Arlington High School senior Andy Misfeldt routinely arrives first at the Washington County Fairgrounds for baseball practice.
“Easily,” he said Tuesday.
Before anyone else arrived, the infielder had his cleats, sunglasses and ballcap on ready to go with the start of the 2024 spring season just a few days away.
Misfeldt is one of five returning letter winners on coach Tyler Stender's AHS squad. Blaine Vogt, Tyler Ott, Killian McIntosh and Tim Halley all return as starters, but first-team all-stater Trevor Denker, and honorable mention recipients Kaden Pittman and Braden Monke, are gone.
Even so, the Eagles are optimistic about the possibilities of their new prep season.
“I think it was great to learn from that last group that was here, but, that being said, we've still got a lot of talent,” Vogt said. “I think we can build off of that.”
Ott was in agreement.
“You know, we had high expectations going into last year,” he said. “They were obviously warranted with the guys that we had, but people are going to think it's a rebuilding year. But, no, we can shoot for just as high as we shot last year.”
His plan is to build toward May.
“Class C baseball. Class C state tournament — none of that is out of the picture in my opinion,” Ott said. “Shoot high, but if you don't hit quite as high at least you'll end up somewhere good, I'd think.”
The pitcher went 5-2 last spring, finishing with a team-best 1.80 ERA. He said his arm was a little tender Tuesday, but “I'll be good and ready to go by the time we get into these games.”
McIntosh, meanwhile, was second on the team in hits behind Denker last season. He hit .353 with five doubles, while Vogt finished with a .327 batting average.
Halley had seven extra-base hits for the Eagles, too, finishing with two homers and 11 RBIs overall.
“Me and the other seniors, we're trying to take a little bit more of a leadership role,” Vogt said. “Since we lost that big class last year, it's important to stick out and lead our team.”
Between Ott and Coach Stender, they named Oliver Ladehoff, Luke Sharp, Tanner Kyllo, Owen Ladehoff, Wes Monke and Luke Ott as potential big-time contributors this spring.
“That sophomore class gots some really talented guys who've had a lot of success,” said Ott, Luke's big brother. “The adjustment period might be a little something they need to get over, but, hopefully, we can get over that fast.”
In 2023, the Eagles reached the district finals. This year, they've got high expectations again.
“It'll be a fun year,” Vogt said. “We've been with each other for quite awhile.”
AHS starts its season 6:15 p.m. today in Ralston against Omaha Northwest. The season-opening tourney continues Saturday before the Eagles play at Wayne on Monday and at Tekamah-Herman on March 21. Their home opener at the Fairgrounds is 10 a.m. March 23 before a second game to follow at, approximately, 2 p.m.
