By: Aaron Morse – 3/28/22
The Tomah Timberwolves are coming off of season where they were just under .500 (9-11) overall and 5-7 in the Mississippi Valley Conference. There is always reason to get excited for opening pitch of the baseball season, but Tomah Head Coach likes where his team is at this point, especially with the talent and experience they bring back. Tomah’s first game of the season will come on Tuesday, March 29th when they take on Black River Falls in a non-conference game. However, like we all know with Midwest weather, and specifically Wisconsin, the weather does not always cooperate. Timberwolves Head Coach Ryan Brookman had a chance to join The Sports Lead on ESPN La Crosse 105.5 on Monday, and he said that they are hopeful the game will be played despite the projected temperatures:
As stated earlier, the Timberwolves do bring back some guys from last year’s team. Experience is a huge lift in high school baseball and Coach Brookman is hoping that carries over for his guys:
Drew Brookman is expected to get the start on the mound in their season opener and be the ace for Tomah this season, but they have some guys behind him in the rotation that can get the job done:
As for some other guys Coach Brookman is looking at to make another jump, Charlie Joyce is a versatile player that Coach Brookman is excited for:
Josh Jorgenson fits into that category as well. Because of all the issues Covid caused in terms of getting out on the field and evaluating talent, Coach Brookman was not sure what he was going to get from Josh last season. He was happy to get an all-conference honorable mention player, but expects him to make another splash:
As for the ever-tough Mississippi Valley Conference, Coach Brookman knows it will be tough to compete because they will not be the only team bringing back talent from last year. When asked to choose the best team in the MVC (minus his own team), Aquinas was his pick:
Coach Brookman expanded on the notion that “anything can happen”:
As for a former player of Brookman’s, Connor Prielipp, future MLB pitcher and projected first round pick, is currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Prielipp was the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019 and did not allow a run in 21 innings his Freshman year before Covid hit. Before injuring his elbow his Sophomore year, he was looked at as the potential top pick in the draft. Now, he might have to ~settle~ for being selected anywhere in the first round. Brookman gave a quick update on Connor:
Coach Brookman does not have a player of Prielipp’s quality on his roster this season, and probably not close to it either, but he does have a lot of really good pieces with experience that should make another big jump this season for a Timberwolves squad that is looking to compete at the top of the MVC.
For the entire conversation between Coach Ryan Brookman and John Pappadopoulos on The Sports Lead you can go to our podcast page: https://www.espnlacrosse.com/podcasts/