DE PERE — Every team is gunning to take down Bay Port in the Fox River Classic conference. Bay Port won the conference, eventually finishing second in state. De Pere was one of their casualties in the WIAA Sectional.
The Redbirds who placed second in the FRCC last year are eager to get out and show what they have this year.
“21 and 4 and three of those losses came to Bay Port,” said Redbirds head coach Bob Van Rens. "Really can’t wait for this year to get after those guys. They’re predicted to win the conference again but we got a nice team coming back this year and are super excited to go to battle with those guys again.”
“That was a tough loss,” said senior shortstop and pitcher Bryson Webb. “I took that one pretty hard. I know a lot of our team really felt that one for a while. It was tough not being able to practice after that and not going to the championship. We’re looking to bounce back this year for sure.”
The pitching talent in the FRCC is top notch, but Van Rens believes he has a deep pitching staff this year, not just relying on one or two guys.
“Some teams have like one star pitcher, I feel like we’ve got six guys that can go out anytime and feel very confident with them on the mound,” he said.
At the top of that rotation is Webb. Van Rens calls him a bulldog. He'll be playing for Winona State next year.
“We’d have morning workouts when he was a freshman and he would always stay after everybody's gone and he’s continued to work and now he looks like a grown man now,” said the head coach. “It’s been a great transformation for him and he’s a great leader, great hard worker for our team.”
Speaking of leadership, Webb knows this senior class can help shape the identity of the team to get them to the top of the conference.
“With our senior class we need to just be 100 percent all the time in practice, on the field, off the field and school, obviously, of course,” he said. “I think if we lead (by) example and through our words, I think the younger groups here will definitely follow.”
This year they’ll be relying on a new Gauthier. JP, one of their senior leaders from last year, is off playing at Illinois State. Now, it’s his sophomore brother Javin’s time. Javin committed to Illinois State as just a freshman. He'll pitch and play a utility role.
“Just a hard worker, a good leader again, very special for a young kid,” Van Rens said. “That’s really cool to see and he’ll be a leader for a long time in our program.”
“I’ll play wherever coach puts me,” said Gauthier. “I’ll be the greatest teammate that I can, on and off the field. Just try to help and benefit the other players.”
Driven by the loss to Bay Port, the Redbirds are ready to take down a very tough conference.
“The FRCC is a really good baseball conference. Especially in Wisconsin. We represent Wisconsin well and I think it’s going to be very competitive this year and I'm looking forward to it,” said Webb.
De Pere opens up their season on Monday, April 4 against Kaukauna.
