Offseason Brings Off The Field Changes

The last time we saw the West Bend 7 Up baseball team, many people wondered if the team as they saw it was ever going to be back the same.  While some roster spots are up in the air, the core of the team is posed to return.  2013 saw many ups and downs but it didn't result in the team outcome they were searching for.  7 Up had the best team average and team ERA but it couldn't put both together on the same day when it counted.  The result was a 1st round playoff ouster.  Individually, Billy Bynum put up one of the best offseason seasons in Land O' Lakes history, becoming only the 2nd player to win the triple crown.  Bryant Bullock's return to full time status, along with Andrew Mueller posted 2 starters with an under 2 ERA.  Mike Mueller shook off a slow start due to his long recovery from his knee injury to finish just behind Bynum in most offensive categories.  Mueller's 4 HR's and over .500 average in the inaugural Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic was a highlight for team that started the tournament 3-0 in pool play.

2014, brings some change, as Brandon Mantz will take the reigns for 7 Up's Tri County Night League team.  Manager, Craig Larsen, will start grooming Mantz for his eventual take over of operations of West Bend 7 Up.  Leaving the team for 2014, is Dylan Hinkley who is taking his talents to a tavern softball league near you.  Also, the world has not heard from Josh Krowiorz.  A Amber Alert was put out for Krowoirz in Late December but as of this publishing date is still missing, causing leadership to assume that he is living on a island in the Pacific. (note Krowiorz is not missing)  While 7 Up will again play a 35+ game schedule, cutting down their schedules in 2014 will be Tom Seewald and Andrew Mueller.  Seewald and Mueller will only be in attendance for Land O' Lakes games and tournament games.

Speaking of tournaments, West Bend 7 Up will be returning as co-host of the Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic in July.  Also, 7 Up will be participating in the inaugural NCS tournament, which is a tournament that has splintered off the old SWABA.  7 Up will participate along with other local teams in the tournament that will be played throughout the summer.  

With Ryan Rohlinger, Paul Hoenecke, and Ryan Schilter all still chasing their professional dreams, youngsters Jake Perez, Billy Lawton, Matt Schubert, and league top 10 hitter Nathan Krause will be returning to the roster this season as full roster members after all completing their first years in college.  Perez, at Wayne State College, Lawton, at the University of Illinois, Schubert, at Concordia, and Krause, at Winona State University will all be back in town and competing for significant playing time in their 1st full season.

West Bend 7 Up will be returning to the Land O' Lakes Western Division after a second consecutive year of almost being forced to return to the Northern Division.  The Western Division stands as strong today as it ever has.  Also, 7 Up will be returning the Tri County Night League after almost deciding to pull out due to the former president of the league.  After a president change in the league, 7 Up will be returning to the league, that will put a focus back on playing night games in the night league.

Off the field it has been quite the eventful offseason.  Matt Parrent and Tom Seewald are busy planning weddings in September of this year.  Jed Justman, Erik Kraemer, and Seewald have adjusted well to having new kids, and Andy Hetebrueg and Billy Bynum are expecting in the next few months.  Also gone are a handful of girlfriends, and most have been replaced already.  Bryant Bullock has continued to be on his hot streak, saying recently, "Daddy's got a new girl." This has been said for the 7th time since the end of last season.  

7 Up also inked a long term extension with 7 Up bottling which will keep them as a title sponsor for several seasons to come.  7 Up has been extremely helpful and generous as it will team with Craig Larsen and West Bend 7 Up in their season long fundraiser, collecting non perishable food items for Full Shelf Food Pantry of West Bend.  Also for the second consecutive year, the West Bend 7 Up baseball team will sponsor all games played at Carl M. Kuss field for the West Bend Little League's Annual Father's Day tournament.  And lastly 7 Up will be active in supporting the West Bend Baseball Association, in which Craig Larsen is currently on its Board of Directors.  Larsen, will also be heading up the group responsible for the multi-million dollar renovation of Regner Park, in which Carl M. Kuss field is apart of.  West Bend 7 Up takes pride in its work off the field as much as it does on the field.

Stay tuned for more roster updates and schedule updates as we get closer to the season.

All items stolen directly from www.fiveos.com