Raider baseball home opener Thursday

• Raider baseball team practicing at Grandview Park

Members of the Raider baseball team loosen up before practice at Grandview Park last Thursday afternoon. The Raiders will host Stillwater in their home opener this Thursday, April 5, at 4:30 p.m. and host Mahtomedi at Grandview Park Saturday at 11 a.m. Photo by Bob Burrows

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The Raider baseball team returns seven players from last year’s squad, and will be joined by ten players that helped the Raider JV finish 16-5 in 2011, as it opens the season with a pair of home games this week.

Hudson will host Stillwater in the home opener Thursday, April 5, at 4:30 p.m. before facing Mahtomedi Saturday, April 7, at 11 a.m.

Leading the corps of returning players are senior Brett Steinwagner and Kellen Pearson.

Steinwagner was an All-Big Rivers Conference Second Team pitcher and was named the Raiders’ Outstanding Pitcher of 2011 after leading the staff in strikeouts with 57 and recording two complete game victories and two saves while holding opponents to an on-base-percentage of .215.

When not on the mound, Steinwagner played outfield and led the Raiders at the plate with an average of .447.

Pearson was an All-BRC Honorable Mention selection and the Raiders’ Defensive Player of the Year at third base in 2011. On the mound, he led the Raider pitching staff with five victories and held opponents to a .225 on-base-percentage.

Also back for the Raiders this season are senior Drew Pheneger, juniors Austin Evenson, Josh Evenson and Mike Hommes, and sophomore Miles Lewis.

Senior Josh Dardine, juniors Joe Kelly, Alex Newell, Matt Monette, Todd Mork, Blake Amborn, Jake Shaw, Stef Smith and Chuck Peterson, and sophomore Charlie Altman round out the roster.

Tags: sports, baseball, raiders, prep