The Blue Earth Area baseball team is scheduled to open their season with a double header against Luverne on April 7, in Blue Earth. Members of the team are, front row, sitting, left to right: Peyten O’Hara, Alan Gonzalez, Carter Rosenau, Brenson Hauskins, Brayden Rhey, Matt Klabunde. Middle row, kneeling: Soren Fering, Kean Hicks, Parker Meyers, Colton Hubly, Noah Johnson, Levi Osborn, Caleb Langager, Carson Sturtz, Nick Barke. Back row, standing: Adam Schavey, Luke Schonborn, Noah Dahl, Anthony Carr, Taylor Davids, Logan O’Hara, Abe Kokos, Nick Gambell, Kaden Ackerman.

The Blue Earth Area baseball team had the opportunity to get outside for their first day of practice on March 21. Since then, rain, snow, cold weather and chilly winds have kept the team inside the confines of Pemberton Gymnasium as the team works to get ready for the 2022 season.

Paul Nienaber is in his first year as the head coach for the Buccaneer baseball team. He was previously an assistant at BEA and has been the head coach for the Blue Earth / Winnebago American Legion team for the last three years, although the Legion season was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Nienaber will be assisted on the ball diamond this year by Cody Sukalski and Blake Boran. Gavin Storbeck will work with the middle school team.

“I see a team built on speed,” the head coach says. “We return some seniors but overall we will be quite young.”

Gone are four players who graduated off of last year’s squad.

“We lost our catcher, the corners of our infield and a good outfielder on defense,” Nienaber says. “We also graduated the middle of our batting order.”

The Bucs do, however, return most of their pitching staff from a year ago.

“Logan O’Hara, Anthony Carr, Taylor Davids, Abe Kokos and Kean Hicks are all back this year,” the BEA mentor comments. “I anticipate the first four guys being in the starting rotation and Hicks coming in to close some games.”

But, he notes, with practice just getting underway and not being able to get outside, many positions are up for grabs.

“It is tough to talk about who is going to play where with the limited practices we have had so far,” Nienaber states. “Based off of last year, I’m pretty certain Luke Schonborn will be at second base and Parker Meyers will be at shortstop with Kean Hicks and Adam Schavey covering two of the three outfield spots. Logan O’Hara, when he is not pitching, will probably be at first or third base.”

The team opens their season with a doubleheader against Luverne on April 7. The game will be played at Veterans Field in Blue Earth.

“Luverne is a team that is good every year,” the coach shares. “They have had a tradition of fielding very strong baseball teams and I would not expect this season to be any different.”

Asked about his coaching philosophy, Nienaber replies he stresses the ‘little things’.

“My kids will get sick and tired of having me talk about little things,” Nienaber says. “But, little things pile up and make big things. Little mistakes will cost teams ballgames.”

Two days after taking on Luverne, the Bucs are slated to host Martin County West at Veterans Field.

“When you look at what these guys did last year, you can say they have a lot of potential,” Nienaber remarks. “But there are still a number of younger kids on the team, so we will have to see how they adapt.”

The Bucs have 16 dates scheduled for baseball on the calendar with three of those being doubleheaders.

Their regular season is set to conclude on May 24 and the Section playoffs begin on May 26. The State Tournament will be played on June 16 and 17.