Tim Moyer expects to be taking fewer trips to the mound this season, since he says pitching is the Sheboygan A’s strength.

“We have everybody back, plus we have a bunch of new guys that are going to really contribute,” the manager said. “We’re going to be good this year, pitching-wise.

“It’s way easier when you know you’ve got guys that can give you six or seven innings. It’s easier to manage, too, when you know that if they give up two runs early, that’s not a big deal, because they might only allow three all day. And we can take our time and take our chances to score.”

Sheboygan, which opens its season Saturday, returns pitchers who accounted for 31 of the squad’s 32 wins and 484 of its 510 strikeouts a year ago.

Jared Reklaitis (voted as the team’s most valuable pitcher), Brad Rindfleisch, Eric Schmitz and Joey Pettit did most of the damage, and a couple of newcomers will also contribute.

South Dakota State’s Blake Kuhn is a big, hard thrower who spent his first three years in college playing football.

Jonah Landowski, who won five of his first seven decisions for Marian this season, joins the roster after playing for Green Bay last year.

Offensively, as many as six of Sheboygan’s top 10 hitters from a year ago return.

Infielder and reigning team MVP Harry Steldt led the A’s with a .338 batting average, 68 hits, 11 homers, 50 runs and 48 runs batted in. 

Other key returners are outfielders Jacoby Endreas and Ross Krist, and infielders Jimmy Juergensen, Jacob Neese, Joey Pettit, Bennet Becker and Cooper Gosse.

“If we just play good baseball this year, our record is going to look a lot better,” Moyer said. 

“Because I think overall our team is going to be better. Last year, for some reason, we didn’t put it together.”

Sheboygan also hopes to have the services of infielder Ryan Blanchard, who was hitting .379 (as of last week) for Feather River Community College in California.

He is committed to open the season with the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League and could possibly stay there for the summer.

“That’s a scary thought,” Moyer said. “If he’s as good as I think he is, they might keep him.”

Other reasons to visit Wildwood

Promotions are still coming together, but a few have already been penciled in: magnet schedule (Saturday), Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Night (June 2), Touch a Truck Night (July 13), Salute to Service (July 16) and Christmas in July (the 20th).

Also, all Sunday home dates are a Meijer Family Day, where kids get to run the bases after the game, get player autographs, and there will be specials at the concession stands.

And the Budweiser Backstop seat is now beverage and snack inclusive. 

Each ticket comes with two free beverage vouchers and snacks.

SCHEDULE

May

21: Manitowoc, 11:00; Appleton, 3:00. 22: TBD; 25: at Kewaskum, 7:30. 28: Chicago (DH), 5:00. 29: Chicago (DH), 1:00. 31: at Green Bay, 7:30.

June

1: at Manitowoc, 7:30. 2: West Allis, 7:30. 4: at Burlington (DH), 4:00. 5: at West Allis (2), 12:00. 6: at Menasha; 7:30; 8: at Appleton, 7:30; 9: at Kewaskum, 7:30. 11: Kenosha, 11:00 & Addison, 5:00. 12: Lombard, 3:00. 13: Branch, 7:30. 14: at Green Bay, 7:30. 15: Menasha, 7:30. 16: Burlington, 7:30. 18: at Kenosha (DH), 3:00. 19: Kenosha (DH), 1:00. 21: Appleton, 7:30. 22: Kewaskum, 7:30. 23-26: at West Bend Tournament. 28: Green Bay, 7:30. 30: West Allis, 7:30.

July

5: Green Bay, 7:30. 6: at Appleton, 7:30. 7: Manitowoc, 7:30. 9: at Lombard (DH), 4:00. 10: at Lombard (DH), 1:00. 12: Menasha, 7:30. 13: Kewaskum, 7:30. 14: West Allis, 7:30. 16: Burlington (DH), 5:00 18: at Menasha, 7:30. 19: Green Bay, 7:30; 20: Appleton, 7:30. 23: Addison (DH), 5:00. 24: Addison (DH), 1:00. 25: at Appleton (NEWBL Classic), 7:30; 26: at Menasha, 7:30 (Classic). 27: at Green Bay (Classic).

August

2-4: WSL State Qualifier Tournament. 6-7: Class A State Tournament in Appleton.

ROSTER

2 Ryan Blanchard

3 Brady Zackrisen

5 Sam Hernandez

7 Josh Moses

8 Eric Schmitz

9 Caleb Lorbecki

10 Mac Doherty

11 Bennett Becker

12 Colin Butkliewicz

13 Jonah Landowoski

14 Jonathan Kim

15 Gus Walker

16 Mark Wanner

17 Jacob Neese

18 Hunter Steger

19 Harry Steldt

20 Jared Reklaitis

21 TJ Roberts

23 Riley Palmquist

24 Cole Miklavcic

25 Joey Pettit

27 Cooper Gosse

28 Justin Schnell

29 Sage Stellmacher

30 Bryce Lovisa

32 Jimmy Juergensen

33 Elliott Danhoff

37 Jackson Schmitz

39 Jacoby Endreas

40 Dylan Davis

41 Davis Wilson

42 Brad Rindfleisch

43 Ethan Scherg

44 Dawson Salvoski

47 Blake Roach

48 Ryan Traas

49 Noah Imrie

50 Blake Kunz

Manager: Tim Moyer

Coaches: Mike Schubert,              

Ken Neese