By Vern Cahak

Eleven returning lettermen will form the nucleus for the Antigo High School baseball team, which opens its 2016 season with a trip south late this week.

The Red Robins will travel to Baraboo Thursday for a scrimmage and visit Sun Prairie on Friday.  Their home opener is set for April 5 at 5 p.m. against Tomahawk, followed by a pair of home games on April 9 against Ashland at 11 a.m. and Green Bay East/West at 2:30 p.m.

Scott Farmer, who replaces Dan Bastle as head coach, inherits a veteran team that includes Jake Husnick, who led the Robins in hitting in 2015 with a robust .522 batting average, Brady Tatro, who hit .450, Arin VerHagen, a .444 hitter, and Hunter Kirsch, who drove in 17 runs and hit .436.

Also back in the fold are standout pitcher Nick Greening who compiled a .390 batting average and Max Nowinsky, who averaged .348.

Rounding out the experienced squad are Ben Jansen, Jake Fleischman, Cody Below, Brett Wilhelm, and Brian Cuevas-Ruiz.  Alex Nagel, was hampered by injuries last season, is expected to return.

Antigo tied Mosinee for the Great Northern Conference championship in 2015 with a 10 -2 record and upset D.C. Everest 5-0 in the regional tournament title game.

While Farmer is taking over as head coach he is no stranger to Antigo baseball. He has been on the AHS coaching staff for 20 years and was head coach for six years, from 1999 through 2005.