PREVIEW: Letter-winners to lead experienced Wildcat squad

     Maquoketa Valley had a relatively strong baseball season in 2018, going 13-11 in the Tri-Rivers Conference and 17-14 overall.

     With nine returning letter-winners and an attitude geared toward the end of the season, the Wildcats are hoping for big things this summer.

     “The biggest goal from this team is improvement,” MV coach Eric Conner said. “As we have said numerous times to our guys, we are playing 30 games to get ready for four. We know we have to take things away from each game, both positive and negative, and continue to improve all season. We want to be playing our best baseball in July.”

     Returning to help that cause will be the returning letter-winners, led by seniors Blake Becker, Norm Wilson and Jon Seibert.

     “We have three great seniors,” Conner said. “They have done a great job to this point in the season of leading these young guys and helping them grow.”

     Also back are junior Aspen Kraus, sophomores Parker Sternhagen, Tim Harmon and Andrew Holtz; and freshman A.J. Ambundo.

     Wilson was second on the team in runs batted in last season with 18, and Sternhagen was third with 13.

     “My biggest concern with this team is our lack of varsity experience,” the coach said. “We have a lot of guys who were on the team last year, but haven’t had a good number of varsity innings.”

     The Tri-Rivers Conference figures to be competitive, with North Linn, Alburnett and Calamus-Wheatland all among the top foes.

     Conner is assisted by Dan Cassutt and Brock Hillers.