COLEMAN – Coach Kent Casper is quick to take any excitement surrounding the Coleman baseball team’s 6-1 start with a grain of salt.

Casper is no doubt ecstatic about the great start, but knows there is a long ways to go for the start to lead where the Cougars, ranked No. 10 in this week’s Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Division 3 poll, would like it to for a team starting four freshmen.

“When playing a lot of young boys you never know what is going to happen,” Casper said. “If our pitchers throw strikes good things should continue to happen.”

The four freshmen center fielder Jacob Engels, right fielder Mitch Champagne, third baseman Mike Mergener and his twin brother Mitch Mergener at second base.

“All of those guys come from the wrestling team and have experience in big-time situations,” Casper said. “They are all very good players and are putting the bat on the ball.”

Junior Jerit Zietler has been a big part of the offense as well. The high point of Zietler’s success was a 6 for 10 day in a double-header sweep of Oconto Falls that included seven RBIs.

“He’s got a good stick and is hitting the ball well,” Casper said.

While the freshmen are helping at the plate and in the field, seniors are coming through to lead show the way on the mound.

Pitchers Jesse Hudson, D.J. Stank and Kyle Kosteva have all stepped up and thrown strikes through these first seven games.

“The seniors up on top have been playing for a few years and have shown that leadership to bring those younger guys along,” Casper said. “Jesse’s been a pleasant surprise for us. They’ve all been throwing strikes and letting the defense makes plays behind them.”

With Wausaukee and Peshtigo owning the conference for much of the last decade, the Cougars will have to pull it together for the long haul to give those teams a battle down the stretch.

“(Bill) Wickman is an excellent coach at Wausaukee and has a lot of boys out for baseball and he always seems to have a lot of talent to work with,” Casper said. “(Peshtigo’s) Pat Rubins always gets his kids to play well.”

Second-team all-conference catcher Marcus Mergener could provide a shot in the arm for the Cougars if he is medically cleared to return in the next couple of weeks after missing most of football and all of wrestling with a shoulder injury.

In the meantime, junior Steven Kilmer has been filling in great at the position after spending last year at third base.

“He’s done an excellent job for us,” Casper said. “It’s been a surprise that he’s been able to jump behind the plate and have the success he’s had after not catching since his freshman year when he was on JV.”