League: Chippewa River Baseball League
Primary League
1 vs 10 
Osseo MerchantsEau Claire Bears vs Eau Claire Rivermen
Leading Hitters (Eau Claire Bears) Joe Halling 1-4 (2B, RBI) / Jack Sandwick 1-1 (2 R, 2B, SB, 2 BB) / Jim Thill 2-4 (2 R, 2B, RBI)
(Eau Claire Rivermen) Andy Niese 2-4 / Joel Effertz 2-3 (2B, HBP, RBI) / Brett Jensen 1-2 (2B, HBP, RBI)
| Team | Pitching Summary | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Eau Claire Rivermen | (LP) Curtis Neskar | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Eau Claire Bears | (WP) Ryan Flock | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| (SV) Chevy Tollefson | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Miscellaneous Game Notes:
- The Bears scored two runs in the bottom of the 6th on two walks, a balk, 2 singles, and a sac fly.
- The Rivermen had two runners on in the 9th when the last out was made on a grounder back to the pitcher.
Fred Zech
Class of 2024
Outfielder – Lafayette Lakers 1968-69, 72-78, 83-94; Lafayette Indians 1970
Player/Manager – Lafyette Lakers 1983-93
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The CRBL, like every amateur baseball organization, relies heavily on individuals who are willing to devout their time and efforts to keep its history and traditions alive and well. Player and manager Fred Zech of the Lafayette Lakers was one of those dedicated people.
During a CRBL career that spanned 25 years, Fred was synonymous with the Lakers of Lafayette, first as a player, then as a player/manager. When he began his CRBL playing days with the Lakers in 1968, Zech primarily was in the outfield. Enjoying his best season in 1972, Fred hit .367 (22 for 60), tied for the league lead in home runs with 3, and led outright in RBIs with 17, while participating in that year’s CRBL All-Star game. Over his career, the right-handed hitter notched three different seasons hitting over .300, with his personal high occurring in his standout 1972 campaign.
In total, as a player, Zech was a part of five WBA qualifiers (1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982), and three WBA Finals teams (1980, 1981, 1982). Yet, it was as a player/manager that Fred had his biggest impact. Often coaching third base while wearing a colorful wig, the Lafayette Skipper led the free-spirited and aggressively running Lakers for 11 seasons (1983 to 1993). Under his leadership, the Lafayette Crew qualified for the WBA in 1992, losing in the regional final game, 14-8 at Augusta to the host Augusta Athletics. In that contest, the skipper rapped a solo homerun to help the Lakers stay in the game against the heavy-hitting Athletics.
Upon induction, Zech’s all-time player rankings can be found in seasons played (tied for 23rd) and games played (47th). Managerially, he is ranked all-time in seasons managed (tied for 11th) and games managed (12th).
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Managerial Record: G W L Pct. Div Titles League CS CSGApp
184 48 136 .261 0 0 0
(WBA) App G W L Pct. Final 8’s WBA CS
1 2 1 1 .500 0 0
Dennis Zech
Class of 2024
Utility
Lafayette Lakers 1981-93
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Spending the entirety of his CRBL career with the Lafayette Lakers, Dennis Zech put up impressive offensive numbers as one of the best power-hitting infielders of the 1980s and early-1990s.
During his 13 seasons of play for the Lakers, Dennis hit .400 or better in three campaigns – 1986, 26 for 45 (.400) and 1987, 18 for 44 (.409) – with a career high of .439 (18 for 41) in 1990. In four other seasons, Zech hit better than .300. His best year came in 1987, when he tied for the CRBL lead in homeruns with 8, while driving in 21 runs and hitting the aforementioned.409 (18 for 44) in 18 games for Lafayette. A middle of the order run producer, Dennis drove in 19 runs in just 12 games for the Lakers in his 1990 season, in addition to another big year in 1991 during which he bombed 6 home runs and claimed 19 RBIs in just 15 games.
A member of three WBA qualifiers (1981, 1982, 1992), the right-handed swinging Zech shined in Lafayette’s 9 to 4, 1992 WBA regional semi-final victory over the Sparta Millers at Augusta, going 4 for 5 with 3 RBIs and a crucial 2-run homer in the 8th inning.
A participant in three CRBL All-Star games (1986, 1988, 1992), Dennis was named Honorable Mention All-CRBL four times: 1986 at utility, 1987 at utility, 1988 as a designated hitter, and 1989, again at utility.
