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player ready...Pioneer Press broke down the Libertyville baseball team at the start of the 2016 season:
Libertyville
Coach: Sean Ferrell
Top returners: Sr. P Ben Kimpler (6-0 in the regular season), Sr. 1B Tim Calamari, Jr., SS Chase Patterson (.350 BA), Sr. OF Brian Murphy, Sr. OF/P Connor Burke
Newcomers: Jr. C Jackson Peterson, So. P Riley Gowens
2015 record: 20-15 (7-5 North Suburban Lake), lost to Stevenson in a Class 4A regional semifinal
Season outlook: There’s a reason the varsity program has only had one losing season since 1981, and it involves a consistent message from coaches at all levels. Fundamentals are always abundant at Libertyville. Expect the Wildcats to continue their winning ways despite some offseason hiccups.
Storylines to watch: How will the Wildcats handle the sudden February resignation of longtime coach Jim Schurr? Will the loss of speedy leadoff hitter Riley Lees, who will miss the season with an upper-body injury, have a big impact? Senior Ben Kimpler is a solid No. 1 starter, but the rest of the rotation has something to prove.
They said it: “I’m focused on how we play the game,” interim coach Sean Ferrell said. “Consistency is huge. We want to see consistent effort, a positive attitude, and hard work from our kids every single day regardless of the situation.”
Tim Froehlig is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @TFroehlig