From worst to first, the Potosi baseball team has gone through a remarkable transformation over the past couple of years. After struggling through a disappointing 2021 season, the team put in the work and was able to turn things around by the next year, winning the conference, and earning a high seed in playoffs. Now they head into the 2023 season with many seniors who have high expectations and the team is determined to go even further than they did the year before.
Logan Kruser attributed the team's fast turnaround in success to their coach, Tony Leibfried, and the athletic classes that were coming through. He noted that “the biggest challenge the team faced when coming onto varsity was the pressure that came with it. Going from youth rec straight into varsity was a lot different from middle school, and they were a very young sophomore class, needing more varsity experience, especially after losing freshman year.” The team changed its strategy, training, and team dynamic to help turn things around. The team chemistry was better since they had been playing together for so long and playing football with the Cassville kids, helped. “They also did much more situational work to better understand the game.”
According to Kruser, “Beating Barneveld was a huge turning point for the team's success, and the attitude of everyone changed after they beat them.” Looking back on the season, Kruser shared the most memorable moments such as hitting 4 home runs against Benton at Benton, winning the conference, and 10-run ruling Belmont. “The team learned important lessons from their journey to success, such as the importance of hard work and staying humble.”
Sam Udelhofen, another player on the team, also attributed the team's fast turnaround in success to a group of guys who had a passion for baseball and just wanted to win. Similar to Kruser, he noted that “the biggest challenge the team faced when coming onto varsity was never playing a JV baseball game and having to step up. The team made changes in their practice and motivation, and they had a good coach to keep everyone on board.”
Udelhofen felt that a “game against Southwestern two years ago was a turning point for the team's success, as it was a big upset.” Then they realized they had a good shot of being very good. Looking back on the season, Udelhofen and his teammates shared memorable moments such as “beating Belmont, becoming conference champions, having fun in the dugout, and hanging out with the guys. The team learned important lessons such as the importance of hard work and the hatred of losing.”
Ethan Kerkhoff, another player on the team, attributed the team's fast turnaround in success to their coach, "Big T," who taught them how to love the game again, and the senior leadership who showed the underclasses that baseball could be a fun game when you win. The biggest challenge Kerkhoff faced was trying to prove that he belonged on varsity as a sophomore.”
Kerkhoff felt that “beating Belmont and Lancaster was a turning point for the team's success.” Looking back on the season, Kerkhoff shared the most memorable moments such as “beating Belmont and Barneveld and beating Highland both years in regionals.” “The team learned important lessons such as the importance of being competitive and wanting to win all the time.”
Success was a combination of hard work, teamwork, and determination. They learned important lessons such as the importance of hard work, staying humble, and the hatred of losing. With a great coach and senior leadership, they transformed from a struggling team to a successful one, making memories and having fun along the way.