Photo courtesy of Photoworks The 2024 Marshall Tigers baseball team includes Andrew Cowden, Andrew Stelter, Ashton Blomberg, Braeden Myhre, Braxton Koster, Brayden Ust, Brody Wixon, Carter Kepler, Carter Prins, Coby Brownlee, Deagan Maurice, Josh Kraft, JR Vierstraete, Jude Knudson, Juehl Morman, Karson Rowe, Liam Kruse, Logan Miller, Owen Kesteloot, Samuel Thor and Talan Plante. The team is coached by Chace Pollock with assistant coaches Paul Blanchard, Michael Weiss, Mitch Maxwell, Brad Bahlmann and Blake Schwartz.

MARSHALL — Last year’s group of Marshall baseball team put together a highly successful season before graduating seven of its seniors. Still, behind some key returners and some strong rising players, the Tigers will look to rise to the top of the pack once again.

Last time around, Marshall finished its regular season with a 14-3 record, earning the No. 2 seed in the Section 2AAA tournament. After a first-round victory over the Jordan Hubmen, however, the Tigers were knocked down to the elimination bracket with a 13-0 loss to Mankato East and had their season ended with a 7-5 loss in eight innings to Mankato West.

The Tigers lost a large group of players after last season. They lost their top-five hitters in OPS after last season in Lincoln Graven, Andrew Wallan, Parker Schmitt, Tyler Maeyaert and Zach Leibfried. Schmitt, Maeyaert and Ashton Rowe also led the team in innings pitched before graduating at the end of the season.

Still, the Tigers aren’t without some strong returners. Catcher Talan Plante returns behind the dish as a defensive and offensive weapon. His 10 RBIs last year were tied for third on the team and, through two games this year, he’s caught three of the four runners who attempted to steal on him.

Coby Brownlee also made an impact last season as an outfielder for the team, putting together a .246 batting average and staying disciplined at the plate for a .377 on-base percentage.

Karson Rowe leads returners in innings pitched last year after throwing 22 innings over seven games. He struck out 30 of the 102 batters he faced on the season, compiling a 2.55 ERA on the year.

He’ll be joined in the pitching staff by Josh Kraft, Liam Kruse and Ashton Blomberg. Kruse did not pitch for the Tigers last season while Kraft and Blomberg combined for just five innings.

Still, there is reason for optimism with the rotation of new faces. Blomberg signed his letter of intent to play college baseball for the University of Sioux Falls while Kraft and Kruse are both coming off strong American Legion campaigns over the summer, both contributing at the mound and at the plate.

Through six innings over two games to start this season, Kraft has held the 22 batters he’s faced without a hit or a run. Kruse has also surrendered just one earned run over four innings to start the year while Blomberg has limited opponents to one run over three frames.

The extend to which Kraft can step up into a varsity role is going to be among the deciding factors for this year’s team. While early in the season, he’s looked up to the challenge so far; He’s batting .571 with a 1.000 slugging percentage over his first seven plate appearances.

The defense has been something the Tigers have hung their hat on. Zach Leibfried was sensational at shortstop last season but his graduation leaves a gap at one of the most impactful defensive positions. Through the team’s first two games, Andrew Stelter has looked comfortable in the key position, helping Kraft and the Tigers to no-hit the Jordan Hubmen in their home opener on Thursday.

This year’s Tigers roster features 10 seniors, including Plante, Blomberg, Brownlee, Rowe, Jude Knudson, Carter Kepler, Brayden Ust, Juehl Morman and Andrew Cowden.