2017 MN Team Preview- Springfield

March 29, 2017

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

PBR Minnesota strives to be the most comprehensive source of player information across the state. The Prep Baseball Report is the No. 1 resource for high school baseball in each state we cover through our variety of events, boots-on-the-ground scouting staff, daily coverage, and multimedia platforms. Our multimedia platforms and events work in tandem, ultimately creating the most powerful source of high school baseball promotion in each state. While other organizations take a national approach, our goal is to become the authoritative voice on the ground level of each state.

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As we prepare for the upcoming 2017 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Springfield
Nickname: Tigers
Class: A
League: Tomahawk
Head Coach: Bob Fink
Years as Head Coach at School: 15 (243-113)
2016 Overall Record: 21-6
2016 League Record: NA
2016 League Finish: Champions
2016 Post-Season Finish: State Champions

Returning Starters: 7
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 5

Starters Lost: 2
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Lost: 1

2016 GRADS IN COLLEGE
Sam Baier- Augustana University

TOP RETURNERS
2017 Branden Flock, RHP/OF (North Iowa Area CC)
2017 Kale Meendering, OF
2017 Carter Cook, C/1B
2017 Willy Vanderwerf, RHP
2017 Joe Pieschel, OF
2017 Ben Runck, OF

UNDERCLASS PLAYERS TO WATCH
2018 Tanner Vogel, 3B
2019 Isaac Fink, RHP
2020 Derek Scheffler, 2B

2017 OUTLOOK
"We expect to be a good team this upcoming season. We are losing only two starters from last year’s State Championship team. We also return pitcher Willy Vanderwerf, a 6'3" senior who was leading our team a year ago in innings pitched before he suffered a season ending knee injury. The strength of our team will be pitching. Branden Flock, a 6'3" Senior won 7 games a season ago. Isaac Fink, a 6'3" sophomore and Tanner Vogel, 6'2" Junior both won 2 games a season ago and had excellent summers pitching in Legion baseball. Left handed sophomore pitcher Hunter Mathiowetz returns after winning two games during his freshman season. Senior Kale Meendering, Freshman Decker Scheffler and Junior Tyson Meidl round out the staff. Last year’s team stole 130 bases and much of our speed and athleticism returns. We return many of our top hitters from a season ago. All-Area and All Conference performers Branden Flock (341 BA) and Isaac Fink (348 BA) return along with Freshman Decker Scheffler (353 BA), Willy Vanderwerf (325 BA), Joe Pieschel (288 BA) and Tanner Vogel (275 BA). Lastly, we are hoping that starting outfielder, Joe Pieschel can return to the lineup sometime in May. Joe suffered a knee injury this past fall while playing H.S football. The Tomahawk Conference will prepare us well for playoff baseball with 5 or 6 outstanding teams contending for the top spot in the conference." Head Coach Bob Fink

COACHES PRESEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate all of the help provided by high school coaches across the state assisting with our preseason coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches' preseason questionnaire online by clicking here.

2017 MN Team Preview- Springfield

COACHES PRESEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

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