While the wins and losses don't exactly count towards anything, fall baseball really helps a team come together, go through the basic fundamentals and face situations they might encounter in the spring when the season and games are on the line.
Two teams in the area are coming off very different 2015 spring seasons, but they used the fall in the same way. Russellville is fresh off a one-and-done district tournament appearance last spring while Jamestown won its first district title in the school's history.
"It's really important because we kind of look at it as a spring training type scenario where we really try to set some goals, figure out what kind of team we've got coming back from last year," Jamestown head coach Jordan Hoecker said. "It's really important that we kind of set the ground work and work up from there once we get to the spring."
While Hoecker is quick to downplay the wins and losses, the Eagles were 13-3 this fall with five batters hitting .300 or better.
Sophomore Austin Flippin led the team with a .589 batting average (33-for-56), 11 doubles, 18 RBI and three home runs. Flippin also pitched 23 1/3 innings, allowing just 11 hits with a sub 1.000 earn run average.
Flippin was part of the freshman class last season that really helped Jamestown compile a 17-6 record and the distinct crown. Garrett Wolfe and Cole Theissen were also full-time starters as freshman.
Wolf was easily the most dominate batter and pitcher last season for the Eagles, and he continued to show that this fall. He hit .469 (23-for-49) with team-highs of 29 RBI and five home runs. Wolfe also worked 34 innings, striking out an impressive 71 batters with a 1.235 ERA.
The entire pitching staff averaged a 1.525 ERA.
"Last year it was Wolfe, Flippin and Theissen, all freshman, all starting," Hoecker said. "This year, they're able to get more of a leadership role. It's not entirely vocal, but their focus this year is solely set on what they can do to help the team and how can we win district again in the spring."
Theissen moved up a couple of spots in the lineup and filled Evan Knierim's center field position after he graduated. With the bigger role, Theissen is flourishing. His batting average is fourth on the team at .318, with 11 RBI, 12 runs scored and two homers.
"You can tell last year that we was a good ball player," Hoecker said. "He's showing that with stats this year more so than last year. He was still a huge part of our success last year being able to have a guy in the nine-hole that can get on base, make contact and drive guys in."
Wyatt Hunziker is another Jamestown batter that has seen a bigger role in the offense. He moved from the eight-hole in the lineup to the second spot.
"He's a left-hander, and the two-hole naturally is for a left-hander because they can hit behind the runner," Hoecker said. "He really adapted well to it and accepted his role, and I think that's made him a better hitter, too."
For Russellville, head coach Lucas Branson was very pleased with his team's fall season.
"You know, there were some question marks for me," Branson said. "I think at times we played above what I expected, which was really positive to see. Our pitching was better than what I thought it would be. That just comes from the kids working hard when they throw their bullpens."
The Indians will lean on a few seniors this spring, after graduating four full-time starters last season. Seth Kuda, Isaac Kirchner and Cole Freeman were the only batters with more than 45 at-bats. Kirchner led the team with a .373 batting average (19-for-51) with 16 RBI and a home run. Kuda had 21 runs scored with a .333 batting average (23-for-69) and Freeman hit .273 (15-for-55) with 10 RBI.
"Kuda is probably the guy who's the quiet leader," Branson said. "Cole has stepped in and is now the starting catcher for us. Cole has worked tremendously hard from where he came in as a freshman to where he's at right now. Isaac is kind of the vocal leader at times. He did a very good job throughout the fall knowing when to say something and when to allow somebody to vent."
Russellville put together a 10-9 record with a team ERA of 2.211. Branson praised Kuda and Kirchner's performance on the mound this fall, calling them his "top-level pitchers".
"Everyone that pitched did a very good job of throwing strikes," Branson said. "When you throw a lot of strikes, you have to be good defensively, and at times, that was kind of a weakness area for us."
The great thing about fall baseball, that both the coaches mentioned, is the fact that they can try different things during the games so those players will feel more comfortable when it counts in the spring.
Hoecker said he made his pitchers pitch breaking balls in non-breaking ball counts, so if there was a time to do it in April or May, they'll have the confidence to do so. He also made his team play small ball and bunt more often than they normally would.
"We also put guys in different spots so guys can get prepared for it," Hoecker said. "Even though it might not be their role come spring, it might be something we need come districts when you have to win a game."
But does playing in the fall give teams like Jamestown and Russellville an edge against schools who don't have fall leagues? Kind of, Branson says.
"Everybody at this point is playing somewhere," Branson said. "The schools that have football or soccer, if they participate in it, those kids are probably playing baseball some place. I think what helps us out is if we didn't have baseball and those kids were going to play somewhere, they would have to have somebody outside the program coaching them. So at least they're around me for that two month period. They get to be coached the way I want to coach them."