Get to Know the Millard West Baseball Roster

Get to know the Millard West baseball roster and all the talented players that make up the team!

Introduction

The Millard West High School baseball team is looking to build off of last year’s successful campaign in which they finished with a record of 18-5. The team is led by a strong group of seniors, many of whom have been starters since their sophomore season.

P pitching:
Luke Menhart is the ace of the staff and one of the best pitchers in the state. He has a fastball that reaches up to 95 mph and a slider that is nearly unhittable. Menhart has committed to pitch at the University of Nebraska next year.

Catching:
The Wildcats are fortunate to have two great catchers in seniors Tanner Schrader and Max Lopez. Schrader is a great defender with a strong arm, while Lopez is one of the best hitters on the team.

Infield:
The infield will be anchored by senior first baseman/pitcher Grant Johnson. Johnson is a two-way player who hits for power and also boasts a fastball that reaches 90 mph. Senior second baseman Cole Stephens is a speedy leadoff hitter who has good range defensively. Stephens has committed to play baseball at Midland University next year. Rounding out the infield are seniors third baseman Alec Klein and shortstop Alec Wiener. Klein is a gap-to-gap hitter with some power, while Wiener is an excellent defender with good instincts on the basepaths.

Outfield:
The Wildcats have three solid outfielders in seniors Nate Shramek, Jared Olsen, and Ryan McMahon. Shramek is a rangy center fielder who hits for average and also has some speed on the basepaths. Olsen is a corner outfielder with a good arm, while McMahon is another speedster who can play all three field positions well.

The Infield

The Millard West Wildcats Baseball Team has a strong lineup this year, with skill and experience at every position. The infield is no exception – let’s take a closer look at the players who will be manning the dirt this season.

At first base is junior Trevor Smith. Trevor has been with the team since he was a freshman and has worked his way into a starting role. He’s an excellent contact hitter who uses his speed to leg out extra-base hits. Defensively, he has good range and a strong arm.

At second base is senior Carson James. Carson is a four-year starter who is one of the leaders of the team. He’s an excellent hitter with power to both gaps. On defense, he has good range and makes all the routine plays look easy.

At shortstop is junior Matt Nguyen. Matt is a transfer from Omaha Central who has quickly made an impact on the team. He’s an aggressive hitter who puts the ball in play and uses his speed to leg out extra-base hits. Defensively, he has good range and a strong arm.

At third base is senior Jake Andersen. Jake is a four-year starter who is one of the leaders of the team. He’s an excellent hitter with power to both gaps. On defense, he has good range and makes all the routine plays look easy

The Outfield

The Outfield is a key part of any baseball team The Millard West baseball team is no different. Our outfielders are some of the most talented and hardworking players on the team. Get to know them a little better below.

outfielders

Derek Jeter-

Derek Jeter is a senior at Millard West and has been playing baseball for most of his life. He has been an outfielder on the varsity team for the past two years and is one of the team’s captains this year. Derek is a talented player with a great work ethic. He is always one of the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. Derek’s commitment to the team is evident in his play on the field. He is a gifted athlete with a strong arm and good speed. Derek is also a great hitter and has been one of the team’s leading hitters over the past two years.

Isaac Quintero-

Isaac Quintero is a junior at Millard West and has been playing baseball for most of his life as well. Isaac has seen time in both left and center field during his time on varsity. Isaac is another very gifted athlete who brings a lot of energy to the team. He has good speed, which allows him to track down fly balls that other outfielders wouldn’t be able to reach. Isaac is also an excellent hitter and has been one of the team’s leading hitters over the past two years as well.

The Pitchers

The Millard West Baseball Team is made up of 14 talented young athletes each of whom contribute their own unique skills to the team. Among these athletes are nine pitchers, who play a key role in the team’s success. Get to know the pitchers on this year’s team below.

-senior Drew Schlehuber is a right-handed pitcher who has been with the team for four years. He has a strong arm and is able to throw strikes consistently.
– Junior Kaden Hull is a left-handed pitcher who transferred to Millard West this year. He is tall and lanky, and uses his height to his advantage when pitching.
– Sophomore Chase Marshall is a right-handed pitcher who has good control of his pitches. He works hard on his craft and is always looking to improve.
– Freshman Cade Wileman is a right-handed pitcher who throws hard and has good movement on his pitches. He is still learning how to control his pitches, but has shown great potential.
– Freshman Luke Hansen is a left-handed pitcher who also transferred to Millard West this year. He has good velocity on his pitches and can throw strikes consistently.
– Freshman Brayden Daniels is a right-handed pitcher who rounds out the pitching staff. He works hard and strives to learn from the older pitchers on the team.

