Posted: 4/16/03

Raabe: Rangers need pitching, defense

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

Brian Raabe has tasted his fair share of success in his first two years as the Forest Lake baseball coach.

He guided the Rangers to the state tournament in his first year and last season his team was ranked among the best in the state before being upset in the section playoffs.

So when Raabe says this yearís team has a chance to be successful, you know he knows what heís talking about.

Even though his squad doesnít return an abundance of experience, the talent is there to have success, Raabe said.

The biggest need for replacement is on the mound, where the Rangers lost a pair of solid pitchers in Luke Hagman and Chris Parent. Karl Young in the top returning pitcher and Raabe said this year itís his turn to be the Rangersí ace.

ìAthletics is about people stepping up and thatís what it will be about this year for us,î Raabe said. ìKarl proved last year he can pitch at this level. Obviously there is a lot of inexperience beyond that and because of that there is a some unknown.

ìBut, as long as our pitchers throw strikes, weíll be fine. We just have to force teams to hit the ball and beat you. If we do that, weíll be fine.î

While Young enters the season as the No. 1 pitcher for the Rangers, Ross Miller looks to be Forest Lakeís No. 2 starter. Raabe also said he will rely heavily on Ben Zierke, a big left-hander, and Ryan Diller. Others may step forward and earn a chance on the mounds this year, Raabe said.

Any pitcher for the Rangers will take the mound with a fairly experienced infield behind him.
Junior Steve Carlisle returns at first base for the Rangers and senior captain Pete Storm is at second base. Brian Welch can play any middle infield position and will play shortstop when Young ñÝthe regular shortstop ñÝpitches.

At third base, Lance Overson returns and Miller, when not pitching, can play third base or may see action as a designated hitter.

Behind the plate will be Ben Crotty. He will be backed-up by junior Paul Miron, who will also see considerable playing time in the Rangersí outfield.

A sophomore will open the season in leftfield. Pat Fogerty has emerged as the top player in left.

Miron will be the centerfielder for the Rangers and rightfield may see a host of players this season as Raabe searches for the right fit.

Among those in competition for the rightfield spot are Nick Dagostino, Chris Conley, Jeremy Hansen, Lucas Anderson, Brocht Schilling and Jake Brown.

Although rightfield is a spot where there will be a lot of competition for playing time, Raabe said every position is always open is someone emerges.

ìEvery position is open,î he said. ìIf youíre doing your job and youíre playing well, youíll get a spot.

ìI wonít hesitate to bring up a junior varsity or sophomore player if I see a person who can help us as a team.î

Young helped answer one of the biggest questions heading into the season in his first start against Hastings last week.

Despite not having what Raabe called, ìhis best stuff,î Young was able to control Hastings for most of the game, using mostly just a fastball.

Raabe said heís hoping the rest of the staff can follow suit and give Forest Lake a deep group of pitchers.

ìWe have an idea of what Karl can do,î Raabe said. ìThe rest of the staff, we really donít have that good of an idea of how theyíll respond at this level.î

Forest Lake will be without Tal Gravelle, who had been Raabeís pitching coach. Gravelle, a former standout athlete for the Rangers, and Raabe said that will hurt, but heís confident in assistant Cale Henry, who is taking over the pitching staff.

ìWe lost a very qualified and excellent pitching coach in Tal,î Raabe said. ìBut, we have a very capable assistant coach in Cale who I have a lot of faith in.î

Raabe also said he has faith in his team doing well this spring.

ìWe have a lot of hard working young men,î he said. ìBecause of that, the team has been working hard and weíve gotten good leadership and those are the kind of things that can take you a long ways.î

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