Apr. 11—ATWATER — A load of experience returns for the Atwater-Comos-Grove City baseball team.
That has new head coach Dave Zaeska liking his team's chances for the 2025 season despite a tough 2024 campaign.
ACGC was 0-14 in the Central Minnesota Conference and 2-20 overall.
But for Zaeska, who was an assistant coach under Chris Fellows, the Falcons heated up near season's end last spring.
ACGC won two of its last six games and lost the remaining four games by two runs or less.
Zaeska hopes that momentum carries into the 2025 season, where he returns his entire roster outside of two graduated seniors, including All-Area Honorable Mention Isaiah Renne.
"I got five guys who have played a lot and they all can pitch," said Zaeska, who will have Keegan Kessler-Gross and Jordan Schultz in his staff. "That is going to be big for us."
Jaxon Drange, Tucker Johnson and Rowan Molinaro are some of ACGC's top returnees.
Drange and Johnson are both seniors who will see plenty of time on the mound as well as fill in in the infield and outfield when necessary. Molinaro is a junior pitcher/infielder.
"I will ride Tucker, Jaxon and Rowan (on the mound)," Zaeska said. "Jaxon and Rowan are two guys who can throw against anyone."
Also returning is junior Gage Degner and sophomores Brody Straumann and Regan Elton.
Degner will play in the outfield. Straumann will mostly play catcher while seeing time on the mound as well as first base. Elton will spend most of his playing time at third base while filling in at other positions in the infield as needed and will also pitch.
"We will be good, if they're good," Zaeska said of his returners. "I can find three guys who can fill in pretty easily. ... I like our chances and I'm very optimistic."
