Photo provided by Finlandia Athletics Finlandia’s Nick Geiser tracks down a foul ball during a game this season. The Lions won just once in WIAC play, but learned a lot from the experience.

HANCOCK — It is easy to look at the Finlandia Lions baseball team’s record of 4-32 this season and assume the worst. Just on record alone, it is clear that the Lions did struggle in their first year in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), earning just one victory in league play.

However, what the Lions gained was experience, something that will likely prove invaluable in the years that follow as manager Evan Brandt as his staff build future teams to be competitive in the WIAC.

“I actually think we have talent,” said Brandt. “We’ve got kids that can play at this level. I think, for most of them, it is more of a mental thing. For others, it is a discipline and technique thing.”

Brandt had hoped that the Lions could start the season much like they finished the 2018 season, where they won six of their last nine games. However, they were only able to earn a pair of wins during their 10-game Florida trip to start the season.

While they won just twice more after Florida, Brandt felt that his team grew a lot over the course of the season.

“I think it went as expected, for my terms, in the win/loss column,” said Brandt. “I think we have a lot to improve on and we saw some really good things out of the young guys.

“I also think we hurt ourselves more than got beat by other teams.”

Senior Joey Krug, who was garnered honorable mention from the WIAC for his efforts, led the way at the plate for the Lions, hitting .277 with eight doubles, five homers and 19 RBIs. While his hitting was solid, he struggled a bit on the mound, going 1-6 in eight starts with an ERA of 10.65.

Still, the veteran had was able to enjoy some success in his final season with the team.

“He’s meant so much to this program over the last four years,” Brandt said. “He has just been tremendous for us and we have built this program around him.”

Brandt was also happy to see the growth of a pair of catchers for his squad. Sophomore Ben Loya and freshman Seth Gosse both grew a lot over the course of the season.

While his offense was not where he may have wanted it, Loya hit .197 at the plate, with 14 hits and two RBI, his defense and his ability to find ways to make up for mistakes at the plate with a timely hit impressed his coach.

“Ben has really come around at the plate,” he said. “He’s had good at bats… He’s really done a good job of impressing me at the plate.”

Gosse, who was brought in to backup Loya, proved that he could be effective in a variety of roles, spending some time at first base and in left field. In 56 at bats, Gosse was good at the plate, where he hit .214 with four RBI.

Offensively, juniors Patrick Coles and Brian Doyle did some good things at the plate, as did sophomore Sawyer Murrell, who hit .304 with one double and six RBI in 46 at bats and had a walk-off hit as well.

On the mound, Brandt praised the development of sophomore pitcher Will Thompson. Originally envisioned as a reliever, Thompson was tasked by the Lions’ coaching staff with stretching his arm out to potentially start.

While he did not earn a win in his four starts, Thompson, a left handed thrower, did a lot of things that Brandt liked, especially showing a resiliency that should prove valuable next season.

“Will killed it,” Brandt said. “He’s come a long way from where he was as a freshman, where every curve ball he threw was in the dirt. Now, he is placing it. He’s doing a good job of throwing it.

“He’s had good starts. I think, right now, we look at him as our No. 4 starter, but we also look at him as a spot starter. He’s got the mentality to start.”

Sophomores J.J. Piontek and Nathan Johnson solidified the bullpen, allowing Brandt to work Thompson into a starting role. Both pitched at least 14 innings this season with WHIP (Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched) under four. Johnson’s WHIP of 2.24 was fourth-lowest on the team this season.

Brandt likes where his team is at moving forward, and he feels that he has a nice returning leadership base, which should help fill the void left by the departing seniors in Krug, outfielder Daniel Logan and pitcher Brandon Teichman.

BROWN HONORED

Sophomore Lane Brown was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship team, a team that is comprised of individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. The team includes one member from each school in the conference.