By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
It wasn’t what you would have called a promising beginning for the Union Grove Union High School baseball team.
Through nine games this year, the Broncos were just 3-6 – victims of a compressed schedule due to bad weather and not enough practice time.
Then, in the middle of April, the Broncos won three games in two days, including an 8-1 win over Badger and sweeping Westosha Central.
Suddenly 4-1 in the Southern Lakes Conference, Union Grove turned its season around, finishing 17-10, including 11-3 in the SLC and tying Badger for the conference.
At the heart of all this was junior pitcher Ben Miller, who parlayed a 7-0 record into the 2013 All-Area Player of the Year honors.
Union Grove coach Mike Arendt was effusive in his praise of his junior ace.
“Our team had a whole other level of confidence about us when he was pitching,” Arendt explained. “We didn’t score many runs this year, but our pitchers and our defense gave us an opportunity to win, and he was a major factor, whether it be on the mound or at shortstop when he wasn’t pitching.
“He worked hard in the off-season, and that definitely paid off for him,” the coach added.
In 57.2 innings pitched, Miller struck out 84 batters and walked 29. That averaged out to about three strikeouts a game – but just one walk.
His earned-run average was 1.82, and he also batted .261 for the year (.330 on-base percentage).
“Ben had an exceptional season on the mound this year,” Arendt said.
The other members of the 2013 All-Area baseball team represent a mix of experience and youth. While there are eight seniors on the team, Miller will return, as will three sophomores who started at various positions.
Other members of the team are:
Nick Bartlett, senior, Burlington High School: Stepping into the shortstop position this year, Bartlett had a strong season for the Demons.
“Nick had a very good senior year,” said BHS coach Scott Staude. “He was our captain of the infield and our most consistent player all year.”
Bartlett batted .333 on the season, with an on-base percentage of .404. He finished the season with 29 hits – including nine doubles and a home run – and had 11 RBI. He also scored 15 runs.
Bartlett, also a member of the school’s state runner-up boys volleyball team, will play volleyball at Cardinal Stritch next year.
Bart Bohat, senior, Union Grove Union High School: While Bohat finished with just a 4-3 record on the season, Arendt stressed he pitched far better than that.
“He had a 4-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio and lost some very close games,” Arendt explained. “His ERA (1.89) was exceptional, and at the plate, he was fantastic.”
Bohat finished the year with a .372 batting average and .462 on-base percentage, but had three home runs – two in one inning of one game.
He also struck out 40 and walked just nine in his time on the mound.
Tom Dugandzic, senior, Waterford Union High School: A three-year starter for the Wolverines at catcher, Dugandzic picked up a number of postseason honors this year.
In addition to being named to the All-Area team, he was second team All-SLC (behind Player of the Year Peter Krien at the position) and a team captain.
Dugandzic batted .403 for the year with an on-base percentage of .512, picking up 27 hits, 19 RBI and 14 runs scored. He also had 12 doubles.
He had a 98 percent fielding average as well.
Adam Filz, senior, Union Grove Union High School: Batting from the leadoff position for the Broncos, Filz brought a much-needed stability to the lineup, batting .347 with an on-base percentage of .441.
“He was the leader of our team not only on the field but off it as well,” Arendt said. “He was the spark plug to our offense from the leadoff position, but also at second base, where he only made one error all season.
“In high school baseball, that is almost unheard of.”
Filz finished with 13 RBI, but scored 23 runs and had a .988 fielding percentage.
“He is a complete player,” Arendt said.
Nate Fischer, senior, Burlington High School: A solid outfielder this season, Fischer did not have an error at center field.
The senior also batted .328 for the Demons, with an on-base percentage of .482.
“Nate had an excellent year defensively and offensively,” said Staude. “He has the raw combination of speed and power.”
Fischer will attend the University of Wisconsin–Parkside in the fall and will try to walk on to the baseball team.
Nolan Girard, sophomore, Catholic Central High School: With the absence of Grant Alderman from the lineup due to an injury, Girard because a reliable hitter for Catholic Central in the No. 3 spot.
“He thrives on being in a run-batting-in role,” said CCHS coach Tom O’Connell. “His temperament at the plate was so much better for us than it was last year. Quite simply, with Grant Alderman gone, he was our best hitter with men on base.”
Girard batted .394 for the season, with 28 hits and 21 RBI. He also scored 11 runs.
Tanner Hunsucker, senior, Waterford Union High School: After suffering through a frustrating basketball season with numerous injuries, Hunsucker had a great spring in baseball.
A first-team All-SLC pick, he was also a team captain and a three-year starter for Waterford.
Hunsucker finished the season with a .305 batting average, scored 17 runs and had 15 RBI. He also had three doubles and two home runs in his 22 hits.
Trace Hunsucker, sophomore, Waterford Union High School: Tanner’s younger brother, Trace was a solid outfielder for the Wolverines, earning second-team All-SLC honors.
He had a .291 batting average with 21 hits, three for extra bases.
Trace scored 20 runs and had 10 RBI.
Kross Krueger, sophomore, Catholic Central High School: In addition to posting a .545 on-base percentage for the Hilltoppers, Krueger turned into the top pitcher for Catholic Central this year.
“All of Kross’s numbers were better this year as opposed to last year,” said O’Connell. “ERA down, walks down – and he won four of his last five starts.
“He pitched against all of our big opponents, and only pitched poorly in two games in a row during mid-season,” added O’Connell. “Without those two games his ERA was only 1.40. Most importantly, he developed a commanding presence on the mound which gave his teammates confidence.”
Ryan Maier, senior, Union Grove Union High School: Maier did a little bit of everything for the Broncos this season.
In addition to being 3-3 on the mound with a save, Maier also batted .362 on the season with a .464 on-base percentage.
“Ryan is one of the hardest-working kids we have in our program,” Arendt said. “He did a great job at the plate and was very good on the mound. He was tied for most appearances and was always ready to go and worked out of some big jams for us.”
Maier finished with 27 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Zach Mehring, senior, Catholic Central High School: Mehring showed the kind of improvement that can happen between junior and senior year, improving from .190 batting average to .457.
“He worked very hard on improving his hitting. He knew as our lead-off hitter, he would have to set the table for the team,” O’Connell said. “Without Zach getting on base, Nolan doesn’t have RBIs; we don’t score runs.”
It wasn’t just Mehring’s hitting ability, though, that caught people’s attention. He was 20 for 22 in stolen bases, and led to him scoring 24 runs. He also led the team in extra-base hits with seven doubles.
O’Connell also pointed out that in his varsity career, Mehring played every position except catcher and first base.
“He was our spark plug,” O’Connell explained.
Honorable mention
Dane Helnore, so., Burlington High School; Matt Heiligenthal, sr., Catholic Central High School; Tegan Miles, junior, Catholic Central High School; Mason Rodriguez, sophomore, Union Grove; Jesse Bouffiou, senior, Waterford.
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