TMB SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: BASEBALL
TMB will have to replace 3 key starting pitchers
Fifth-year TMB baseball coach James Fultz isn’t one to shy away from from a challenge, and he’s got a big one this spring.
That’s because the Panthers lost not one, not two, but three pitchers who logged a yeoman’s share of the innings on last year’s 9-10 team that lost a 2-1, 12-inning heartbreaker to RTR in last year’s section tournament.
That was an afternoon neither Fultz nor his players will soon forget. The Panthers had to wait out a 17-inning classic before they even got to take the field for their heartbreaker of a loss.
“Since I’ve been head coach, we’ve been pushing the guys to get (to the section tournament) early to watch the first game, get used to the environment, get loose — but then we get there and it ends up being two games worth before us, it’s just something that you can’t plan for. The kids did a great job getting locked in after that.”
But that was last year, and with a new season comes new hope.
As per usual, the Panthers spent the better part of the first couple weeks of practice inside. But instead of bemoaning the weather and conditions, Fultz sees the positives of working indoors at the VMC.
“Being inside — no wind, the kids can hear you, you’re not fighting the weather, and the kids can focus on what they’re doing,” he said. “That’s the best part about being inside for baseball. You have the first week to 10 days of practice that you can do those little things.”
And Fultz, added, there’s no fun hitting outside when it’s 40 degrees.
“We try to get live pitching in the cage every once in a while,” he said. “But the kids do get tired of it.”
TMB will have to find a way to replace the 81-2/3 innings that Trevor Smith, Noah Knakmuhs and Alex Munson combined to throw last year.
That task will be left up to the likes of Taylor Squires, David Schuh and Connor Lanoue — the latter two who have some amateur baseball experience under their belts with the Yankees and Irish, respectively — along with Griffin Zick, Aiden Sanow, Brody Hauger and Jackson Kruse. Zick, Schuh and Lanoue threw a combined 49 innings last spring.
“It is something that — and this goes back to the pitch count — it almost forces you to have somebody learn how to do it and then probably having to do it in a game,” Fultz said. “Sometimes it’s trial by fire and you’ve got to figure it out.”
Addressing pitching is just half the battle. While pitching and defense are priorities Nos. 1 and 2, Fultz said the offense needs to improve from last year as well, in particular, cutting down on strikeouts. Fultz called last year somewhat of a “down year” at the plate for the Panthers.
The good news is, TMB is bringing back six or seven players who got varsity plate appearances in 2025.
“We’ve got to hit a little better,” said Fultz. “We lost a big group of seniors a year before, and there were guys getting varsity at bats for the first time. It takes a full season to get that rhythm down. A key thing is the strikeouts; if you keep them under a certain number per game, you’re going to have a chance.”
TMB’s opener is scheduled for March 31 at Adrian-Ellsworth.
2026 TMB BASEBALL ROSTER Seniors: David Schuh, Griffin Zick, Connor Lanoue Juniors: Brody Haugen, Aiden Sanow, Taylor Squires, Jack Willhite Sophomores: Carson Lanoue, Tyson Petersen Freshmen: Nolan Carlson, Tason Facio, Jackson Kruse, Luke Millman Eighth-graders: Maddox Eliason, Lane Hoffman, Brayden Marron, Jaxyn Odom, Ethan Schreier, Perseus Trieweiler Seventh-grades: Devon Ankrum, Kelton Brinkley, Cal Lanoue
DAVID SCHUH is one of three Panther seniors who will help carry the load for the local 9 this spring.
