COUGAR BASEBALL

Records, Awards and the End of an Era for the Coach by southbaseball

The 2010 Cougar varsity baseball team celebrated the most successful season in their five year history with a banquet at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club on the evening of June 8^th .  Head Coach Mark Zeise served as the master of ceremonies, handing out awards, recognizing player attributes and providing words of wisdom about the importance of  “the team.”  The event was marked with class and recognition of a job well-done.

Several players were recognized for special awards.  Grant Mitchell and Will Lundquist were voted by Lake Conference coaches as first team all-conference.  Mitchell, a Senior, noted to have been hampered by injuries in prior years, played every inning at second base during the 2010 year.  He tied for the team lead in doubles and was second in many other offensive categories including hits, batting average, slugging percentage, and on base percentage.  As a fielder, Mitchell tied for the team lead in assists and only made 4 errors at the difficult middle infield position.  His season highlights include a 4 hit game against Northfield on May 1^st and 9 errorless fielding chances against Henry Sibley on May 28^th, when he seemingly covered all the ground between 1^st and 2^nd base.  Mitchell had a busy 2009-10 sports season excelling at wide receiver in football and as a guard in basketball.

Will Lundquist rewrote almost every pitching record in the Cougar record book in his first varsity season.  The sophomore right-hander notched 6 wins, 5 complete games, had an ERA of 2.92, 41 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched.  His season was highlighted by a 3-hitter in the Cougars first win ever over Apple Valley on May 17^th and an 11 strikeout  performance against Chanhassen on May 22^nd.  He won 3 games in a 7 day stretch beginning on April 29^th.  Lundquist also was the losing pitcher in a 2-hit effort against Rosemount on May 10th.  Coach Zeise noted that it is indeed rare for a sophomore to be recognized for such an  award in Lake Conference baseball.

Senior shortstop Dan Noehring, and Juniors Matt Heilmann and Alex Continenza received Honorable Mention all-conference awards.

The award for Most Improved Player went to Junior right-handed pitcher Nate Gelle.  Dan Noehring was voted the “Team Player” award.  Mitchell was selected as the Most Valuable Player.

The 2010 Cougar “Boys of Spring” set several team records and firsts.  Most wins in a season -10; Most Conference wins -7; hosted first State Playoff Section game – Henry Sibley, May 28, 2010 (Cougars won 4-1); Fewest errors as a team – 48; Highest fielding percentage -.931; lowest team ERA 4.94.

Individual season records were set in the following categories: On Base Percentage – .466, Alex Continenza;  Home Runs – 2, Continenza  (tied, Andrew Maher); Triples - 2, Chane Donnelly;  Stolen Bases – 7, Dan Noehring; Hit By Pitch -7, Continenza;  Earned Run Average -  2.92, William Lundquist;  Wins - 6*, Lundquist; Complete Games – 5*, Lundquist; Saves - 2, Luke Sleeper (tied, several).

Lakeville South Cougar career records were set in the following categories: Hits – 61, Noehring; Doubles – 12, Noehring; Stolen Bases – 15, Noehring; Home Runs – 3, Continenza.

Individual game records were set in the following categories: Hits – 4, Grant Mitchell and Matthew Heilmann (at Northfield, May 1, 2010); Strikeouts – 11, Lundquist (vs. Chanhassen at Lake Almagnet Park, May 22, 2010).

The future looks promising  for the Cougar program as well. Sophomore coach, Kirk Golberg, recognized the sophomores noting their 15-3 record.  Coach Paul Schmidtke, recognized the Juniors Varsity citing their 9-9 record during the year.

At the conclusion of the event, Coach Zeise was recognized for the 24 years of service as head baseball coach for Lakeville High Schools.  He previously announced during the year, this would be  his last as head coach.  Notable were Lakeville Panther state championships in 2005 and statewide Coach of the Year awards.  He also coached the Panthers to a runnerup finish in 2000 state tournament.  Two of his former players were high draft picks in the 2010 Major League draft.

Varsity pitching coach Jake Groff remarked that the one attribute he would always remember about Coach Zeise was his ability to be incredibly positive even in the worst  moments of a losing season.  Groff summed up the veteran coach’s career this way: “For Coach Zeise it wasn’t about the wins and the losses, it was always about the players.”

*Also noted as Career records

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