Baseball: St. Charles West Expects Major Improvement

St. Charles West High School

Team Name: Warriors

2010 Record:  3-21, 0-7 GAC North

Head Coach: Kevin Bohnert

Key Position: Pitching: The Warriors scored a league-low 3.5 runs per game in 2010, and lost much of their top offensive talent. It will be up to Bohnert’s pitching and defense to keep the team close in most games. allowed nearly eight runs per game last year, and must improve that mark to have any chance at a winning season.

Senior starters Dustin Fuller and JJ Kinnevan will get most of the starts, but the tandem had only a combined eight starts last season and only two victories.

Key Players: Much of the team's success hinges on Kinnevan. He is the Warriors’ top returning offensive performer. Kinnevan hit .257 last season, but had 19 hits, which was third overall on the team. He also drove in five runs.

“JJ will hit third and play at shortstop, third base and pitch. He is huge part of our lineup on offense and defense,” said coach Kevin Bohnert. "Adam Ricks will be someone we depend on to hit fourth, and junior Alex Rael is really coming on strong, and will play second base, catcher and also pitch. Alex will hit fifth.”

Ricks, a junior, hit .250 last season while Rael is a newcomer for the Warriors. Ricks is expected to be the third starting pitcher, with Kinnevan and Fuller, and will play right field.

“We only have four starters back, and that is at third base, shortstop, first base and left field. But we have a really good group of juniors that really put in a lot of hard work in the offseason,” said Bohnert. “This group believes in the weight room, and they even took hitting lessons.”

Expectations: Anytime a team has a season like St. Charles West had in 2010, the emphasis shifts to just winning more games, rather than focusing on a league title or any postseason goals. Still, Bohnert is encouraged enough to say he believes his team can stay in contention in the GAC North.

He also was optimistic following his team’s 12-4 victory over Hillsboro (at Timberland) on Monday that gave the Warriors (1-2) an early season win to build upon.

“We did not see any games like that last season. Out of the nine guys we had last season, only two hit above .300, and they are gone,” Bohnert said. “I like our focus at the plate so far, and our at-bats and discipline. We need to get six or seven runs per game as often as we can."

Key Games: The first non-tournament conference game is April 12 at home against Fort Zumwalt South, followed by a game at Fort Zumwalt East three days later. The Warriors’ next rivalry game against St. Charles is April 21. For the complete 2011 varsity baseball schedule, please click here.

Overview: With seniors Brady Swift and Mike Eimer having graduated after last season, Bohnert lost his top two offensive players from an offense that was already struggling. Plus, Swift started 14 games at pitcher

“We played good defense for the most part last season," Bohnert said. "I expect to take a step up on defense and with our pitching this year. I think we are solidified in our top three pitching spots. But the question mark definitely is hitting. We do have a lot more team speed, and I think we are on the right track as a team.”

Bohnert said that Fort Zumwalk South is probably the league favorite, since they won districts the past two years.

“I honestly think we will become a team that no one likes to play," he said. "This is a completely different group. I want this group to challenge for a conference championship.”