Shakopee Baseball Association

Congratulations to our 2010 Shakopee Saber senior co-captains Zack Bohar and Chris Kubitz for signing their national letters of intent on November 18, 2009, at Shakopee High School.  Bohar, who has played on the varsity since his freshman season and led the team with a .449 batting average last spring, signed as an infielder for Minnesota State, Mankato (http://www.msumavericks.com/index.aspx?path=baseball&).

Kubitz, a 6'5" left-handed pitcher and 1B who broke the school single season record last spring with 14 doubles, signed with St. Cloud State University (http://www.stcloudstate.edu/athletics/sports/baseball/). 

After a tough first round of conference games (2-5), the Sabers knocked off every team for seven straight conference victories and a 9-5 final record in the Missota Conference.  The Sabers finished in sole possession of second place ahead of third-place finisher Holy Angels (8-6) and behind conference champion Prior Lake (13-1).  The Sabers denied the Lakers their quest for an unblemished record with a 9-1 victory at Prior Lake in the final conference game.

 

MVP:  Nate Roberts, Sr., Catcher

All-Conference:  Zack Bohar, Jr., P/IF; John Hellkamp, Sr., CF/P; Chris Kubitz, Jr., P/1B; and Nate Roberts, Sr., C

Honorable Mention All-Conference:  Sam Anderson, Sr., P/1B; and Zachary McBeain, Sr., OF

Rookie of the Year:  Zak Hoffman, Fr., SS/P

Offensive Player of the Year:  Zack Bohar, Jr., IF/P

Defensive Player of the Year:  Zak Hoffman, Fr., SS

George Lill Pitcher of the Year:  Sam Anderson, Sr.

Warren Stemmer Class Act Award:  JT Holcombe, Sr., LF

2010 Captains:  Zack Bohar and Chris Kubitz

Nominated for Individual Academic All State:  Sam Anderson, JT Holcombe, and Nate Roberts

2009 Saber Team Nominated for Academic All-State with their combined 3.25 GPA!!!

Congratulations to Shakopee High School senior right-handed pitcher Chase Hentges who was drafted as the third pick in the 14th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals.  Chase will pitch in his first professional game for the Royals in Rookie Ball on June 24, 2008, in Sunrise, Arizona.

Tom Schleper: Varsity Head Coach

Contact: tschlepe@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Nickname:  Schlep

Family:  Wife, Brenda; Children, Dominick, Kasey, Jack, and Vinny

Dog:  Macy (Wheaton Terrier)

Teaching Assignment: Junior High Eighth-Grade English since 1990

Education:  Bachelor's Degree from Southwest State University; Master's Degree from St. Mary's University

Reason Mr. Schleper became a teacher:  I love working with kids

Coaching Experience:  Coaching baseball since 1988; football since 1989

High School Attended:  Shakopee High School

High School Activities:  Football, Basketball, Baseball

High School Awards:  Captain for both basketball and baseball; All-Conference for all three sports; MVP for football and baseball; All-Region, All-Metro, All-State baseball.  State tournament in baseball.

College Activities: Lettered 2 years in football and 4 years in baseball (captain, all-district 3X, all-conference)

Favorite Baseball Memories:  Lots . . . mostly the state tournament experiences - playing in every state amateur tournament from 1986 through 2001, and 2003, including 4 state championship games and two state championships.

Favorite Saying:  "If you think you can or think you can't, you're right!"

Favorite MLB Team:  Minnesota Twins

Favorite All-time Player:  Rod Carew

Favorite Food:  Steak off the grill in the summer time

Favorite Movie:  The Sand Lot

Do you know? Mr. Schleper's sons (Dominick, Joseph, and Vincent) share the same first names as which three famous brothers who played Major League Baseball?

 

Ryan Niedfeldt: Assistant Varsity Coach

Contact: rniedfel@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Nickname:  Niedles

Family:  Wife, Kim; Son, Max

Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Middle School Sixth-Grade Physical Education Teacher - started teaching in 2001

Education:  Bachelor's Degree from Luther College; Master's Degree from St. Mary's

Reason Mr. Niedfeldt became a teacher:  I enjoy working with kids and I love sports!

