While keys to success remain the same, coach aims to return with same confidence-level of 2014
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The 2014 baseball season took the Big Foot squad and its fans on one heck of a run that lasted all the way to within one step of the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament.
But as enjoyable as that journey was, don’t think for a second that Big Foot is anything close to satisfied.
The Chiefs want way more than that.
Big Foot must replace graduated Rock Valley Conference Player of the Year Austin Hoey as it looks to build on its 21-7 overall record from a year ago.
The Chiefs, who won the RVC at 13-3, fell in the sectional final to Ripon 9-1.
“The outlook for this (current) team is to finish,” Big Foot coach Steve Bochat said. “What I mean by that term I we have a couple guys who felt the best team went home last year in that sectional final game.
“We just have a little chip on our shoulders to take care of yet.”
Bochat knows his team needs to try and replace Hoey and another first-team, All-RVC pick in former standout Nathan Freytag.
And, certainly that will be a challenge, but he’s confident the new crew of seniors and their teammates will be up to the task.
“I believe last year’s team was outstanding, but we have a lot of returners and juniors stepping in to fill those spots,” Bochat said. “We may not have a seven inning, two-time-a-week pitcher, but we have eight to 10 pitchers that can throw this season.”
The senior trio of Brett Morris (first base, third base, pitcher), Jack Senft (second base, shortstop, pitcher) and Chandler Hehr (pitcher-outfield) lead the way after all three garnered all-conference honors a year ago.
The rest of the senior class includes Nigel Manning (pitcher-catcher-infield), Alex Landers (outfield), Brandon Hausner (pitcher-outfield), Anthony Williams (outfield) and Malichi Gerhardt (outfield).
Hausner, a varsity member as a sophomore, rejoins the program this year after he took last season off.
They are joined by juniors Rodney Flom (outfield), Logan Chase (outfield), Jake Sherwin (catcher), Mark Schauf (pitcher-second base), Foster Isham (outfield), Dan Rabic (third base), Connor McCarthy (pitcher-first base), Zak Greco (catcher) and Brendan Kelly (outfield-third base).
Keys don’t change
Bochat said there isn’t any magical formula for success.
“Our keys to success are the same every year,” he said. “(We need to) throw strikes and play great defense. We can hit with anyone.
“My expectations from this 2015 team is to go in with the same confidence we did in 2014, defend the conference title and battle for a return to sectionals and beyond.”
But Bochat, who is in his seventh year as head coach and 25th overall at Big Foot between football and baseball, knows the road will be anything but easy.
Both divisions of the RVC will have plenty of challenges – Beloit Turner and Parkview in the South and defending Division 2 state champion Jefferson in the North.
“Jefferson is still the best team in the state until someone takes it away from them,” Bochat said.
Assisting Bochat for the sixth straight season are Paul Phillips and Rob Piedot, while JV coaches are Mike Palmer and Matt Long.
Big Foot has posted a 1-1 record early in the season, as Bochat and his staff are ready to get rolling, he said. Details from a 9-2 win Monday over Whitewater appear in this week’s edition.
“I am looking forward to this season because we don’t rebuild,” Bochat said. “We are just reloading for 2015.”
