Spring returns and so does America’s pastime, and Cotter’s baseball team has high expectations for the coming season.

All of the coaching staff has returned this year including head coach Nick Whaley and assistants Don Freeman, Nick Oltjien, David Lasahn, and Jake Stalloch.  Cotter grad Zach Hefel is the lone new addition to the  staff.

“Coach Oltjen, coach David, and coach Jake are both in their second year in the program, then coach Freeman is a long time baseball guy who has been in the program for ten years,” Mr. Whaley said.

The focus for the team is to do their jobs properly and continue to develop their skills rather than worry about a specific opponent.

“The game of baseball is our main opponent,” Whaley said.

There are seven returning seniors including all-conference pitcher Hunter Andre. Other seniors being counted on to make major contributions are Jonah Spiten and Andy Tofstad.

There are some new players on the team that played at the B-squad level last year.

“David French, Noah Nachtigal, Hunter Duellman, Noah French, and Parker Nelton will now be playing with us. They played B-squad last year,” Whaley said.

While the team gained players they also lost some, such as Matt Masyga, Sam French and Josh Forst.

“We lost a lot of good arms and innings,” Whaley said. “We have experience, and we have a good understanding of how to play.”

Even with the team’s strengths they have some areas they need to work on.

“We aren’t bringing back a ton of innings on the mound, other than Hunter Andre, so we will have to use the first part of the season just to figure out what we can do. The first part of the year will be learning how to play and getting experimental and then try to be our best for the playoffs,” Whaley said.

Cotter opens on April 11 vs. Fillmore Central at 4:45 PM in Preston, MN.