2006 Plano Boys Varsity Baseball Preview

Plano Baseball on Track in 2006
Reapers Hope To Eclipse 20 Season of 05

By Bill Lidinsky

After 25 games in 2005, the Plano High School varsity baseball team sat with a mediocre record of 10-15. They had just lost their second game of the year to arch rival Sandwich. It was the low point of the season with two thirds of the year gone.

But remarkably the Reapers rallied and put together a great run to close the 05 campaign capturing 10 of their last 14 ballgames to finish at 20-19. Plano just narrowly missed an IHSA Class A Regional Championship with a 6-5 loss to Stillman Valley in the title game.

The Reapers will return eight starters from the 05 club and have an increased confidence level based upon their strong finish last season.

“I thought we really matured during the last 10 or so games last year. We wound up being 20-19 after starting off 10-15. At that point I didn’t know if we’d win another game,” said Plano head baseball coach Jim Schmidt. “We played so badly, but we responded and got some confidence and hopefully that will lead into this year.”

Back for 2006 are senior starters Alex Jensen, Nick Preston, Shawn Gwilt, Matt Priesman, and Brent Day along with junior leaders Brook Bott, Josh O’Hara, and Josh Wright.

“I think our strength will be with our experience. We won’t be a bashing team but we’re very athletic and hopefully we’ll make a lot of contact and put pressure on our opponents defense,” Schmidt said.

Leading the way for Plano is leadoff man Priesman who set a school record with 46 stolen bases last year while playing a stellar center field defensively. He also batted .350 with 41 hits in 141 plate appearances.

“Hopefully we can start it off right this year. I’m looking forward to leading off again and playing well defensively in center field. Coach Schmidt and Coach Holt really want me to step up and be a leader this year and that’s what I plan on doing,” Priesman said.

As in past years Schmidt will be assisted on the coaching level by Matt Kee and Greg Gould. But in 2006, Schmidt has also added the services of Tim Holt who volunteered his expertise after coaching the past two season at Joliet Catholic Academy. Holt will be forever tied to the Plano program. On July 31, 2003 Holt’s son T.J. was killed in a tragic automobile accident. T.J. would have been a junior athlete this season possibly playing with his classmates who to this day mourn his loss and relish the fact that his father brings his baseball expertise to a Reaper program on the rise.

“We have a lot of structure and discipline with coach Holt around. He’s very hard noised but he believes in us,” Priesman said. “He’s really a special person and he makes us believe we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.”

Schmidt echoes the respect and admiration to the addition of Holt to his staff.

“The kids really seem to respond to Tim. If he can get them in a mental frame to be tough and stronger it will make my job easier and make these guys winners,” Schmidt said. “Tim’s biggest job will be to make these kids mentally strong. He can help make them deal with adversity on a level that is so high because he’s had to deal with it with the loss of T.J. Between that and the help of coach Kee and Greg (Gould), I think we have a great coaching staff. The kids respect Tim. He can bust their chops, but yet they know where he’s coming from and know what he’s about so they truly respect that in him.”
Holt humbly accepts his role along side Schmidt, Kee, and Gould.

“I’m proud and privileged to be a part of this program at Plano. I love each and every one of these players. My son and I grew up with a lot of these guys I’ll be helping coach this year. They’re all winners in my mind and I know we can accomplish great things on the diamond this season. I thank Jim for giving me this opportunity,” said Holt.

Leading the way on the pitchers mound this year will be Preston who proved to be a key starter last season during the Reapers key win over Somonauk in the regional semifinals. Preston figures to be the ace of the Plano staff in 2006.

“I don’t like to be considered the ace of our group, but I would agree that there’s a big load on me,” Preston said. “Since Gregory (Gould) left last year we’re short a lot of innings. Hopefully we’ll be able to compensate for it this year.”

Along with Priesman and Preston the other player that figures to step up in a big way is Bott. The junior easily possesses the most baseball talent. In this his third year starting on the varsity level, Bott led the Reapers offensively with seven homers and a .690 slugging percentage. He also batted .354 with 40 hits and 29 RBI. Bott had a very slow start in 2005, but hopes to rebound strong for the beginning of 2006 baseball.

“I had struggled at the start of 2005, but I was able to come out of it. This year I’m working hard at hitting so hopefully I won’t face that kind of slump to start the year again,” Bott said.

Other players who figure to contribute along with the starters from last season are seniors Kevin Klingberg and Will Brown along with juniors Eric Nelson, Ben Heller, Jared Ferguson, Cody Klingberg, Robbie LeMaster, Dan Bocek, and D.J. Gould.

“Our goals are high. We want to win another regional like we did in 1998 and 2002. We seem to do it every four years so 2006 should be the season. But we want to go a lot further than that,” Schmidt said. “Taking the next step in winning a sectional is key for us. We want to break the school record of 24 victories in a season. I believe we have the capability to do that and I know this group really believes that we can reach that success.”

Plano opens the 2006 season on Friday with a road contest at Wheaton Academy before coming back with their home opener on Monday versus Somonauk. Both games are scheduled for a 4:15p.m. first pitch.