still working on that, but that all depends on how the varsity schedules go and what their makeup games will be.”

Certainly the intent is to go the JV route for just one season. No matter how many games do get played, they will all be important in getting this young group ready for varsity-level competition.

“If everybody sticks with it and with next year’s class, if they stick with it, we should have I figure about 13 guys.” Kroeplin said. “Our upcoming seasons should be good if everybody sticks with it. We’ll be competitive in a few years.”