Lake Country This Month
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SPORTS AUGUST 2013 PREP PROFILE FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY • Page 7A PREP PROFILE Koehn settled in as a senior Todarello slowed by injury, KM star was focused on the future Classic 8 Arrowhead grad will play baseball at Arkansas Player of Year By Daniel Mike Freeman Staff By Daniel Mike WALES – Keith Koehn enjoyed some stability this season. He had no problems being the utility man for the Kettle Moraine High School baseball team as the Lasers won a share of the Classic 8 Conference title his junior season. But Koehn's senior year offered more continuity, as he could count on being at shortstop most of the week – only moving to take the mound and throw some innings. "It feels better not moving around everywhere, sticking to one position," said Koehn, who played throughout the infield and in the outfield last season. "It can get hard sometimes moving from pitcher to shortstop because my arm might get sore, but I work through it. Every time I'm done pitching, coach asks me if I want to play second instead, but I usually play short and just deal with it. "The seniors we had last year, I had to move around wherever they needed me because I could play anywhere but catcher." With nine seniors on last season's team, Koehn was on the field most games but never in the same location. As one of only two seniors this summer, Koehn's role changed, and coach Brian Adamczyk enjoyed being able to pencil in Koehn's name for the third straight year. "It's nice he's been able to settle into a more consistent role this year, and he's probably our No. 1 pitcher," Adamczyk said. "This year's been easier, and he's been able to settle into a comfort zone. "Keith is a baseball guy He . spends a lot of time in the weight room in the offseason and a lot of time on his own working on his game. He's a great example to other players." Koehn began the season Freeman Staff Robert F. Borkowski/Special to The Freeman Kettle Moraine's Keith Koehn swings into a pitch during a Classic 8 Conference game. Get to know ... KEITH KOEHN School/Sport Kettle Moraine/Baseball Coach Brian Adamczyk Class In School/Age Senior/18 Also In My Family Are: my father, Mike, who works at Central Machine; my mother, Patti, who works for FedEx and is a cook at the middle school; my brothers, Kurtis, 20; and Kody, 12; and my sister, Kelly, 16. My Favorite Subject In School Is: physical education. My Favorite Teacher Is: Mr. Adamczyk, a phy ed teacher. My Favorite Movie Is:"Inception." My Favorite Recording Artist Is: Eminem My Favorite TV Show Is: "SportsCenter." The Best Meal My Mother Makes Is: spaghetti. A Bad Habit I Have Is: biting my fingernails. The Person I'd Most Like To Meet Is: Ryan Braun. A Pet Peeve I Have Is: when people chew gum with their mouths open in class. The Last Time I Cleaned My Room I Found: a whole pack of my contact lenses that I had lost. Nobody Ever Says I'm: unathletic. My Most Memorable Experience Is: going to Cooperstown to play when I was in third grade. My Most Prized Possession Is: my baseball stuff. One Thing People Might Not Know About Me Is: I used to do gymnastics. One Thing I Would Change About Myself Is: to be more social at times. One Thing At My School I Would Change Is: having an open campus lunch instead of making us eat in the lunchroom every day. I See Myself In 10 Years: doing something in business or accounting. I Wish Coach Adamczyk Would: let us ride the gator. hitting in the No. 3 hole of KM's batting order, but Adamczyk found he was better suited at the top of the lineup. Koehn, as he's done in the past, simply went with the move and excelled. He was voted the Classic 8 Conference Player of the Year. "He's done a great job taking quality at-bats, getting on and scoring runs," Adamczyk said. "We focus on quality at-bats and approach, and he does a great job of understanding the zone and hitting his pitch. "He's one of our best baserunners as well. When he's pitching, we don't cour- tesy run for him because of his strength on the basepaths. He sets the level of aggressiveness for the team." Koehn enjoyed the move to the top of the order, and he liked being able to help get things going for his team. "I like helping the team get the first run of the game, which is always one of the keys to having a big inning," Koehn said. "Two years ago I got into the weight room every day and was running to help my speed. I feel comfortable running on almost anyone." Email: dmike@conleynet.com TOWN OF MERTON – Dom Todarello was waiting for someone to test his arm strength after not getting much of an opportunity to display his throwing ability this summer. "I long toss every day so it's , getting better," Todarello said during the season. "I