Photo courtesy of Greg Devereaux Photography Pictured above is the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton baseball team. Front row (L to R): Matt Munson, Caden Anderson, Tanner Hauger, Brandon Duscher, Jayden Torgeson, Joseph Anderson, Travis Willhite and Alex Schuh. Back row (L to R): Head Coach Bill Tauer, Jett Glenn, Trayton Radke, Andrew LaVoy, Maddox Viessman, Nick Schmitt, Nathan Fultz, Zeke Dolan, Justus Long and assistant coach James Fultz.

TRACY — In 2019, the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton baseball team had a solid season, going 12-4 in the regular season before falling in the Section 3AA tournament. After not being able to play last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers will look to maintain their success under coach Bill Tauer.

Tauer said due to not having a season last year, they will have no players with varsity experience and will have to rely on this year’s senior class, led by Nathan Fultz, Andrew LaVoy, Jayden Torgeson and Trayton Radke.

“With not having a season in 2020 we have no players on this year’s roster with varsity experience,” Tauer said. “We will rely on our seniors to lead the team. The seniors and most of the juniors did get some 18U and 16U games in last summer. Nathan, Andrew, Jayden and Trayton have been playing baseball for years so we will need these seniors to lead this year’s squad.”

Tauer said he expects his players to keep improving each day and come in with a positive attitude.

“Our goal is to come to practice every day wanting to get better, work hard and have a positive attitude,” Tauer said. “With our lack of varsity experience we just want to compete to the best of our ability. We hope to see improvement each week and by the end of the season be a competitive baseball team.”

TMB dropped its first three games to start the season. As they head into the rest of their season, Tauer said he’s looking forward to just getting back onto the field with his team.

“It has been fun getting back at it after no season in 2020,” Tauer said. “The kids really have a lot of excitement to be able to play ball again.”