Eagles open with new managers, high numbers

The 2006 Winthrop Eagles will sport two new co-managers in veterans Kris Swenson and Chris Fahey, along with 22 other players for the biggest opening-game roster in team history.

Swenson enters his 13^th season in an Eagle uniform, the lone continuous member from the original roster of 1994. Fahey begins his eighth season with the Eagles and has been the team’s best RBI hitter the past several seasons. The new co-managers, who replace four-year manager Ben Melius, will continue to share first base and designated hitter roles, as well.

Winthrop comes off three years of playoff success, which included a 2003 state tournament run and landing just one game short of a return state trip in 2004. Last year, the Eagles were bounced from the playoffs by St. Peter, one game shy of a third straight regional berth. The 2006 version of the Eagles will open with 24 players. By June 30, the team will have to whittle down to the 20-man playoff limit, and that means players will be competing early for roster spots.

But one key Eagle player who might not be on that final 2006 roster – top pitcher Scott Palmer, who finished 5-6 last year – raises the team’s biggest concern of the season. Palmer is planning to move to Arizona in mid-May and his loss will force others to come through on the mound. Ben Melius and Jesse Erdal will again share some of the load, but Swenson and Fahey have looked at several others in two scrimmages against the Gibbon Reds and in the 7-2 opening-game exhibition loss to Union Hill on Saturday. (See related story.)

Scott Erdal, who pitched in seven games last year, took the loss against Union Hill. But Scott Erdal and past Eagles starter Dusty Groehler both get married this summer, and both anticipate part-time play in 2006. Veterans Fahey and Dan Anderson will likely pitch some, with Billy Melius and Jarod Werner getting longer looks on the mound, as well. GFW senior Kevin Erdal pitches, too, but his town team action may be limited by American Legion play. Newcomers Lincoln Messner and Zach Schwecke will also get looks at pitcher.

While the numbers of pitchers appears solid, finding two or three of them to log a bulk of the innings once Palmer leaves may be the key to the season, according to co-Manager Swenson.

Al Frank returns as catcher in his sixth season, with GFW junior Andy Melius expected to be in reserve. Fahey, Swenson and Billy Melius expect to share duties at first base. Ben Melius will likely start at second, with Jesse Erdal back at short and Dan Anderson playing both spots. Anderson, who last week re-injured his left shoulder, may start slow but returns from a record-setting .558 batting average in 2005.

Scott Erdal is expected to man third base upon Palmer’s departureand help at shortstop, backed up by Kevin Erdal and Schwecke. And newcomer Jason Fritz, who hit a big grand slam home run in Sunday’s scrimmage of Gibbon, will provide infield depth at all four positions. GFW sophomore Corey Gutknecht is also expected to compete for a roster spot in the infield.

The Eagles have their deepest depth ever in the outfield, as well as great speed with left-fielders Paul Jones and Pat O’Malley, centerfielder James Panning (.352 last year with 22 runs and 16 stolen bases), and right-fielder Scott Panning (.405). Veteran Jarod Werner brings additional speed and the best outfield arm in competing for a starting spot, as will second-year player Darren Bumgardner, GFW junior Jordan Rettmann, and newcomer Mike Willegal, the Eagle’s 32-year-old rookie transport from Wisconsin.

The Eagles begin their fourth season in the tough Carver Central League. Winthrop joins Carver, Belle Plaine, Brownton and Waconia in the CCL Red Division; Arlington, Gaylord, Le Sueur and St. Peter comprise the CCL White Division. Winthrop also plays once against the tough CCL Class B teams of the Blue Division: Chaska, Jordan, Prior Lake, Shakopee and Victoria.