Eagan Baseball Team Ready to Reload for 2011 Season

When a team has to replace 14 players in one season, most call it a rebuilding project; Eagan baseball head coach Robb Walsh would prefer to call it a reloading process.

Walsh, who enters his sixth season as head coach and 15th season with the Wildcats, knows he has some work ahead of him.

“We lost 14 guys from last year, and three guys were all-state,” Walsh said. “We also lost five guys who were all-conference. But we have four guys back with varsity experience, and we were the only team to beat Eden Prairie last year.”

Eagan Wildcats Baseball

Last season: 16-9

Conference record: 10-4 Lake Conference

Section 3AAA Playoffs: Finished second to Burnsville after reaching the state tournament in 2009

Season Outlook

Walsh lost 14 seniors to graduation, three of which were all-state selections on a team that was the Section 3AAA runner-up to Burnsville, who went on to take second in the state. They also have five players that were regular starters for two seasons, and the Wildcats were the only team in 2009 to beat Eden Prairie, the eventual state champions. Eagan has four key players back and a transfer from Rosemount whom Walsh hopes will all step up and have big spring seasons.

“Our front-end pitching should be pretty solid. We have three starters who look to be pretty big. Our bats have also been a pleasant surprise early. We should be pretty good there,” Walsh said.

Key Returners

Ryan Burmeister looks to be among the Wildcats’ top returners. He played third base last season and should be one of the team’s top bats this spring. He has committed to play baseball at Augustana. Charlie Conkel is expected to be one of the team’s top pitchers in 2011. He went 1-1 last year in four starts. Walsh said he has the potential to be a top end starter. Tommie Boddaker will be a stable force behind the plate for the Wildcats. He played in 14 games and had eight starts last year. Walsh said he has a decent bat and is solid defensively. Eric Peterson was at second base last year and could move to either shortstop or center field. He hit .400 for Eagan last year. Brady Loew also transferred from Rosemount and will likely see time in the infield this season.

Conference Outlook

Eagan is among a group of heavyweights in the new South Suburban Conference, a league that features last year’s state runner-up in Burnsville, Apple Valley, Eastview, Rosemount, Lakeville North and Lakeville South. The Wildcats open the season against Burnsville.

“There’s nobody on our schedule that’s a breather,” Walsh said. “We’ve got to play well every day to win.”

They also have virtually the same playoff bracket as last year, only it’s been moved to Section 6AAA.