STILLWATER, Minn. - There’s no such thing as a sluggish Saturday morning practice for the Stillwater baseball team.
“We’re almost like a football team,” junior pitcher Will Frisch said. “We’re a high-energy team. We play with a lot of heart.”
At the heart of this Ponies squad, the very definition of a dynamic duo.
“We want to be the best 1-2 punch in the state,” Frisch said.
The bond between Frisch and fellow junior pitcher Drew Gilbert began when they were just 10 years old.
“He threw really hard too, and I wanted to be the hardest thrower so I kind of despised him for that right away,” Frisch said. “We’ve been best friends ever since, but we’re very competitive in everything we do. Board games, video games, you name it.”
Their competitive but friendly rivalry has pushed them both to become better baseball players.
“Without him, I don’t think I’d be nearly as close to where I am right now,” Gilbert said.
On the year, both pitchers have been dominant at times with fastballs that clock in the 90s.
They both can also hit the cover off the ball, batting 3rd and 4th in the order.
That versatility is a big reason they’re both already committed to D1 schools, though surprisingly the best friends will split up and head to separate places.
“We actually both almost went to TCU together,” Gilbert said. “For me, it was down to Oregon State and TCU.”
“I wanted him so bad to go to TCU,” Frisch said. “But I also wanted him to make the best decision for him.”
Before they split though, these Stillwater standouts hope to capture a state title together. And judging by their current 12-game winning streak, they’re on the right track.
“I think we have a little bit of an edge that we’ve lacked in years past,” Gilbert said. “I think we have a chance to get over the hump.”