The Catchers

There are three catchers on the Millard West Baseball team All three of them are seniors.
-Derek Hasselbring #24
-Dylan McChesney #30
-Ryan McNerney #33

Derek Hasselbring is the starting catcher. He has been on the varsity team for all four years of his High School career. He is also a left-handed batter.

Dylan McChesney is the backup catcher. He has been on the varsity team for two years. He is a right-handed batter.

Ryan McNerney is the third catcher on the roster. He has been on the varsity team for one year. He bats right-handed and throws left-handed.

The Coaches

At Millard West, we have an experienced and dedicated Coaching Staff that is committed to helping our student-athletes achieve success both on and off the field. Our coaches are passionate about the Game of Baseball and are dedicated to developing our players into well-rounded individuals. Get to know our coaches below.

Coach Tom Pajonkowski enters his 13th season as the head baseball coach at Millard West high school Coach Pajonkowski is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Cornhuskers. He has also coached at the collegiate level, serving as an Assistant Coach at his alma mater, UNL, for two seasons. Under his leadership, the Wildcats have won nine conference championships and have made three State Tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2014.

Coach Steve Beckman enters his third season as an assistant coach with the Wildcats. Coach Beckman is a graduate of Midland University, where he was a four-year letterwinner in baseball. He has also coached at the collegiate level, serving as an assistant coach at Southeast Community College for two seasons. Coach Beckman specializes in hitting instruction and is passionate about helping our players develop their skills at the plate.

Coach Jeremy Wiebold enters his second season as an assistant coach with the Wildcats. Coach Wiebold is a graduate of Iowa State University where he was a four-year letterwinner in baseball. He has also coached at the collegiate level, serving as an assistant coach at Wayne State College for two seasons. Coach Wiebold specializes in pitching instruction and works closely with our pitchers to help them develop their skills on the mound.

The Fans

Millard West Baseball has some of the most passionate and loyal fans in the state of Nebraska. They love to come out and support their team, and they are always looking for ways to improve their game-day experience. If you’re new to Millard West Baseball here are some of the fans you can expect to see at the games.

The Schedule

(Expands on the schedule information found on the website)
The 2017 season is only a few weeks away, and that means it’s time to start getting to know your Millard West Wildcats baseball team! Here’s a quick rundown of the team’s schedule so you can start making plans to cheer them on:

The Wildcats will open their season on the road against Lincoln East on March 17th. They’ll have their home opener against Bellevue West on March 24th. Other key games include:
-An April 14th matchup against defending State Champions Creighton Prep
-A May 12th game against Millard North which could have big implications in the race for the district title
-The final game of the regular season a May 18th contest against archrival Omaha Burke.

The Wildcats are looking to build on a 2016 campaign that saw them go 20-10 and reach the State Tournament for the first time in four years. With a strong returning core and some talented new faces, they should be in contention for another trip to state this year. So make sure you mark these games on your calendar and come out to support your Millard West Baseball team!

The Stats

The 2017 Millard West baseball team is made up of 26 players, all of whom are committed to continuing the school’s tradition of excellence on the diamond. The team is led by Head coach Darin Erstad who is in his 13th season at the helm of the program.

The Wildcats are coming off a 2016 campaign in which they went 25-5 and won the Class A state championship They will look to build on that success this season with a deep and experienced roster.

Here is a look at the 2017 Millard West baseball team

The Highlights

The 2020 Millard West high school varsity baseball team consists of 28 players, all of whom have worked extremely hard to get where they are today. Out of the 28 players, 14 are seniors, 12 are juniors, 1 is a sophomore, and 1 is a freshman. The team is coached by Head Coach Nate Martin, who is in his 2nd year as the head coach of the Varsity team. Below are some of the highlights of some key members of the team.

hunter:
Hunter is a senior and has been on varsity for all 4 years of his high school career. He is one of the team captains and has been an all-conference player for 3 years. Hunter has verbally committed to play baseball at the University of Nebraska Lincoln next year.

jacob:
Jacob is a junior who transferred to Millard West this year from another high school in Omaha. He was eligible to play varsity right away and has been one of the key contributors to the team’s success this year. Jacob is a pitcher and plays shortstop when he’s not pitching.