2018 Mercury-Area Baseball Preview

Owen J. Roberts

Manager: Greg Gilbert, 21st season.

Last year’s record: 5-11 PAC, 8-12 overall.

Players to watch: Seniors: Andy Blum, 1B; Dawson Stuart, P; Dan Stofko, P; Leif Wergeland, 3B. Junior: Jack Rinehimer, SS.

Outlook: The Wildcats will have some major shoes to fill in the batting order as they’ll need to replace top hitters Josh Fulmer and Andy Fisher, both lost to graduation. Their strength will be in the pitching staff as OJR returns Stofko and four-year starter Stuart, both of whom Gilbert says will be the anchors in the rotation. “This year’s team will need to grow up quickly with very little varsity experience,” he said. “Our team will have a few returning starters but most positions will be filled with underclassman who have moved up from last year’s JV team.”