Apr. 11—GLENWOOD — There is much to feel good about for the Minnewaska baseball team.
Despite graduating plenty of its core from a successful 2024 season, the Lakers hope that momentum carries over into 2025 with the key players they return. The Lakers were West Central Conference champions with a 13-0 record and 20-4 overall last spring.
"We will be looking to build off an incredibly successful 2024 campaign," said Minnewaska fourth-year head coach Joe Alexander, who will be assisted by Chris Lence, Andrew Goracke, Drew Olsonawski, Shane Radermacher and Hunter Infanger. "While it is never easy to replace eight incredibly talented players lost to graduation, there will be a lot of great competition from many promising players, grades 9-12, to fill out our lineup."
Noah Jensen, a Division II University of Minnesota-Crookston commit, was one of three Lakers on the All-Area team last year and he is the only one of the three who is back for Minnewaska.
The 6-foot-3 senior catcher/infielder/pitcher hit .400 with a 1.341 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He hit an area-high eight home runs, while driving in 35 runs and scored 24 more.
"Noah is one of the top power hitters in the state," Alexander said of Jensen who already has the school records for home runs in both a season and career. "He is primed to have a big senior season to cap off a career with video-game-like numbers."
Levi Johnson, a Division III St. John's University commit, also returns for the Lakers.
The 5-10 senior infielder/pitcher hit .222 and an .847 fielding percentage on 98 total chances.
"Levi is one of the best middle infielders in the area," Alexander said. "He checks all of the boxes to play at a high level — outstanding range, exceptional arm strength, accuracy. At the plate, he has outstanding bat control — he is one of the best all-around players to come through our program."
Among other returning starters like juniors Connor Erickson and Riley Dell, junior Marc Gruber is one to keep tabs on for the Lakers. He is a 6-2 pitcher/infielder.
"Marc was a late-season addition to our varsity roster for playoffs and was a member of the All-Section 3AA team," Alexander said. "He will sit at or near the top of our rotation on the mound and will play a key role to our overall success this season."