know how hard I can throw. When somebody tries, I guess they'll find out." Todarello's arm strength was not in question last season as he was an all-state shortstop for the Arrowhead High School baseball team. But he suffered an injury in his right shoulder during a football game against Waukesha West in the fall, and he discovered during basketball season that he tore his labrum. He played through the winter and had surgery after the season. He didn't return until July , but he patrolled the outfield in an effort to save his arm further wear and tear. "I really love that position (shortstop), being the main guy but playing the outfield is , all right," Todarello said. It's was a tough season for Todarello. He was the Classic 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Year in helping the football team win the WIAA Division 1 state championship. He was a second-team All-Classic 8 pick for the league co-champion basketball team. He was looking forward to another run of success in the summer. "It's tough watching and sitting there all year," he said. "I was itching to get out there, knowing I wasn't cleared. I kept asking coach to put me back in, but he knew what was best." Arrowhead struggled during Todarello's absence. "He's got some of the intangibles that you can't coach," Arrowhead baseball coach Vince Mancuso said. "His first step is phenomenal, he's got great feet, phenomenal hips. He's a tremendous lead- er. The demeanor in the dugout with him taking the field has really changed." Todarello spent the early portions of the baseball season taking grounders and flyballs, and he was able to swing a bat shortly after the surgery But throwing was . the biggest issue. Being on the bench most of the summer didn't stop Todarello's baseball life from taking a new direction. When the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh did not renew the contract of its baseball coach, Todarello decided to reopen his recruiting. He received a walk-on offer from the University of Nebraska, but when the University of Arkansas came calling with a partial scholarship, he jumped at the opportunity . "It was a little bit too much money for us, so I reopened my recruitment and Arkansas called right away ," Todarello said of paying for Nebraska. "He'll be playing at the highest level of Division I baseball in the Southeast Conference," Mancuso said. "It's not uncommon for them to get 10,000 a game." Todarello could have had surgery on the shoulder during basketball season, but he didn't want to let his teammates on the hardwood down. Even with an earlier surgery , there were no guarantees he'd be back for Day 1 of baseball. "We were already halfway through the season, and we had a good thing going," Todarello said of basketball. "I didn't want to let two teams down, so I decided to finish out the year strong." Todarello, who has been a multi-sport athlete as long as he can remember, had the opportunity to play football at the University of Wisconsin. "Football's too tough on my body Todarello said. "I see ," myself possibly after college going to play baseball somewhere. That's why I'm taking the baseball route." Mancuso is certain Todarello will put himself in position to succeed. "He'll put in as many hours needed in order to perfect his craft," Mancuso said. Email: dmike@conleynet.com Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Get to know ... DOM TODARELLO School/Sport Arrowhead/Baseball Coach Vince Mancuso Class In School/Age Senior/18 Also In My Family Are: my father, Paul, who owns his own business; my mother, Mary; and my three sisters, Callie, who will be a junior at Arrowhead; Jordan, who is going into eighth grade, and Lexi, who turns 5 in August. The Athletic Accomplishment I Am Most Proud Of Is: winning a state championship in football. My Favorite Subject In School Is: any type of business class. My Favorite Teacher Is: Mr. Hessler, who teaches math. My Favorite Movie Is:"Space Jam." My Favorite Recording Artist Is: Jack Johnson. My Favorite TV Show Is: "SportsCenter." The Best Meal My Mother Makes Is: scrambled eggs. A Bad Habit I Have Is: procrastinating. A Pet Peeve I Have Is: when people are late to things. The Thing I Do Best Outside Of Athletics Is: spending time with my sisters. The Person I'd Most Like To Meet Is: Bo Jackson. The Last Time I Cleaned My Room I Found: a math binder from eighth grade. Nobody Ever Says: I don't work hard. My Most Memorable Experience Is: when my baby sister, Lexi, was born. One Thing I Would Change About Myself Is: to not procrastinate as much. One Thing At My School I Would Change Is: to have an open campus for lunch. I See Myself In 10 Years: still playing baseball, but if not hopefully doing something in business. 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