Upon induction, the Mashing Lakers’ all-time rankings can be found in slugging pct. (20th), OPS (25th), home runs (tied for 31st), and batting avg. (50th).
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Hitting Statistics: GP AVG. AB H 1B 2B 3B HR
178 .326 595 194 133 30 3 28
RBI R SB BB TB SLG. OBP. OPS.
137 111 32 103 314 .528 .433 .961
Keith Pitsch
Class of 2024
Outfielder – Jim Falls Sturgeons 1967-2016
Player/Manager – Jim Falls Sturgeons 1980-84, 99-2001
League Officer – 1997 through Induction
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As a player, manager, and league officer, Keith Pitsch’s impact and legacy in the CRBL will forever be felt and appreciated. Through his lasting dedication to the league, his ever-present sharp wit, as well as his fierce loyalty to the Jim Falls Sturgeons, Keith is truly one of the most recognizable, likable, and memorable people the CRBL will ever have.
During a playing career that lasted an astounding 50 (!!!) seasons, Pitsch established himself as an incredibly consistent and reliable player for the Big Fish of Jim Falls. Keith’s remarkable longevity shaped an unparallel playing existence, one in which he hit over .300 in 12 seasons, with a high of .370 in 1985. His one CRBL home run was memorable, as it came in the form of a grand slam against the Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks on June 19th, 1988, in a Sturgeons’14-8 victory vs. the Lumberjacks at Cardinal Field.
His commitment to the Sturgeons was further evident in that he had two separate stints as Jim Falls’ manager: 1980 to 1984 and again from 1999 to 2001. In total, Pitsch managed 144 games for the Sturgeons over those eight seasons, leading his Jim Falls brethren to a WBA appearance in 1983.
To the great benefit of the CRBL, Keith has fulfilled the role of Vice-President of the league from 2002 through his induction, handling the difficult and thankless task of creating the yearly game schedule, doing so with patience, care, and empathy.
Pitsch’s universally famous sense of humor was aptly illustrated in an interview regarding his lengthy playing career, published in the Chippewa-Herald on August 10th, 1996. When asked about his current playing abilities, Keith stated, “I’d say I lost a step, but I’d be underestimating myself. I think I’ve lost at least eight or nine.”
A participant in six CRBL All-Star games (1972, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1998), Pitsch was named Honorable Mention CRBL in 1992 as an outfielder and in 2008 as a player/coach. In 2014, he became the first person in CRBL history to cross the 500 games played milestone, and in 2016 he secured his spot as the first player to ever play 50 seasons in the CRBL.
Upon induction, the Legendary Sturgeon’s all time rankings can be found in seasons played (1st), games played (2nd), at-bats (tied for 5th), singles (8th), walks (9th), hits (13th), runs scored (14th), triples (tied for 16th), total bases (26th), doubles (tied for 27th), RBIs (27th), and stolen bases (tied for 47th).
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Managerial Record: G W L Pct. Div Titles League CS CSGApp
144 40 104 .278 0 0 0
(WBA) App G W L Pct. Final 8’s WBA CS
1 1 0 1 .000 0 0
Roger Nosal
Class of 2024
Pitcher
Jim Falls Dairymen 1960; Jim Falls Cadets 1961-64; Jim Falls Sturgeons 1965-69, 70
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One of the best pitchers of the Chippewa Valley League era, lefty Roger “Scooter” Nosal was a big strikeout, high innings workhorse for Jim Falls teams throughout the 1960s.
After playing in a part-time role his first three seasons, Nosal emerged as an ace in 1963 for the Jim Falls Cadets. In 90 innings of work that year, Roger struck out 86 batters, claiming a record of 6 and 5 while leading the CVL with both a 2.70 ERA and 3 shutouts. The following season of 1964, Nosal tied for the league lead with 8 wins (against 2 losses) as well as a winning pct. of .800 across 89 innings of work.
When the Jim Falls Sturgeons began to play in 1965, Roger put together a monumental season, pacing the CVL with 101.2 innings pitched while striking out 125 hitters and staking a record of 6 and 6 for the embryonic franchise.
His other CVL leading total came in 1966 when he led the league with 95 innings, within which he whiffed 91 batters, posted a 2.18 ERA, and had a 5 and 4 record in yet another awesome season.
