Linn-Mar is coming off a 29-11 season that saw them make an appearance in the Class 4A state tournament. With a quality core of pitching returning, we can expect to see a strong Linn-Mar team again this season.

Graduated from last season’s club are pitchers Jake Stolley (7-1) and Keaton Blackford (2-3). Also not participating for the Lions is Nate Greve (7-3), who is playing travel ball before heading to Barry  University in Florida.

That accounts for 16 wins and 140 innings that will have to be accounted for by the returning staff.

Also gone from last year is outfielder Michael Redmond, whose .366 average was second only to Greve’s .383. Redmond also provided overall leadership that will be missed.

Gone, too, are the solid play of outfielder Kevin Bogert and second baseman Travis Kvach.

Leading the list of eight returning letterwinners are pitchers Justin Wyant (6-1), Austin Stroschein (5-0) and Ben Hilsenbeck (2-0). Stroschein also hit .351 and drove in a team-leading 44 runs.

Outfielder Mitch Stickney, utility player Austin Banks and infielder Jimmy Roth will be expected to contribute heavily to the Lion offense as well. Jack Strellner will provide the glue to hold the infield together at shortstop.

A player who could have a breakout season for the Lions this year is sophomore catcher Brandt Ollinger, who will bring a much needed hard-hitting stick to the lineup. Other new faces on the scene that are expected to contribute are pitchers Nick Jennings, Tyler Kane, Nick McCullough, Devin Bettman, Michael Bogert and Brandon Bradley, all of whom will be competing to make the rotation.

Outfielders Brandon Kruse and Ben Larson, as well as infielder Thomas Niemeyer, will be pushing for playing time as well.

Clearly pitching was a strong part of the Lions' success in 2012 and it could prove to be again this season.

“We should have good pitching depth,” said Coach Chad Lechner. “I feel we have three proven conference-type starting pitchers, four other senior pitchers with some varsity innings under their belt and some junior pitchers who had success last year on the mound.”

Timely hitting was a shortcoming at times last summer, but there are a number of options on this year’s team to resolve that issue. The program continues to grow in participation and has a number of players to choose from.

“It may take some time to find the most productive offensive lineup and the best batting order among several different possible starting lineups,” said Lechner. “We will need to prove that we can produce runs against the quality pitching our conference has.

"I would hope that our pitching and defense can keep us in games early in the season until our offensive lineup shapes up.”

Linn-Mar looks to be a strong conference contender again this summer.

If pitching is the name of the game, the Lions should do well in their new facility. They should be able to find the offense they need with the numbers they have in the program.