Photo by Tatum Hess The 2024 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton baseball team includes Donovan Appel, Dylan Baguley, Dawson Brust, Tyson Burns, Drew Chandler, Brayden Chandler, Chase Christianson, Blake Christianson, Seth Cowell, Isaac Dagel, Eli Determan, Gabriel Elton, Garrett Elton, Sean Griesse, Braxton Hess, Isaac Janish, Jackson Kerkaert, Kolby Louwagie, Evin McConnell, Braden Nibbe, Gacin Schreurs, Parker St. Aubin, Levi Tommeraasen, Riley Van Eck and Tyler Wichmann. The team is coached by Danny Moffitt with assistant coach Nick Brown.

TYLER — After an outstanding season in 2023, where the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights went all the way to the Section Finals before losing to YME, RTR is looking to rebuild. They lost their three top pitchers, Cody Wichmann, Aiden Wichmann and Hayden Gravely, to graduation. Another senior who contributed to a great season last year was Brayden Appel. Those three outstanding pitchers threw the bulk of the innings, and they were also three of their top hitters in addition to being outstanding fielders. So replacing them may be a tall task for first-year Head Coach Danny Moffitt. But the cupboard is by no means bare, since they do return several starters and some promising newcomers.

  The top returning player on the 2024 team is Blake Christianson, a catcher with great defensive skills in addition to being one of their top power hitters. Blake is an outstanding athlete, being the starting quarterback in football and a point guard on the three-time RTR State Tournament basketball teams. Christianson kept most baserunners at bay with a strong, accurate arm, and was a solid backstop for the Knights. This year, he has been asked to use his arm to bolster the pitching staff, and so far, it has worked well for the team. He is still their top catcher, but he looks to add to the team’s strength by being one of their starting pitchers.

 Another veteran is Eli Determan, who is also one of their top returning pitchers as well as their starting center fielder. His versatility will be an asset to the Knights, as he is also a good hitter. Joining him in the outfield is Isaac Dagel, who is a solid right fielder who will also play some second base this year. Chase Christianson will hold down first base for RTR, where he has been a starter for the last two seasons. He is coming off a tremendous basketball season, where he was the second-leading scorer on their State Tournament team. Christianson is an accomplished fielder as well as a dangerous hitter, and he will be counted on to be a run producer for this team.

  The infield will be bolstered by sophomore Tyler Wichmann, who contributed to last season’s success by being a solid hitter and fielder as a freshman. He has home run power as well as being one of the mainstays of the pitching staff, and he will play the infield when he is not on the mound. Gabe Elton returns as the team’s shortstop after getting a lot of experience last year. Juniors Drew Chandler and Sean Griesse show their versatility, playing in the outfield and third base, in addition to adding speed to the lineup. Chandler will also do some pitching for the Knights in addition to playing the field.  Colby Louwagie will be on the mound often for the Knights, using his pitching skills as a first-year varsity starter. Both Dawson Brust and Seth Cowell move into starting roles in the outfield this season, after being reserves on last year’s team.

  The Knights won their first two games this season, but they will need to have more consistent hitting and solid pitching from relative newcomers to the mound to make this season a success. But with a good mix of veterans and underclassmen, RTR should have a winning season under new coach Danny Moffitt.  “We will set our lineup based on what we need on defense, who is hitting well, who is pitching. It will probably change from game to game.”  He has the team playing at a high level, and if they can cut down on errors and defensive lapses, and get timely hitting from their veterans, they will be a team to be reckoned with come playoff time.