By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
All is anew this spring for the Elkhorn Area High School baseball team. A new coach means a new way of being, a new way of doing, a new attitude and new perspectives.
Change is more than likely welcomed by all involved. The Elks finished 4-16 last season and went winless (0-12) in Southern Lakes Conference play.
Paul Manriquez stepped down as head coach after the season. Long-time local coach Jon Anzalone now heads the Elks. Anzalone’s goal is simple.
“We’ve got to have great attitude and good effort,” Anzalone said. “Our core values are selflessness, excellence and energy.”
The Elks’ core values are not mere buzz words tossed about at practice.
“We’ve described what those look like at school, at our games, in the community – that effort and energy and those core values,” Anzalone said. “To really work on those things, as well as our skills, to create an environment full of positive attitude and positive energy.”
The Elks officially began practicing on March 23, and Anzalone said the first week of practice went well.
The Elks open their regular season April 7 at SLC opponent Waterford. Elkhorn lost four players from last year’s squad to graduation, but the roster is heavy with seniors.
“We should have some good senior leadership,” Anzalone said. “This senior class is one where they needed a lot of them coming up (to varsity) as sophomores, just because the numbers were so low.”
Anzalone said many of the seniors likely played varsity baseball before being ready, and are eager for a good season.
“I don’t know where there’s a senior that won’t play a role,” Anzalone said.
Nik Kimball, Joe Konopski, Dakota Tilton and Brandon Komar will anchor the pitching staff. Anzalone said Cody Johnson, Riley Reed and Jack Keller will also see time on the mound.
Johnson will play in the middle infield when not pitching. Kimball and Joe Konopski will play first base, with Tilton and Keller likely at second base.
Komar and Tyler Bemus are slotted at third base. Lucas Harding will open the season at catcher. Last year’s starting catcher, Brandon Ogelsby, will join the team later this spring.
Center fielder Dylan Peterson returns, and will be joined by Patrick Glogovsky in left field and reed in right field. Anzalone said Dylan Linhart and Rudolfo Lavedo offer nice options behind the starters.
The Elks are not focusing on a set number of wins and losses this season, and are instead focusing on doing things the right way.
“I’m not a guy that says we’re going to get to so many wins and so many losses,” Anzalone said. “If you do the right things in practice, and apply attitude and effort, you will win the games you should win and lose the games you should lose.”
Anzalone said he expects improvement from the Elks, and also said he sees that the players expect the same.
The SLC is a strong baseball conference. Wilmot is the defending champion after finishing 12-2 in SLC play last season. Five of the SLC’s eight teams finished above .500 last season in conference play.
“That can’t be an excuse for us,” Anzalone said. “We have to play the games.”
Anzalone said he expects Wilmot and Westosha, which tied Burlington for second place in the SLC last season, to compete for the top spot in the conference.
