The United Red Storm baseball had high hopes coming into this season with several returning players from a team that won a then, program record 21 games in 2024. Many of this year’s returners were on a talented pitching staff. High expectations are sometimes hard to achieve, but United has blown away the single-season record for wins with 28, and counting, so far. With one more regular season game at (4-17) Midwest Central on Saturday and a favorable match up in next week’s regional semifinal, 30 wins is certainly attainable.
This season’s Red Storm pitching staff has an ERA of 2.75, which is not shocking. It’s the United offense that has maybe been the most surprising. The Red Storm team batting average is an incredible .363, led by sophomore lead-off hitter Chance Stewarts’ .462 and junior Ian Leffler’s .450 averages. Leffler has also set the single season home run record, with 8, and the rbi record, with 46.
While head coach Ryan Molek says he’s certainly proud of the things that his ball club has accomplished so far, he says his team has to re-focus when postseason play starts next week and take it game-by-game.
After the final regular season game on Saturday, the Red Storm will await the winner of Bushnell-Prairie City and West Prairie. That game will be played on Monday, with the winner moving on to face United on Wednesday in the regional semifinals. United beat BPC on Thursday night 18-0 and defeated West Prairie in late March 15-5. The regional championship is next Saturday. The regional is hosted by West Central High School in Stronghurst.
For the full interview with Coach Molek, go to the SPORTS PODCAST section.
