The Gibault Catholic High School baseball program lost valuable seniors from last year’s Class 1A state title team, but there are key pieces returning. 

Those players will be looked on for leadership as the Hawks hope to improve throughout a tough regular season schedule and possibly earn more playoff hardware for the trophy case.

“Like many 1A schools, we don’t have a lot of depth,” longtime Gibault head coach Andy Skaer said. “We will need to find a way, especially early in the year, to get all the innings covered on the mound.”

Six returning players who were in the lineup for last year’s championship game are seniors Brady Biffar, Ty Frierdich and Jack Keeven and juniors Tyler Frierdich, Darrin Kunkelmann and Peyton Schaefer. 

Biffar, a southpaw, is the ace of Gibault’s staff after posting a 2.96 ERA and pitching in big moments last postseason. 

Frierdich, at third base, hit .315 last season with three home runs and 34 RBIs.

Keeven, at shortstop, hit .314 last season and came up huge in key moments last postseason.

Other seniors being counted on in 2024 are JJ Kinsey, Andy Altes and Cade Kostelac. 

Kinsey pitched 25-plus innings last season. 

Another junior for the Hawks is Michael Wessel.

Newcomers to the varsity Hawks this spring include sophomore catcher Noah Koeninger, sophomore pitcher Nathaniel Atkinson and freshman infielder/pitcher Collin Augustine.

The Hawks won just three of their first 12 games to open their 2024 campaign, including a rivalry game loss April 1 at home against Columbia. The Hawks battle cross-town foe Waterloo at home April 6. 

“Goals don’t change a lot from year to year,” Skaer said. “We want to play a tough schedule to prepare us for the postseason, get better as the season progresses, and be playing our best ball in May.”

It’s a formula that worked last spring.