Scooter was also an athletic outfielder and solid bat, evident in that he paced the CVL with 3 triples in 1964. That same season, he hit two home runs and drove in 16 RBIs in just 11 games for the Jim Fall Cadets. Over his 11-season career, he wrapped a total of 7 triples within his 114 hits.
Nosal’s talents helped the Sturgeons qualify for the WBA tournament in 1967, 1968, and 1975, while also getting a share of the North Division title in 1967.
Competing in a period before CRBL awards, Roger played in five All-Star games – 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, and 1968. In the 1964 CVL All-Star classic, Nosal shined as he was named the game’s MVP. In leading the East Division to a 9-8 victory over the West Division, Roger was the winning pitcher in relief (3.1 IP, 2 ER, 1 K) and went 1-for-2 with a huge, go-ahead grand slam in the top of the ninth inning for the East.
Upon induction, Nosal is ranked all-time in triples (tied for 22nd). As a pitcher, the Lefty’s rankings can be found in ERA (19th), innings per season (16th), innings pitched (20th), strikeouts (23rd), decisions (tied for 27th), shutouts (tied for 31st), wins (tied for 33rd), and K/9 IP (39th).
Steve Nelson
Class of 2024
Utility, Pitcher
Jim Falls Saints 1980-86; Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks 1987-90; Jim Falls Sturgeons 1991-93, 95-98,
2013-14, 16-18; Tilden Tigers 2006-11
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One of the best all-around performers in CRBL history, Steve Nelson was a right-handed, two-way player who possessed a smooth and powerful swing, as well as a fluid and effortless delivery from the mound.
During a 29-season career in the CRBL that spanned over 40 years, “Pickle” was a dynamic hitting and pitching difference maker. Moreover, when he wasn’t on the mound, he was often behind the plate, earning a reputation as a strong-armed, defensively talented catcher.
Playing his first seven seasons for the Jim Falls Saints, Steve was a career .340 hitter across 1,000+ at-bats, hitting over .300 in 12 campaigns, including 11 seasons in a row from 1981 through 1991. In four of those years, he hit .400 or better, with a personal best of .481 in 1984 (26 for 54). Admirably, Steve also acted as player/manager for the Saints from 1981 to 1985.
A consistent power threat, Nelson belted a league-leading 9 homeruns in 1986 to headline his other CRBL-leading totals of 32 RBIs and 29 runs scored in that year. He also paced the CRBL in at-bats (70) and hits (29) in 1987, as well as doubles (10) and runs scored (26) in 1989.
On the mound, Pickle was known for his alchemy-like abilities to make the ball sink and run with command. It wasn’t, however, until 1988 – his ninth season in the CRBL – that Nelson had extended time as a pitcher. Chucking for the Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks, Steve went 6 and 2 over 48.1 innings with an ERA of 2.42 while leading the league in saves (1) and shutouts (2). Nelson’s best season from the hill came for the Jim Falls Sturgeons in 1995 when he paced the CRBL with 85 innings, 9 wins, and 74 punch-outs.
After taking a break from CRBL play from 1999 to 2005, the Smooth Righty came back to roam with the Tilden Tigers from 2006 to 2011. Steve then swam back to the Jim Falls Sturgeons in 2013, concluding his outstanding career after the 2018 season.
Of course, Nelson’s talents resulted in a great deal of team success. In total, he was a major contributor to five CRBL champions, five division winners, 13 WBA qualifiers, as well as three WBA Finals qualifiers. In another testament to his longevity, Steve was named game MVP in two CRBL title contests, 19 years apart – 1988 with the Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks and again in 2007 with the Tilden Tigers.
A 12-time CRBL All-Star, Nelson was also named Honorable Mention All-CRBL three times (2007 – P, 2011 – P, 2018 – C), as well as All-CRBL six times (1984 – C, 1986 – C, 1988 – P, 1989 – UT, 1991 – P, 1995 – P). Upon induction, his diverse talents are evident in his all-time rankings. As a hitter, he is ranked 8th in games played, (tied) 12th in doubles, 15th in runs scored, 16th in total bases, 17th in total bases, 18th in RBIs, 18th in home runs, 22nd in hits, 22nd in singles, 22nd in triples, 24th in OPS, 24th in at-bats, 24th in games played, 25th in walks, 27th in slugging pct., 37th in OBP., and 38th in batting avg.
As a pitcher, his all-time marks can be found in decisions (tied for 16th), wins (19th), innings pitched (tied for 22nd), strikeouts (30th), and winning percentage (41st).