The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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    LCWM Fastpitch 1-15-07

January 14, 2007

Shining Knights

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial duo will try out for Team USA 18-under fastpitch team in California

By Jim Rueda

LAKE CRYSTAL — The temperature may be in the single digits and remnants of our most recent snowfall may still be clinging to our streets, but that hasn’t prevented a couple of Lake Crystal kids from thinking about fun in the sun.

Kevin Williams and Josh Schroeder, both juniors at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial High School, will be leaving shortly for a few days in Chula Vista, Calif. They have been invited to a Junior Olympic tryout for Team USA’s boys 18-under fastpitch squad.

The duo was spotted at last summer’s ASA National Youth Fastpitch Tournament at Caswell Park in North Mankato. They filled out some informational cards during the tournament and were notified early this fall that have been invited to the tryout.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Williams. “I was sort of surprised I got invited and it’s great that Josh gets to go, too.”

Schroeder concurs: “Kevin and I have been friends pretty much forever. We each live on opposite sides of Lake Crystal about four miles from each other.

“I think we both played pretty well in the national tournament where our (16-under) team finished third. It’s not something a lot of people get to do so we’re pretty excited.”

Schroeder’s dad, Rob Schroeder, has been a longtime fastpitch player and Josh has been tinkering around with the game for a number of years. A few years ago, Rob and Blake Meschke started coaching a youth team based out of Lake Crystal and were always on the lookout for good players.

Josh sort of helped out in the recruiting process two summers ago when he convinced Williams to join the team. The national tournament was attractive to both players for two big reasons: No. 1, it was being played between the end of the summer baseball season and the start of football. And No. 2, it was taking place almost in their own backyards at Caswell Park.

“The timing worked out great for us,” Williams said. “There’s a little transition there from baseball to fastpitch because you use lighter bats and you have to get used to the underhand pitching, but it seems to have worked out pretty well.”

LCWM baseball coach John Madsen says both players are good athletes. Madsen, who also serves as the Knights’ boys basketball coach, is a little reluctant to see Schroeder and Williams leave right in the middle of the basketball season but he understands why.

“They’re both good kids and they’re both pretty good baseball players,” Madsen said. “Kevin has been starting for us for two years and plays mostly third base and pitcher. Josh played B-squad last year but he’s going to be playing a lot of varsity for us this season.”

The Junior Olympic tryout, to which 30 players have been invited, runs from Jan. 24-28 at the Arco Training Center just outside of San Diego. Team USA officials will pare the list of players down to 17 by the 2008 season.

Rob Schroeder describes it as a unique opportunity that’s simply to good to pass up.

“We had a couple of other kids from Lake Crystal who tried out a few years ago and didn’t make it,” he said. “I think you have to go for it. Anytime you can put on a jersey that says USA across the front, that’s quite an honor.”

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