Eau Claire North baseball setting mini goals that hopefully lead back to state
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (BVM) — It has been a season of learning for the Eau Claire North Huskies baseball team after over a year away from the diamond.
“We have to teach almost everything,” Huskies head coach Bob Johnson said. “We have to teach a wide variety of details and how to’s.”
Eau Claire has entered the 2021 season with practically a new team. Only junior Gabe Richardson has had any serious varsity experience. The third baseman has been starting since he was a freshman and was a part of the state championship team in 2019.
“Gabe gives us a lot of leadership,” Johnson said
Along with Richardson are four seniors who are playing a pivotal role in getting this team to where it needs to be and living up to the reputation that Eau Claire North has created for itself over the years.
“Even though my senior class is small they are a great group of young men,” Johnson said. “These players understand history, understand where we’ve been and they want to be there as well.”
That means learning and passing on the culture of the Huskies to the young core of players that have joined the team. Cheering on teammates after a sacrifice fly, energy in the dugout, how they hustle to the field, all the small things that when added together make a huge difference in the mentality of a team.
Besides the culture there are x’s and o’s aspects of the game that many of these young players have not dealt with. Johnson recalled a practice recently where he gave the signs to do a squeeze drill and had multiple players make mistakes. After a few tries he pause the drill and asked if any of them had ever done a suicide squeeze. Richardson was the only one to raise his hand.
It has taken time, but slowly the Huskies are getting it all figured out, both the culture and the skill required to play at the varsity level. To get the team to that point has taken the accomplishment of many mini goals.
“We talk about mini goals,” Johnson said. “We’re about mini goals, self improvement and the pitch that’s coming next.”
Although they still have many more mini goals left to accomplish, the Huskies have had success early on in the season, going undefeated through eight games. They have even made impressive comebacks in a few of those wins.
“I think our players are learning the importance of every pitch, the importance of thinking before every pitch,” Johnson said.
Through it all, Eau Claire is finding its identity. The pitching is improving with the help of pitchers like left-handed Andrew Miller and the defense still needs some work but so far the bats have been strong.
“Right now I think our identity is that three through six slot is going to be a handful,” Johnson said.
The early success bodes well for a team that is playing injured. There have been times already where the Huskies have had to play with only 11 players due to injuries. Another factor that has limited the Eau Claire roster has been the alternate fall season sports taking place right now.
Even with the adversity, the Huskies are playing well and ranked 21st in the state. It may be a new team, but Eau Claire North is living up to their reigning state championship name.
