Since dropping back to class 1A from 2A in 2019 and minus the postseason being canceled during the covid-pandemic in 2020, the United Red Storm baseball team has appeared in a regional championship game in each of the past five seasons. The Red Storm won regional titles in 2021 and 2022. The past two seasons, United has lost regional championship games to Illini Bluffs and current Bradley University freshman pitcher Josh Vaughn.
The Red Storm have nearly their entire pitching staff returning from last year’s (21-9) squad. Junior Ian Leffler and seniors Tanner Rogers and Lance Baker combined to pitch nearly 75% of innings played in 2024. They are all back to anchor this year’s pitching staff. On the flip side, the Red Storm offense lost more than a few guys in the batting order to graduation. The 2024 Red Storm team ERA of 2.83 got all the attention, but they also posted a solid .322 team batting average. Not giving up a ton of runs will not be a problem for United in 2025, but scoring runs will be a work in progress throughout the season. Not only returning with an ERA of 1.29 on the mound, Leffler will also bring back a batting average of .437, 3 home runs and 31 RBIs.
Red Storm head coach Ryan Molek won his 150th game late in the season last year and is entering his 12th year as the head of the program. He says the pitching will take care of itself and the offense also returns some experience, as well.
The Red Storm beat Orion 4-0 in their season opener on Tuesday night, with Leffler, Rogers and Aiden Martin combining on a 2-hit shutout and 13 strikeouts amongst those three pitchers. United will host Havana tonight and South Fulton on Saturday.
For the entire interview with Coach Molek, go to the SPORTS PODCAST section.