Coaching Experience:  Since 2001 in Shakopee

High School Attended:  Westby High School in Wisconsin

High School Activities:  Football, Basketball, Baseball

High School Awards:  Captain of all three sports his senior year; First Team All-Conference in football and baseball; Second Team All-Conference in basketball; 7 varsity letters

College Activities:  Football and Baseball (All-Conference pitcher his senior year)

Favorite Baseball Memory:  The summer of 2007 when my town team (Chaseburg/Coon Valley Blues) won the WBA State Tournament and finished with a record of 38-14.

Favorite Coaching Memory:  Getting the opportunity to coach the VFW and Legion teams in Shakopee and enjoying conversations with former players through the years.  Coaching my brothers while I was in college was also a fond memory.

Favorite Saying:  Play hard, get dirty, and have fun!

Favorite MLB Team:  Chicago Cubs!

Favorite All-time Player:  Hall-of-Famer Andre "The Hawk" Dawson

Favorite Food:  French Fries

Did you know?  Coach Niedfeldt  is a HUGE Green Bay Packer fan . . .

 

Eric Schmitz: JV Coach

Contact: eschmitz@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Nickname:  Schmitty

Wife:  Christine

Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Junior High School Ninth-Grade Physical Education Teacher - started teaching in 2004

Education:  Bachelor's Degree from St. Cloud State University; Master's Degree from St. Mary's University

Reason Mr. Schmitz became a teacher:  Develop students into responsible young adults - to make a difference in kids' lives.

Coaching Experience:  Baseball - 10 years; basketball - 9 years; football - 4 years

High School Attended:  Rocori High School in Cold Spring, MN

High School Activities:  Football, Basketball, Baseball

High School Awards:  Scholarship to play baseball at St. Cloud State University, HS All-Star in baseball, All-State honorable mention in baseball, captain for basketball and baseball for 2 years each

College Activities:  Baseball

Favorite Baseball Memory:  Playing college baseball and taking the long bus rides all over the Midwest

Favorite Coaching Memory:  Finishing 3rd place in the Legion State Tournament in 2004

Favorite Saying:  "We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."

Favorite MLB Team:  Minnesota Twins

Favorite All-time Player:  Ty Cobb

Favorite Food:  Pizza

Favorite Movie:  Good Will Hunting

Did you know?  Coach Schmitz is an avid deer hunter and outdoorsman

  

Josh Thom: B-Squad Coach (sophomores)

Contact: jthom@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Family:  Wife - Mary;  Daughter - Gabby; Son - Jackson

Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Senior High School Social Studies Teacher - started in 2008

Education:  Bachelor's Degree from St. John's University

Reason Mr. Thom became a teacher:  Mentor kids to develop well-rounded student-athletes with emphasis on student first!

Coaching Experience:  JV Girls BB and Softball at Rocori High School; 9B Baseball and varsity softball at New Prague

High School Attended:  Farmington High School

High School Activities:  Football, Basketball, Baseball, Student Council, Leadership Club, National Honors Society

High School Awards:  FHS Male Athlete of the Year in 2001

College Activities:  Baseball (2005 SJU Captain)

Favorite Baseball Memory:  2008 Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament Champions (Elko) and Individual All-Tournament Team Selection

Favorite Coaching Memory:  Defeating #2 rated Willmar in first game of 2006 season

Favorite Sayings:  "Can of Corn"  and "Baseball is 90 percent half mental"

Favorite MLB Team:  Minnesota Twins

Favorite All-time Player:  Joe Mauer

Favorite Food:  Open-faced beef sandwich (Granite City)

Favorite Movies:  Major League and Tommy Boy 

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Wagener: Head Freshmen Coach

Contact: rwagener@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Family:  Wife, Jessica; Dog, Rosy

Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Junior High School Ninth-Grade Social Studies Teacher - started teaching in 2003

Education:  Bachelor's Degree from Hamline University

Reason Mr. Wagener became a teacher:  Seeing growth in students/athletes

Coaching Experience:  2005-2006 assistant varsity baseball coach at Roseville; 2007 7th grade coach at Shakopee Junior High

High School Attended:  Minneapolis South

High School Activities:  Soccer, Hockey, Basketball, and Tennis

High School Awards:  All-conference in all four sports; All-region/Metro in baseball

College Activities:  Hockey and Baseball (captain and all-conference in baseball)

Favorite Baseball Memory:  Beating Gustavus my senior year in college

Favorite Coaching Memory:  Coaching against Henry Sibley in Section Finals

Favorite Saying:  Practice doesn't make perfect . . . perfect practice makes perfect

Favorite MLB Team:  Minnesota Twins

Favorite All-time Player:  Randy Bush

Favorite Food:  Seafood

Favorite Movie:  National Lampoon's Vacation

 

Nik Peterson: Freshman Coach

Contact: npeterso@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Wife:  Michelle

Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Middle School Special Education Teacher - started teaching in 2008 - started teaching in 1993.

