Spaeth enjoying ‘dream job’ in Stratford

MARSHFIELD – When Drew Spaeth was still a senior at Stratford High School, he knew then he wanted to teach and coach baseball at his alma mater.

Fast forward 12 years and the second-year head coach has led the Tigers to at least a share of a conference championship.

“Being able to coach here and give back to what this community, town, program and sports in general in Stratford gave to me, it’s been a dream job and I’m loving every bit of it,” Spaeth told Hub City Times recently. “When I got the job here I was still in college and I got offered a teaching job here. I accepted immediately because I knew home was right where I wanted to be.”

Spaeth, a teacher at Stratford Elementary, became an assistant baseball coach in the spring of 2015, and was part of the team that captured the WIAA Div. 3 State Championship in 2019, under then-head coach Marshall Lehman, now the Tigers’ head football coach.

“That man has more influence on me as a human, a coach and as a person than almost anyone that I can think of,” Spaeth said of Lehman. “He came into Stratford my junior year and was coaching me in baseball then. He’s helped shape me into the man I’ve become, the teacher I’ve become and the coach I’ve become.”

Now, Spaeth is guiding a senior-dominated baseball team through the tough Marawood Conference-South Division.

“I’ve got seven seniors, they’re all phenomenal leaders, five of them are in starting roles and the other two play really important roles coming off the bench,” Spaeth told us. “They’ve been the glue to this team. They’ve held each other accountable. They’ve been working hard. And then the rest of the guys are just buying into that team baseball that we’ve been playing.”

Senior Riley Spindler, who will play baseball for St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, is in Stratford’s leadoff spot.

“Defensively, he’s one of the best shortstops I’ve ever been able to coach and see play,” said Spaeth. “And he’s been doing a great job hitting and being a good leader for us. Just everything you can ask for in a ball player.”

A three-year starter in left field, Jack Remus is another key senior for the Tigers.

“Definitely the leader of the outfield with the most experience out there,” Spaeth said. “Has done a great job in that 2-spot of being a team player. ‘Do I need to bunt? Do I need to get him over?’ Just been another phenomenal player for us.”

Four-year starter Brady Berg, who will play college baseball at UW-Stevens Point, bats third in the Tigers’ lineup and calls games from behind home plate.

“Brady’s been one of the best catchers that I’ve ever had and that I’ve ever seen,” Spaeth shared. “Another great leader and three-sport athlete.”

Berg is also Stratford’s closer on the mound.

“He can come into tight spots and does a great job of throwing strikes, spins the ball really well and just has that great presence on the mound, too,” Spaeth shared.

Ace pitcher Drew Gage bats in the cleanup spot.

“Drew has done a phenomenal job this year of being the glue to our team, being the rock on the mound and just working to become a great leader,” said Spaeth. “Knowing that kid from when he was younger to now, the growth is outstanding for him and he’s having a great senior year.”

Senior Jaegar Ormond has been a three-year starter for Stratford baseball and splits time between catcher and right field.

Seniors coming off the bench are Trygvee Aschenbrenner and Hardol Perez.

Sophomore Christian Rehm bats sixth and plays first base, but is also doing some pitching for the Tigers this season.

“[That] kid’s got the most potential in the world,” said Spaeth. “Really hard-throwing sophomore. Spins the ball really, really well. Definitely learning from our two seniors that have had a lot of experience.” 

Batting seventh and playing second base is junior Kolton Haupt, who also does some pitching.

“The growth in that kid has been amazing from sophomore to junior year,” Spaeth told us. “Defensively, he’s been a phenomenal second baseman, and he’s had some of the most clutch hits.”

Drew Bluhm bats eighth and covers third base.

“For a freshman playing third base, he has done a phenomenal job and the growth I’ve seen out of that kid, he’s not playing like a freshman anymore,” Spaeth said. “He’s really starting to stick the ball and has just done a phenomenal job.”

Sophomore Matthew Schoenfuss bats ninth and is a two-year starter in center field.

“One of the fastest kids I’ve ever seen,” said Spaeth. “And batting ninth, he’s almost like a second leadoff guy.”

Filling key roles off the bench are pinch hitter Dylan Lewerenz, freshman left-handed relief pitcher Tyler Goldbach, sophomores Blake Roeper and Brayden Schwantes, and freshman pinch runner Adolfo Cano-Aguilera.

“A lot of things that we preach is just letting our athletes do the job while being the toughest out possible,” Spaeth shared. “We do want our guys swinging hard, we want to put them in motion and let them use their speed, but then when it gets down to two strikes, it’s just how can we be a team player? Can we battle for a couple pitches? Can we put the ball in play and force the defense to make a play?”

Spaeth’s coaching staff includes Curt Schmidt, a standout college baseball player for UW-La Crosse.

“Had a beyond-successful career being a basketball coach, but I’ve always known him as a baseball guy,” Spaeth told us. “With his baseball knowledge, with his head coaching knowledge, he’s been a phenomenal addition to our staff.”

Spaeth’s staff also includes Bill Coker, who guided Athens to back-to-back WIAA Div. 4 State Championships in 2017 and 2018.

Rounding out the coaching staff are Scott Bauman, Ryan Bloom, Josh Schwantes, Ron Haupt, Brian Heusi and Brett Bangart.