News Photo by Steve Jakubcin The Alpena High School baseball team poses for its team photo on Thursday. The Wildcats are getting ready to take on the 2024 season with their first game on Tuesday.

ALPENA — Coming off a successful 20-11-1 season last year, the Alpena High School baseball team looks to build on that success in the 2024 season.

Losing four graduates, including Brady Kollen, Brady Pagels, Brady Niedzwiecki, and Landon Spomer, a majority of the roster returns.

While the Wildcats finished positively with a 6-4-1 record against Big North Conference opponents, Alpena seeks to improve upon that, hoping to become BNC champions.

“It’s a tough conference, but, just like last year, I expect to be competitive,” Alpena coach Eric Mackenzie said. “Between our strong senior class and a great group of juniors, I expect us to be a tough opponent for anybody we face.”

Mackenzie focused on wanting to grow the next class of players rather than finding replacements for the graduates he lost.

Looking to develop juniors and sophomores and letting them reach their full potential throughout their high school careers will be essential, Mackenzie said, meaning all pieces should fall perfectly into place for future rosters.

Many players, such as Michael Kries, Connor Cameron, Landon Gagnon, Nathan Southard, Jase Kollen, Owen Kaiser, Lucas Weir, and Brady Chapman should return to next year’s team but expect to make a significant impact this season.

Leading younger players will be Alpena baseball’s eight-man senior class, which is loaded with experienced talent.

Led by Jake Zann, Caleb McEwen, Kaleb Donajkowski, Jonny Rensberry, Tucker Bright, Gabe Glawe, Hunter Cohoon, and Grant Jarema, the Wildcats have a wide array of players who have been on the varsity stage before.

“We have eight returning senior players, and they already have great chemistry between each and every one of them,” Mackenzie said. “They’re already teaching these younger guys how to practice properly, and they’re going to teach them how to compete at this level.”

The offense should have little to no problem swinging the bat and getting on base.

The power potential between Zann, Donajkowski, Cohoon, and many others will be vital in driving in the more contact- and on-base-oriented hitters.

On the pitching side, the Wildcats have two strong aces who are headed to college baseball after graduation.

McEwen and Donajkowski should combine for a substantial number of innings, allowing many others to fill in when necessary.

Besides those two, Kaiser, Cameron, Kollen, and Zann could pitch some innings for Alpena.

Although the team is competitive within its region, the Wildcats will also venture downstate, testing its talent against some of Michigan’s better teams.

The strength of the schedule is extraordinarily difficult compared to years past.

“We’ve got some tough games this year, which means we’re really going to have to play hard as a team,” Mackenzie said. “I always stress that we have to do the little things right, because, if we do that, the harder things will come easier. I’m super excited for this year with our group, and I expect great things from these guys.”

Alpena’s first game will be at Swan Valley on Tuesday.

ALPENA HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY BASEBALL 2024 SCHEDULE

Tuesday: at Swan Valley

Friday: at Bloomfield Hills

Saturday: at Algonac, vs. Warren Mott at Algonac

April 12: hosts Elk Rapids

April 13: at Midland

April 17: hosts Cheboygan

April 18: at Harbor Springs

April 20: at Freeland

April 22: hosts Boyne City

April 23: hosts Traverse City West

April 30: at Traverse City Central

May 2: at Inland Lakes

May 4: hosts Friends Together Baseball Invite

May 7: hosts Petoskey

May 8: at Tawas

May 14: at Gaylord

May 16: at Ogema Heights

May 17: TBA at Comerica Park

May 21: hosts Cadillac

May 23: at Traverse City’s St. Francis

May 28, June 1: hosts Michigan High School Athletic Association districts