OSAKIS — The Osakis Silverstreaks baseball team had an inexperienced team one season ago when it went 5-13 (3-5 Prairie Conference). But now, Osakis returns with 10 players back who played on the varsity level a season ago.
“Of these ten players, many of them played significant innings for us, “head coach Kendell Proell said. “One of our strengths this season is that we have a lot of guys back from last season. Having experience will help us improve on the things from the previous season that we felt we needed to get better at.”
After a successful basketball season, senior Bauer Klimek will lead the Silverstreaks baseball team. Klimek was an all-conference player in 2021 on the diamond and was the team’s Gold Glove Award winner on defense.
Along with Klimek, the Silverstreaks have returning upperclassmen in senior Chayce Meyer, Tyler Hagen and junior Tyson Hagedon.
Osakis has a plethora of underclassmen returning on the roster who now have a year under their belts.
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“Sophomores Kyle Mages, Grant Mages, Mekai Hoelscher, Ben Berger, Wyatt Sell and Jacob Johanson are returning for us this year,” Proell said. “These players played many innings last season and have shown us that they are a lot stronger from the year previous. Freshman Seth Staloch is also returning for us this season as he looks to improve on the mound as one of our go-to guys.”
Osakis has two newcomers on the roster this year as well. Sophomore Grant Mages missed all of last season due to injury but will be back this season.
“Grant is looking good early in the season and will play a huge role on our team this year,” Proell said.
Senior Brady Mages is also out for the baseball team this season as well.
“Senior Brady Mages joined us this year and will also have an immediate impact on our team as a leader and all-around athlete,” Proell said.
Proell is in his second year as the head coach of the Silverstreaks. He was the co-head coach with Bill Infanger a year ago as Infanger now shifts into an assistant coaching role.
“Our coaching staff’s expectations for this season is for us to compete to win every game,” Proell said. “We want our players to go into every game with confidence both at the plate and on the field.”
Confidence and belief are things that the Silverstreaks are working to develop, specifically in the field and at the plate.
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“Along with having confidence, we need our players to have mental toughness,” Proell said. “We struggled last season when it came to being mentally tough on defense. Being able to make routine plays routinely and staying out of the big innings on defense is something that we need to improve on.”
Osakis finished 2-8 in Section 6AA play last year and is looking to improve upon that mark this year. Four-seed Pierz eliminated the No. 13 seed Osakis en route to making it to the section title game.
Proell said he expects Pierz, along with reigning section champs Albany, Foley and St. Cloud Cathedral, to be the top contenders in the section.
Osakis finished tied for third in the conference last year, along with Browerville-Eagle Valley, while Long Prairie-Grey Eagle and Upsala-Swanville Area were co-champions. Proell listed B-EV, LPGE and USA as the teams to beat this year.
2022 OSAKIS BASEBALL
COACHES - Head Coach - Kendell Proell; Assistant Coaches - Bill Infanger, Tom Quiram, Dylan Kohorst
OSAKIS BASEBALL SCHEDULE
April 8 vs Browerville-Eagle Valley, 5 p.m.
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April 11 vs. Sauk Centre, 4:30 p.m.
April 12 at Holdingford, 6 p.m.
April 14 at Upsala-Swanville Area, 5 p.m.
April 19 vs LPGE, 5 p.m.
April 21 vs Parkers Prairie, 4:30 p.m.
April 22 vs Royalton at The MAC, 2 p.m.
April 26 at St. John’s Prep, 5 p.m.
April 28 vs Pillager, 4:30 p.m.
April 29 at Browerville-Eagle Valley, 5 p.m.
May 3 vs Upsala-Swanville Area, 5 p.m.
May 5 vs Pierz, 4:30 p.m.
May 6 vs Minnewaska, 4:30 p.m.
May 9 at Pequot Lakes, 4:30 p.m.
May 12 at Wadena-Deer Creek, 4:30 p.m.
May 13 at Staples-Motley, 4:30 p.m.
May 16 vs Foley, 4:30 p.m.
May 17 vs St. John’s Prep, 5 p.m.
May 20 at Eden Valley-Watkins, 7 p.m.
May 24 at LPGE, 5 p.m.
