Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 Church Directory
THE 2025 Big Lake baseball team. Front row, left to right: Mayson Patten, Blayne Varner, Jason Skoglund, Cooper Cusick and Caleb Martin, Middle row, left to right: Kaeden Tidrick, Conner Lundquist, Trenton Throolin and Billy Bilben, Back row, left to right: Jackson Laroche, Owen Wilczek, Dreeson Millam, Ian Tough and Brendan Goedker. (Photo by Ken Francis.)

Hornet baseball expecting more success this season

The Big Lake baseball team is hoping to have a good season in 2025.

The Hornets will be looking to improve their offense this year after coming up short in a few games in 2024

“Last year we had a bunch of young guys and hitting was our downfall,” says Coach Loren Holthaus. “Now with the new batting cages, we’ve been taking a lot more cuts. That’s our emphasis at practice - hitting. If we can hit this year we can be pretty competitive for one of the top spots in the conference.”

The team has more experience this season, with many of last year’s starters back.

Brendan Goedker and Trent   Throolin will share duties behind the plate. Whoever is not catching will play second base. Third base is a battle between Billy Bilben and Jason Skoglund. Shortstop Cooper Cusick is back and first base will be shared by Jackson Laroche and Owen Wilczek.  Blayne Varner and Caleb Martin are left fielders, with center fielder Austin Schleif and right fielder Conner Lundquist rounding out the defense.

Holthaus says the defense is strong and so is the pitching.

“The thing that will keep us in games will be our pitchers,” he says.

Owen Wilczek, Jackson Laroche and Brendan Goedker are the main starters.

“Those three will make us really tough,’ says Holthaus, “then throw in guys like Dreeson Millam, Austin Schleif and Cooper Cussick and our pitching is solid.”

If the hitting holds up this season, the Hornets could go a long way.

The Hornets open the season with games at North Branch Tuesday and Princeton Thursday. Their home opener is 4:30 p.m. Friday (April 11) against Chisago Lakes.