Joel Weaver is the seventh head baseball coach in UW-Parkside history, and, with a new coach comes a new direction. Weaver’s goal for his team is simply to follow the program’s mission statement, which states “to define, experience and achieve the highest level of success in the classroom, in the community and on the baseball field.”
The team has been practicing indoors for weeks, but the season starts for real when it takes on St. Cloud State in the Metrodome in Minneapolis this weekend. The team will challenge the Huskies in a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 6, at 9:00 a.m., followed by another twin bill Sunday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 a.m.
“On an annual basis, we will strive to be among the best teams in NCAA Division II,” said Weaver. “Our sights are set very high and we will focus our preparation to match these goals. Our first objective will be to be in contention for a conference championship because then we can put ourselves in position to compete on the national level.”
I see a group that is hungry for success and are willing to work hard to get it,” said Weaver. “The quick cohesiveness of this group has surprised me due to the fact we have so many new players.”
Like baseball at any level, this team will go as far as the pitching takes them. The Rangers have three lefties in their starting rotation, which is extremely rare in the college ranks. The southpaw trio includes Alex Zarek, Dustin Kollman and Jack Olson. Jon Kleinmeyer is the lone right-hander.
“Our pitching corps as a whole is young,” noted Weaver. “Our success will hinge on their development both individually and as a group.”
Jon Hasser, who has manned first base for the last two seasons, will be deployed to the outfield, where he will be joined by Paul Pulera and Tyler Gieseking. Dave Watson will play the outfield when he is not in the designated hitter role. The strength of the group lies in its speed.
The infield will see John Bishop at third base; Michael Pena at shortstop; Robert Bellish at second and Dave Lojeski at first.
The trio of Brad Liermann, Kirk Haviland and Eric Ackerman will handle the pitching staff behind the plate.
“Keeping runners from moving up is mostly the pitcher’s job. They have to give the catchers a chance to throw people out. Having left-handed pitchers can help in that area,” explained Weaver.
The coach is anxious to not only start a new era, but to continue what he experienced as a player at UW-Parkside. “This team will help to re-establish a winning tradition,” said Weaver. “If that’s to happen, we need to get better each week, each time out. The enthusiasm to get it done is there.”
The Rangers' scheduled home opener is Thursday, March 25, when the team hosts Upper Iowa in a single game beginning at noon. A total of 24 games are on the slate prior to the home opener.