By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
Last year’s East Troy High School baseball team made a little bit of noise in the Rock Valley Conference with a second-place finish.
How the 2015 version turns out remains to be seen, but the pieces certainly look to be in place for another positive step forward.
East Troy brings back five seniors and four players who earned All-RVC honors from the 2014 team that finished 13-11 overall and 11-5 in conference play.
Hope springs eternal, as it usually does this time of year.
“I am always looking for our team to improve each season,” third-year East Troy coach Rick Brandner said. “We have more seniors this year than we have had either of my two previous seasons, and I am looking for them to lead us to a good season.”
The key to success remains the same, Brandner said.
“The key for us, like most teams, is always pitching,” he said. “I like the way we can swing the bat, but pitching and defense are what will define our season.”
Leading the way will be those five seniors – Jacob Schultz (outfield-pitcher), Will Iloncaie (shortstop-pitcher), Evan Wick (catcher-third base), Jason Dopke (outfield-pitcher) and Connor Mitchell (second base).
Mitchell was a first-team, All-RVC pick last year, Iloncaie a second-team pick, and Wick was named honorable mention.
Joining that five-some is junior Ryan Olsen (outfield), who garnered second-team honors a year ago.
“We will once again need them to perform at that level this season,” Brandner said. “Wick will probably also be one of the best, if not the best, defensive catchers in the conference as well, which also will be a key factor.”
Mitchell and Iloncaie return as the top-two hitters from a year ago.
Through 20 games in 2014, Mitchell batted .433 (26 for 60), with 31 runs scored, five doubles, two home runs and seven RBI. Iloncaie was right behind at .431 (28 for 65), with seven doubles, three home runs and 26 RBI.
Olson was next at .345 (20 for 58), with 17 runs scored, two doubles, one triple, one home run and 10 RBI.
“Iloncaie, Mitchell and Olsen all hit the ball very well last year, and we will be looking for that from them again this season,” Brandner said. “Iloncaie will need to pitch well, as he did last season, and will lead our pitching staff.”
A second junior, Nick Ruffalo (third base-pitcher) also has emerged as a leader so far this spring, Brandner said.
“He has shown exceptional leadership and will help us defensively with his tremendous versatility,” Brandner said.
Also looking to contribute this spring are junior Nick Bertschinger (infield-pitcher); sophomore Joe Ciriacks (first base-pitcher); and freshmen Michael Burke (outfield), Jacob Mast (infield), Logan Mitchell (outfield), Bryant Bisbee (outfield), Nate Ackermann (infield), Rogelio Hayes (outfield-pitcher) and Dan O’Brien (first base).
Chasing Eagles
Looking at the race to this year’s RVC North Division crown, Brandner never hesitated in who is at the front of the pack.
“Until Jefferson is beaten, they are the team to beat,” he said.
Jefferson won the crown at 15-1 last year, followed by East Troy at 11-5 and McFarland and Edgerton, both at 10-5.
Brandner said he hasn’t set a specific goal for his team to chase – instead, he wants the Trojans to take care of their own business.
“I don’t think about tangible goals,” he said. “Our goal every game is to play our brand of ball. We play aggressive, hard-nosed baseball, and we know if we do that, everything else will take care of itself.
“We play one game at time, and we don’t think about the season as a whole.”
Brandner, who will be assisted by Juan Gomez and Ryan Maiter, is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.
“I am always excited for each season,” he said. “You work in the off-season for the opportunity in the spring to compete.
“This is what we are always talking about with our team, competing. We schedule a very difficult non-conference schedule, including trips to play schools much larger than u to compete and prepare ourselves for the rest of the season.”
East Troy, which dropped its season opener last week 7-4 at Beloit Turner, hosted Parkview Thursday afternoon and travels to Badger Friday for a 4:30 p.m. non-conference matchup.
