Story on the Pierz Pioneers baseball team - From the Morrison County Record

"Pierz eyes fourth straight CMC title"

Matt Perkins
Staff Writer

With three straight Central Minnesota Conference (CMC) championships under its belt, the Pierz baseball team is hungry for a fourth consecutive title.

In his 11th season as head coach of the Pioneers, Dave Rocheleau contributes the success of his high school program to the strong baseball program at all levels in Pierz which generates young talent to fill the void when senior starters graduate.

And after losing seven starters, the Pioneers (12-2 in the CMC last season, 13-7 overall) will once again need younger players to contribute, beginning April 7 when the team opens the season on the road against St. Cloud Cathedral.

"The last few years we've lost key seniors and always replaced them," Rocheleau said. "This year will have to be no different if we're going to compete."

Seniors Michael Weber, Breck Weber and Tyler Monson will lead a Pioneers' lineup that has boasted some power in previous seasons. Michael Weber hit .400 last season while Breck finished with a .310 average.

Michael Weber will also be the Pierz ace on the mound this season, coming off a 2008 campaign in which he went 6-1 as a starter. Monson will also headline the starting rotation.

And while seniors and juniors like Mike Poser, Brett Barrett, Zach Doroff, Travis Kahl, Zach Pohlkamp, Zach Kummet and Mitch Woitalla bring letterwinner experience to the field for the Pioneers this season, Rocheleau also expects non-letterwinners to contribute.

Jesse Nordmann, Dillon Wieczorek and Dylan Kummet are three players Rocheleau believes can help bring a fourth-straight conference title to Pierz.

But there is always competition in the CMC.

Rocheleau looks at Eden Valley-Watkins and Holdingford as conference favorites this season, with things getting even tougher in Section 6AA.

One of the toughest sections in Class AA, Pierz has to compete with Little Falls, Albany and St. Cloud Cathedral.

"We're going to have to be solid on defense," Rocheleau said. "To get three conference championships in a row we've played good defense, minimizing mistakes. We'll need to continue that tradition."