BELOIT — Beloit Senior Legion manager Brad Farrell isn’t going to waste too much time worrying and stressing about the fact that his Bandits are once again playing at the always tough AAA level this season.
In fact, the third-year coach said that he is looking at the situation in a positive light.
“It’s a win-win situation for everybody,” Farrell said. “With the better competition comes better results and improving your craft on the baseball field. They’re going to see top notch competition, and we’re going to have to adjust. We’re going to have to be quicker at the plate.
“They have to understand that this isn’t a junior team anymore, this is the high team, and they’re going to have to perform at the top of their game all the time in order to compete with these larger schools.”
Farrell understands that all too well. After leading an all-Turner Senior Bandits squad to a state title on the AA level his first season, Beloit couldn’t get out of the regionals last summer after moving back to AAA with the addition of a handful of Beloit Memorial players.
“We’re playing some really big schools to try to even get out of the regionals,” the head coach said.
The Bandits lost 13 players, a majority of whom were on that state championship team, who have aged out of Legion baseball over the off-season. So, this season’s squad will contain plenty of fresh faces.
“You would think it’d be a rebuilding season more than anything, but these guys that we got on this team, their baseball knowledge is really high, and I expect good things from them going into the season,” Farrell said. “Having players from both Beloit Memorial and Turner, it’s a really good mix. We’re looking forward to coaching these guys and seeing what they can do this summer.”
The Bandits have eight Trojans, four Purple Knights and one player from the Lincoln Academy on the team this summer. And Farrell was quick to mention that learning to mesh together won’t be a huge problem.
“One of the nice things about this team is that some of the players played with each other coming up through the Bombers organization and then in Junior Legion. There’s a couple of hockey guys on the team, who have played with some of the other guys. Everybody’s pretty familiar with each other, so that’s a huge step.”
Of course, many of those coming over from last season’s Junior Legion are no strangers to success. Those Bandits won a regional championship and punched a ticket to the state tournament in Waupun, where they went 1-2.
“We sat down and talked for a little while at practice (Tuesday night), and I told them that their success on the Junior Bandits can definitely roll over into this year,” Farrell said. “There’s no question about it. All of the guys that are from Turner are either starters or have seen quite a bit of varsity experience. That would give them an edge. And same with the Memorial guys. All those guys are very versatile and have seen good pitching in the Southern Lakes Conference.”
Success from the mound is an area that Farrell expects his Bandits to be well off in, especially with the depth of arms on the team.
“We’re going to be pretty good on pitching, to be honest,” the head coach said. “Andy Buckley is back, he’s playing Legion this year, so he’ll end up seeing some innings on the mound. Carston Jacobson, Mitchell Stuessy and Dustin Foss will see some time. Ethan Halon will also see some considerable time.
“We’ll try to get six or seven innings out of some, depending on their pitch counts, but others will be relied on to throw one or two innings here or there. If we have two quick games back to back, then we’re going to need people to step up and take on some of those roles.”
In addition to providing a great arm for the Bandits, Buckley, an All-Rock Valley Rock First Teamer, will provide a strong bat in the lineup and be a solid glove at shortstop.
“Andy is the complete package,” Farrell said. “The seed was planted when he and Konner Gidley, worked together on the (left side) of the field in all of baseball. It was nice to see him learn stuff from Konner, and he’s going to be a big asset to this team.”
Brayden Ward is another RVC Rock First Teamer on the squad, and he will see time both in the infield and outfield.
“Brayden is one of those kids that will do anything a coach asks of him,” Farrell said. “Whatever we need, he’s able to do it. He’s one of those kids that just wants to play and learn and get better day in and day out.”
On the Memorial side, Stuessy will see time at first base in addition to throwing a few innings. Owen West will also have a relief role on the mound and man the outfield, Dustin Foss will pitch, see time in the outfield and catch occasionally while Brooks Mitchell will anchor a spot in the infield.
“Mitch is another one of those kids that just wants to play,” Farrell said. “He’s another one of those consistent bats that we look forward to getting going and seeing what he can do. He’ll also be very effective on the mound, so he’ll see plenty of time on that level, too.”
Hayden Frey and Jayden Piccione will normally join West in the outfield, Brody Berg will be the starting catcher while first base will be a platoon between Stuessy and Jacobson. Halon will play shortstop or second base when Buckley is pitching, and Noah Pfundheller will split time with the Lincoln Academy’s Carson Pingel at third.
The Bandits open the season with a four-game weekend tournament at Riverside Park in Janesville.
• BANDITS SCHEDULE:
Jun. 14: vs TBD at Riverside Park; 15: vs TBD at Riverside Park; 15: vs TBD at Riverside Park; 16: vs TBD at Riverside Park; 18: at Fort Atkinson, 7:30 p.m.; 19: JANESVILLE, 6 p.m.; 21: vs Fond du Lac at Baraboo Tournament, 5:15 p.m.; 21: vs Baraboo at Baraboo Tourn., 7:30 p.m.; 22: vs Wisconsin Dells at Baraboo Tourn., 12:15 p.m.; 22: vs Viroqua at Baraboo Torun., 4:45 p.m.; 26: at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 27: ELKHORN, 6 p.m.
July 1: LAKE GENEVA, 6 p.m.; 2: at Lake Geneva, 6 p.m.; 8: FORT ATKINSON, 6 p..m.; 9: ELKHORN, 6 p.m.; 12: vs TBD at Fort Atkinson Tournament; 13: vs TBD at Fort Atkinson Tournament; 13: vs TBD at Fort Atkinson Tournament; 13: vs TBD at Fort Atkinson Tournament; 14: vs TBD at Fort Atkinson Tournament; 16: LAKE GENEVA, 6 p.m.; 17: at Lake Geneva, 6 p.m. 23: Regional Tournament begins. 30: State Tournament begins.
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