Softball
Head Coach: Andrea Martensen, 6th Season as Varsity HC at McQueen
Last season’s record: 19-11, 11-5. Fourth in Northern 5A.
Key Losses: Josie Koelewyn, Aubrey Fanene, Madison Breshears, Anna Lane, Isabella Alosi, Kate Olsen, Ryan Jurischk, and Madelyn McAdara.
Overview: Last year saw the Lancers finish tied for third place in the Northern 5A during the regular season, winning nine of their last 12 games to end the season before seeing their season come to a close in the regional semifinals. McQueen has a long history of success in softball having won their last state championship in 2005.
What can we expect from your team this season?
Offense – Return fifty percent of their offensive production from last season including three letterwinners who batted over .345 last season.
Defense – Lots of new pieces defensively and helps for further development within the program.
Pitching – Lost three high quality starters from last season who led McQueen to the playoffs. Breaking in new pitchers this season.
Returning starters for the 2024 season – 5.
Players to watch this season:
Senior Teya Ielati, INF – Batted .348 with 16 hits and and two doubles last season.
Junior Lilly Fanene, C/3B – Batted .366 with 26 hits including six doubles last season.
Sophomore Vanessa Bein, INF/C – Batted .376 last season, racking up 32 hits and 29 RBIs. Also responsible for 12 extra base hits as an underclassmen last season.
Senior Madison Passons, OF and Junior Montana Huitt, INF/P
League schedule:
3/23 at Damonte Ranch (Doubleheader)
4/11 at Douglas
4/13 at Bishop Manogue (Doubleheader)
4/20 at Galena (Doubleheader)
4/22 vs. Reed
4/30 vs. Douglas
5/2 at Reed
5/4 vs. Reno (Doubleheader) .
Baseball
Head Coach: Brian Nelson, 16th Season as Varsity HC at McQueen HS.
Last season’s record: 15-14 Overall, 7-9 League. Finished Fourth in Regional Tournament.
Key Losses: Cash Gilles, Dylan Anderson, Wyatt Culberson, Liam Reed, and Jack Sheltra
Overview: Last season saw the Lancers put together a season that ended in the semi-finals of the regional tournament. Although they lost five huge contributors from that squad I see them as a potential Top-4 finisher this season with success coming from their ability to play small ball offensively and execute top-tier pitching. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of the Lancers games come down to the final out or end in one-run more often than not. Coach Nelson always finds a way to squeeze the most out of his players and I assume this season will be no different.
What can we expect from your team this season?
Offense – We plan to play “small ball,” situational hit to move and score runners, and hopefully have a mindset to get big hits with two outs.
Defense – We plan to make routine plays and play catch at a high level.
Pitching – We plan to throw strikes and attack the zone.
Returning starters for the 2024 season – 4, with three of them being able to toe the rubber every couple days.
What is the key to growing/maintaining your program? Our key has been “buy in” by our student-athletes at McQueen. We encourage our players to play more than one sport to prevent any type of burnout on the diamond.
What is different or special about your team this season in comparison to years past? We have a well-rounded group in ’24 from sophomores to seniors. It should be fun to watch them become wonderful teammates and to play towards a common goal.
Players to watch this season:
Senior Tre LaGrone, LHP/OF – UNLV Commit who has continued to trend up the past few years. Was able to watch and learn from Robby Snelling first-hand two years ago and has grown into his body the past year. I think he has the highest ceiling of any ’24 prospect and wouldn’t be surprised to see MLB scouts out at his games this spring.
Junior Ty Ramsey, SS/P – First Team All-League Utility last season, will be expected to take the next step in his development this season.
Junior Jaxen McAdara, 1B/P; Senior Ethan Beede, Utility/RHP; Junior Adam Garcia, 1B and
Sophomore Brooks Porter will also be key contributors for the Lancers this season.
League Schedule:
3/14 vs. Bishop Manogue
3/16 at Bishop Manogue
3/19 at Spanish Springs
3/21 vs. Carson
4/2 vs. Reno
4/4 at Reno
4/9 at Galena
4/13 vs. Reed
4/16 vs. Damonte Ranch
4/18 at Carson
4/20 at Douglas
4/23 vs. Spanish Springs
4/25 vs. Douglas
4/27 vs. Galena
5/1 at Reed