Milestones and memories as local CRBL teams retire their bats for the season

It’s a wrap.

The Chippewa River Baseball League’s (CRBL) season officially ended with the coronation of the Eau Claire Cavaliers as conference champions for the first time in franchise history. Now that the local teams have had time to reflect on their seasons — and fresh off their participation in the Wisconsin Baseball Association (WBA) tournament — it’s a perfect time for the managers to discuss some of the high points of the recently completed 2024 campaign.

For the newly crowned CRBL champion’s field manager Ryan Bembnister it was a no-brainer as to what his favorite moment of the year was.

“I’d have to say winning the CRBL was a pretty big highlight for us,” Bembnister said in a phone interview with the Leader-Telegram Thursday morning.

But that championship wasn’t the only thing he was pleased with, either, as he noted with pride just how well this team came together from the start of the season in May.

“It was one of my favorite teams to coach,” Bembnister said, noting that “they never quit and it showed (especially) with how they finished out the season.”

One thing early on in the season that Bembnister harped on that he felt needed improvement was the team’s defense and he was definitely pleased with how that aspect of the game continued to get better as the season progressed.

“I was really pleasantly surprised with how the team gelled both defensively and pitching wise,” the Cavs’ skipper said.

And while he will continue to see the players still during the offseason Bembnister said that there’s definitely an adjustment he personally has to make at the end of each season after a little more than three months with the team almost every day. In fact, Bembnister admitted it is definitely a difficult transition back to everyday life.

“Oh, yeah, definitely it’s a big void when you just get done with playing baseball, it’s a difficult adjustment,” Bembnister said.

Eau Claire Bears manager Blake Johnson even took Bembnister’s statement one step further, saying, “Yes, being around the Bears a few times a week is the best part about summer.”

Both Bembnister and Johnson’s sentiments are something that Eau Claire Rivermen player/manager Andy Niese can certainly relate to.

“Yes, it is always an adjustment when you are eliminated from the postseason — there is a finality to it that is hard to accept and process,” Niese admitted. “The mindset since early April is to constantly plan, prepare and compete, and then in a snap everything is over.”

In reality, the Rivermen are actually not quite finished playing ball, though, Niese explained.

“All that said, there is still some baseball to be played in the area. In late-August and into September, if a person is old enough, there are over-35 and over-50 baseball opportunities. Additionally, the Rivermen play a three-to-four game fall ball schedule vs. the UWEC Club baseball team in mid-September and early October. The ‘Men have done that since 2021 and it is a fun way to conclude the season,” Niese, a 30-plus-year veteran on the CRBL diamond, said.

As for his favorite memory of this past season, Niese had a difficult time narrowing it down to just one specific moment and offered two highlights, instead.

“Two moments come to mind — Tyler Gray getting his 100th CRBL win and the Rivermen getting nine wins in the CRBL to secure a spot in the WBA tournament,” Niese said.

And just like Bembnister, Niese reflected on some of the pleasant surprises his team provided him with this season.

“It is always interesting to see new players come into the CRBL and make an impact. For example, the Rivermen got some big contributions this season from UWEC Club Team players who were rookies to the CRBL. Across the league, it is a never ending and very competitive process to find additional players and reliable people that can make a winning difference for your team,” Niese noted.

Actually, the Rivermen should also take pride in their player/manager as he is listed on the performances and milestones list provided to the media by the CRBL’s media relations person Chad Zutter following the conclusion of the season.

With the Rivermen qualifying for the 2024 WBA, it marked the 16th season Niese has managed a team to the state tournament, breaking a tie with Augusta legend and CRBL Hall of Famer Jan Kruger, who managed the Athletics from 1989 to 2004.

Niese also stands at the top of another important milestone list.

In guiding Tilden to 17 and 3 record, Tiger skipper Ryan Baier jumped to 9th place all-time in managerial wins with 127. The leader in managerial victories is Niese with 209.

An Eau Claire Bear made the milestone list and is also closing in on another Niese milestone, which may be difficult to top considering that the Rivermen’s player/manager shows no signs of slowing down.

The Bears’ right-handed slugger Todd Lasher became the CRBL’s all-time leader in RBIs. By knocking in 12 runs this season, Lasher now has 372 RBIS for his 23-season CRBL career. The former leader was Bloomer great and CRBL Hall of Famer Scott Stuckert, who drove in 365 runs during his 35-season career. With 17 total bases this season, Lasher also moved into second place all-time in that category, with 808 over his tenure, passing Tilden Hall of Famer Randy Baier who finished his 25-season CRBL career with 804. The all-time leader in total bases is — you guessed it — the Eau Claire Rivermen’s Niese with 891.

In fact, Lasher’s milestone is one of Johnson’s two favorite moments of the 2024 baseball season.

“My two favorite moments this year were Todd Lasher breaking the all-time RBI record, and also sending Dave out in style with a sweep over the Cavs to end the regular season,” Johnson said in reference to longtime Bear Dave Strauch ending his career with the team.

As for his biggest surprise from his squad this year, Johnson noted that it “was how well the team came together and really became a close group this year.”

Now back to some milestones with some pitching milestones of note that include players from all three of Eau Claire’s CRBL teams.

On June 5, the Cavs’ Andrew Milner pitched the 69th no-hitter in CRBL history, beating the EC Rivermen 10-0 in seven innings.

As Niese mentioned in his Rivermen highlights for the season, with a 4-2 mark this season, the Rivermen’s Tyler Gray now has 102 wins in his 19-season CRBL career, good for second place all-time behind Hall of Famer Jim Hoepner’s 109 victories.

With two shutouts, the Bears’ Chevy Tollefson now has 17 shutouts over his 17-season career, tying him for 2nd place all-time in that category with Hall of Famer Tom Dachel. The all-time leader is Jim Hoepner with 19 shutouts.

In addition to the Eau Claire-based teams’ accomplishments, an Osseo Merchants’ player also achieved a notable milestone this past year.

On June 30, Osseo’s Alex Byom spun a five-inning, 17-0 no-hitter vs. the Bloomer Woodticks. This was the fifth no-hitter of the righty’s dominant CRBL career. Byom’s five no-hitters are a CRBL record.

In Monday’s edition of the Leader-Telegram, league leaders will be listed in numerous CRBL categories.