Hulne: Seniors leading LP in the playoffs
Published 8:22 am Monday, May 30, 2016
When it comes to postseason play, leadership and experience always play key roles.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Jordan Cotter, right, celebrates with his teammates Daniel Bollingberg and Braden Kocer after he came up with the game-winning hit in the 10th inning to beat Randolph in Marcusen Park earlier this season. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Just ask the Lyle-Pacelli baseball team.
The Athletics have been able to put together one of their best seasons as a co-op this spring and they gutted out a tough 2-1 win over Southland in the Section 1A West quarterfinals.
Now the Athletics are in position to make a playoff run as they will have solid rest headed into their Section 1A semifinal matchup against Faribault Bethlehem Academy at 3 p.m. Monday.
The reason LP has been so tough this season is mostly due to the play of the team’s senior leaders — shortstop and pitcher Daniel Bollingberg, catcher Lee Bauer, second baseman Jordan Cotter and first baseman Braden Kocer.
These four players have led the way on and off the field and they’ve been crucial to helping seventh-graders Zach Bollingberg and Jed Nelson work their way into the lineup.
Zach is the younger brother of Daniel and he seems to have picked up some of his older brother’s traits as he’s been a consistent shortstop when Daniel pitches and an effective second basemen when Daniel moves back to shortstop.
Bauer has provided strong leadership from the catcher position and he’s also provided plenty of power to the LP lineup. Cotter and Kocer are both proven leaders with a solid attitude on game day and they’ve kept the LP lineup on task.
It’ll be interesting to see how the seniors, who have spent much of the last four years playing together, close out their LP careers together this season.
