A’s Thinking Positive As They Enter 2nd Half with 19-9 Record
Posted: July 6, 2014
Having chalked up a 19-9 record despite a grueling first half schedule the Sheboygan A’s enter the second half of the season in a positive and upbeat frame of mind.
The second half gets under way Monday night, the curtain-raiser on a week packed with baseball and a host of accompanying activities. The week begins with the annual Military Appreciation Night game. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats in time for the 7:20 p.m. performance by Hometown Harmony Tradition which will perform the Military Medley and National Anthem.
All veterans and currently active members of the military will be admitted without charge upon showing their Military Identification. The A’s will take on the Green Bay Storm that night.
Monday is also Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Night. Menchie’s, which always offers a 10% discount to military personnel, will be passing out BOGO coupons to all fans who come through the gate.
Tuesday is Golf Night at the ball park with golfers encouraged to attend. Golf prizes will be drawn and contests will take place throughout the evening. The club is also hosting the Sheboygan Baseball Assoiation’s annual picnic that night when the Oshkosh Giants come to town.
The A’s then travel to Appleton and to Oshkosh on Wednesday and Thursday before hosting the Wisconsin State League Challenge over the weekend. Games will be played at Wildwood Friday-through-Sunday and at Howards Grove Memorial Park on Saturday and Sunday.
Despite playing four games in Eau Claire, four in Lombard and two in Kenosha, the A’s find themselves 10 games over .500, in second place in two leagues and in third place in the other. Following is where Sheboygan stands in the battle for first place:
Wisconsin State League: 1. Lombard (14-1), 2. Sheboygan (10-5)
Notheastern Wisconsin League: 1. Menasha (5-1), 2. Appleton (7-2), 3. Sheboygan (4-2).
Langsdorf League: 1. Kenosha (10-2), 2. Sheboygan (5-4).
“Two things have accounted for the good start. One, the roster is deep; and two, manager Tyler Martin has done a great job of managing that depth. Our players are clawing to get into the line-up; they all feel they should be starting, and while it can be tense at times because they are all extremely competitive, they are remarkably patient when they find their name isn’t on the card. If that can continue, we can continue to win,” General Manager Denny Moyer said.
That, and 1) the solid pitching must continue, and 2) the hitting as to step up.
The club has gotten excellent starting pitching. Ben Stanczyk, Taylor Schwarz, Brandon Winfield, Zach Brenner, Derek Loomans and Bryce Taylor have been remarkably consistent and as the schedule gets heavy in the second half, those every game guys who eat up late-game innings are going to get more opportunities.
Atop the hitting chart are two players who have been rare starters, but who have made tremendous contributions when called upon – Marian University teammates TJ McCoy (.522) and Cole Miklavcic .355. Also at the top is Eric Solberg, who had a great first half (.363), but who will be missing a lot of time in the second half due to his summer class schedule.
Colin Willis appears to be recovered from a wrist injury which cost him his spring collegiate season and currently is carrying the team’s hottest bat. He is at .356 for the season. Dan Barwick is at .289.
What makes the outlook look even better for the second half is that four players who are proven performers had their struggles in the first half and are sure to start driving the ball. It is a matter of “when” not “if” for returning players who carried the team last year – Harry Steldt, Chad Langley and Cole Heili, as well as for prospect Jake Perez.
Further, Dom Todarello and Ty Agard, who joined the team late appear more comfortable with every game; Trevor Theissen (high school coaching season winding down) and Blake Fleischman (.326) and Brenner (.286) are getting over nagging injuries; and returnees Sam Mattheis and Jordan DeBoer are starting to pick it up at the plate.
A’s Notes:
Double and triple headers are on the horizon as the A’s have struggled with rainouts throughout the first half. Fans are encouraged to visit the website: www.sheboyganbaseball.org to keep up to date with schedule changes and game promotions.
The heavy schedule, the make-up games and the promotional schedule has not only tired players, but club members as well. Volunteers are being sought to help staff the concessions stand and with park preparation, maintenance and clean up. Anyone interested should contact club president Scott Stangel at 920-459-7368 or Denny or Donna Moyer at 920-458-6377, or email the team at info@sheboyganbaseball.org.
The Sheboygan A's are members of the Wisconsin State League and Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League. The A's have helped develop more than 43 players that have reached professional baseball, including 2002 World Series Champion Jarrod Washburn (Anaheim Angels). All Sheboygan A's home games are played at Wildwood Baseball Park in Sheboygan. Connect with the A's on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
