Diamond Dozen Get Final Trip Around the Bases

Everyone who gathered at Fuller Field at Dartt's Park Tuesday would rather have seen, or played in, a baseball game. But all things considered, the attendees were happy to honor the players on the roster for the lost 2020 Owatonna High School baseball season. A dozen senior players plus their manager got a chance to gather, in a socially distant way, as a team for the final time.

On a recent edition of the AM 1390 KRFO Coaches Show, baseball coach Tate Cummins said that many seniors "is a great number, the most we have had in my tenure. If you have a lot of seniors that are coming out, playing ball, typically you are going to have a pretty good season."

Cummins had this to say about each of the seniors during the Coaches Show:

Jackson Bellomy, pitcher/infield - "We primarily would have been using him as a pitcher this year...A guy that comes in and throws a lot of strikes."
Jaden Dallenbach, pitcher - "Ball moves, tails in and out, was able to get some key outs for us last year. I know he was thrilled that he had a shot again this year."
Carter DeBus, first base/DH - "Outgoing teammate, just an awesome kid to have in the dugout. Hit his first homerun last summer for Legion ball. I know he was looking forward to playing this spring."
Carson DeKam, outfield - "One of our three-sport athletes, coming off a great football year, a good basketball year....Big, strong kid, awesome leader. It's going to be difficult not seeing him get a chance."
Logan Gauthier, pitcher - "Once again, a lot of ball movement. We utilized him last summer coming into the key spots during the mid innings. He's also able to start...A guy that keeps a lot of hitters off balance."
Isaac Gefre, outfield - "Another two-sport kid that had a great fall seasaon. Strong, can pound the ball. He would have been in the middle of our lineup."
Sol Havelka, pitcher - "Probably wouldn't have pitched a whole lot this year. His arm was still giving him a little problem. A very smooth infielder...Strong contact hitter."
Sam Henson, pitcher - " (in 2019) he ended up being one of our top starters toward the end of the year. Had some terrific starts...against Farmington in the playoffs. He battled really hard last year. Another one of those guys that kept getting better and better."
Ethan Rohman, catcher/first base - "He probably would have played in both spots. He's playing football this next fall (at Drake)...Talk about power. I think his exit velocity reaches in the mid-90's off the bat."
Ethan Walter, middle infield/center field - "He's been a very strong defensive player for us at short. Lead off guy, able to get on base and make things happen. Leader for stolen bases. Can steal second, can steal third...Probably the most electric player we have in that lineup"
Zach Wiese, catcher/first base - "Another three-sport kid with football and hockey...(In a Legion tournament in Mankato last summer) He hit two balls over the left field fence in back-to-back at bats and they were crushed. We were really hoping to see him in the middle of the lineup."
Matt Williams, outfield - "Two sports...played a lot of right field for us. Defensively, anything in front of him, he was going to get to it. He was aggressive, made a lot of diving catches."
Abbie Granquist, senior manager

During player introductions Tuesday, each player's walk-up music was played. A few profile notes, future plans, career highlights, and their favorite baseball movie were mentioned. "Bench Warmers" seemed to be the most popular choice for that. A funny story that came up a few times was when a player took a sandwich into the outfield during a game that he said was going very slowly.

Owatonna's players also represent the football, soccer, hockey, and clay target teams at OHS.