Fort Calhoun baseball player Sam Genoways was excited about the first day of practice Monday.
“I woke up early this morning,” the right-handed pitcher and infielder said, explaining how he arrived for the Pioneers' 3:40 p.m. practice at 3, too. “I just couldn't wait to get to the field.”
FCHS' enthusiasm for the spring season is warranted, players and coaches say. The Pioneers, after all, have 11 seniors on their preseason roster and seven returning starters.
“We're experienced,” senior Kenny Wellwood said. “We've got a whole lot of experience now.”
“It's cool knowing that the guy next to you knows what they're doing,” said another multiple-year starter, Chase Premer.
Altogether, Genoways, Wellwood, Premer, Alex Christensen, Eric Koterba, Levi Lasher and Chase Bierman have all played meaningful high school innings for coach Roy Prauner's program. Wellwood (.388), Christensen (.340) and Genoways (.308) hit at a .300 average or better last season, while also combining for 20 pitching appearances.
“We're baseball guys one-through-nine if not deeper than that,” the coach said. “At least seven of our top 11 kids are baseball-first kids.”
Notably, Wellwood and transfer Charlie Boumstein, who played on Fort Calhoun's Senior American Legion team last summer, have already made pledges to play college baseball. Wellwood is set to join Southeast Community College, while Boumstein is a Buena Vista University (Iowa) recruit.
Even with all of its experienced talent, though, the Pioneers have work to do to convince the rest of Class C that they are contenders. Last season, they went just 9-12. Before that, FCHS was just 7-16 and 5-15 in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Genoways said the returning contingent wants to change their school's win-loss fortunes.
“Most of them have been playing varsity since freshman year and we've had three losing seasons,” he said. “We're kind of sick of it. We want to win and we, overall, want to win a state championship.”
It's a goal the Pioneers aren't shy about repeating.
“I can envision this team going to the state tournament,” Wellwood said. “That's my personal goal. I think that's the goal for a lot of — if not everyone — on this team.”
Coach Prauner likes the hunger his experienced group has shown.
“I think they've overly embraced (the goal) and aren't scared of it,” he said. “Which is, for me, a great thing to see.”
FCHS started toward its objective Monday without pretense. The players went through warmups on the brown grass of the outfield in a been-there-before manner and took batting practice at the Fort Calhoun Sports Building as if it was nothing new.
“A lot of the drills we do during practice, we've done it all winter long,” Premer said.
Now, as the March 20 opener against Omaha Bryan approaches, the Pioneers are just hoping for the opportunity to be as ready as possible, weather permitting.
“We're trying to get as many live reps as we can,” Wellwood said.
In the end, Coach Prauner and his Fort Calhoun ballclub hope their season-long efforts can meet their anticipation for the spring.
“It's one of the first years where, out of the gate, we have some expectations,” the coach said. “And the expectations are a pretty lofty end goal for us.”
First 5 FCHS Baseball Games
March 20: At Omaha Bryan, 4:30 p.m.
March 21: At Twin River triangular, 5 p.m. (Omaha Roncalli game first)
March 25: Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
March 27: Plattsmouth, 4 p.m.