Education:  Bachelor's Degree from Northwestern College, St. Paul; Master's Degree from the University of St. Thomas; Special Ed from Minnesota State, Mankato

Reason Mr. Peterson became a teacher:  I grew up with coaches that made a difference in my life and I want to give back and do the same for others.

Coaching Experience:  Started coaching in 1988.  I have coached football, basketball, and baseball at the high school and college levels.

High School Attended:  Proctor High School

High School Activities:  Football, Basketball, Baseball

High School Awards:  All-conference, All-State, Academic Honors

College Activities:  Football and Baseball

Favorite Baseball Memory:  Watching Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, and Harmon Killebrew play at the old Met Stadium in Bloomington.

Favorite Coaching Memory:  Winning State coaching girls' basketball in Edina

Favorite Saying:  "Never, never, never, quit." - Winston Churchill

Favorite MLB Team:  Minnesota Twins

Favorite All-time Player:  Rod Carew

Favorite Food:  Pizza

Favorite Movied:  Field of Dreams and *51

 

 

Steve Grim: 8th Grade Coach

Contact: sgrim@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Family:  Wife, Sarah; Sons Joey and Colby - and another on the way!

Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Middle School Sixth-Grade Math Teacher - started teaching in 1992

Education:  Bachelor's Degree from Moorhead State; Master's Degree from St. Mary's

Reason Mr. Grim became a teacher:  I enjoy working with kids and helping them learn.

Coaching Experience:  14 years with the Junior High program

High School Attended:  Valley City High School in North Dakota

High School Activities:  Basketball and Tennis (baseball was not offered - too much snow?!)

Favorite Baseball Memory:  Lou Gehrig's speech

Favorite Coaching Memory:  In 2007 when our pitcher caught a line drive to beat New Prague when they had the bases loaded!

Favorite Saying:  Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

Favorite All-time Player:  Roberto Clemente

Favorite Food:  Ice Cream

Favorite Movie:  It's a Wonderful Life

Did you know?  Coach Grim is a HUGE Washington Redskins fan . . .

 

Don Larsen: 8th Grade Coach

Contact: dlarsen@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Nickname:  Donno

Family:  Wife, Cheryl; Children, Travis and Hannah

Teaching Assignment: 4th Grade teacher at Sweeney Elementary - started teaching in 1996

Education:  Bachelor's Degree from Mankato State; Master's Degree from St. Mary's

Reason Mr. Larsen became a teacher:  I love working with kids

Coaching Experience:  12 years with the Junior High program

High School Attended:  Shakopee High School

High School Activities:  Football, Basketball, Baseball

Favorite Baseball Memory:  Pitching for the first time with the Shakopee Indians Amateur team

Favorite Coaching Memory:  Winning a very exciting game against New Prague in 2007

Favorite Saying:  You don't need to be a great player to hustle!

Favorite MLB Team:  Minnesota Twins

Favorite All-time Player:  Kent Hrbek

Favorite Food:  Pizza

Favorite Movie:  The Wizard of Oz

Did you know?  Coach Larsen is a HUGE Minnesota Vikings fan . . .

 

Nick Dahlen: 7th Grade Coach

Contact: ndahlen@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Family:  Wife -Megan; Son - Kellen; Daughter - Kendall

Teaching Assignment: 3rd Grade teacher at Sweeney Elementary - started teaching in 2003

Education:  Bachelor's Degree from Bemidji State; Master's Degree from St. Mary's University

Reason Mr. Dahlen became a teacher:  Share my knowledge

Coaching Experience:  Junior High Football and Baseball; 15AAA Summer Baseball Coach

High School Attended:  Hayfield High School, MN

High School Activities:  Football, Basketball, Baseball

Favorite Baseball Memory:  1997 Legion Season

Favorite Coaching Memory:  All have been great

Favorite Saying:  Practice makes permanent; perfect practice makes perfect

Favorite MLB Team:  Minnesota Twins

Favorite All-time Player:  Kirby Puckett

Favorite Food:  Tacos

Favorite Movie:  Major League