By Mike Sticha
The DRS League sees three new Managers leading teams for the 2020 season. Below are profiles on each.
Tanner Graff
Tanner takes the helm as Manager of the Shakopee Coyotes, replacing Jesse Nystrom who managed the team in 2019.
Tanner is a 2013 Shakopee High School graduate and has been playing with the Coyotes since he was a Junior in high school. This will be his 8th season with the Coyotes and will be his first time coaching competitively.
He states the team goals for 2020 as, “to fill up the open roster spots with guys that love playing the game, win or lose. Also, to make another run at the State Tournament.”
Characteristics he hopes to instill in the team include, “Respect for the game, the umpires, and opposing teams. I want everyone on the team to feel like they are playing an important role on the team, whether they are out on the field or on the bench. We are going to have fun and play the best ball we can.”
On what he’s most looking forward to this season as Manager, “I’m looking forward to building a better relationship with everyone on the team and welcoming new players to a great group of guys that enjoy playing. Also giving what knowledge I already have to the younger players joining the team and learning new things along the way. But mostly it’s all about having a fun summer playing bal. Go ‘Yotes!”
Shakopee opens their season on Sunday, April 26, hosting the New Market Muskies.
Mike Prochaska
Mike takes over as Manager of the Webster Sox, replacing longtime Manager Mike Sandmann.
Prochaska was born and raised in Montgomery but has lived in New Prague for the past 34 years. Mike has been involved with amateur baseball, including helping start and playing with the Montgomery Mallards amateur team years ago. He also played for the New Market Muskies for two seasons, and with the New Prague Orioles for one season. Mike's son has played with Webster for the last three seasons, and Mike had recently led Webster's new scoreboard initiative.
Mike managed the Union Hill Pitbulls 35 and Over team for five seasons, as well as the Union Hill Greyhounds 50 and Over team for five seasons, having led both to State titles.
Looking ahead to the 2020 season, Mike’s team goals are to see meaningful improvement over their 2019 record.
On what characteristics he hopes to instill in the team, Mike says, “Fun, consistency, and collaboration, both on and off the field for baseball related activities.”
As the new Manager, he is most looking forward to a few different things, “I want to see team improvement, player continuity, and building a pipeline of players, as well as building our fan base. Let’s make Webster a place people want to go to attend DRS League games.”
Webster opens their season on Sunday, April 26, hosting the Lonsdale Aces.
Brent Goracke
Brent takes over as Manager of the St. Patrick Irish, replacing the retiring John Johnson who led the Irish for the past seven seasons. The Irish went to four State Tournaments in Johnson’s tenure.
Brent graduated from Morris High School in 1991 where he played Varsity baseball for three years. He pitched at Mankato State under Head Coach Dean Bowyer and played amateur baseball for the Class B Waseca Braves for 3 seasons (1993-1995) under Manager Tink Larson. Brent eventually landed in Jordan where he was Varsity Pitching Coach for two seasons (2010-2011) for the Hubmen and has been the Varsity Head Coach since 2012. He was an assistant coach for the St. Patrick Irish in both 2017 and 2019.
He notes his team’s main goal will be to perform well within the competitive DRS League, by playing clean baseball, both mentally and physically. He touts his team as very sound offensively, but looks for improvement in pitching, defense, and base running. On his managerial philosophy, he states, “I am a strong believer that any team I coach or manage should be the players’ team and they should hold the attention for all the successes, while I will be responsible for most of the failures. This great game is hard enough to play, and if there is failure, I will help carry that failure to allow the players to see success and to continue to grow as players.”
When asked what he’s looking forward to this season, he states, “I’m looking forward to building relationships with the players, their families, and the fans.” he be
St. Patrick opens their season on Sunday, April 26, hosting the Union Hill Bulldogs.
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