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The following profiles appeared in the 2011 edition of the popular Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook. The 2011 Baseball Wisconsin guide is published by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association. You can order it from their website at BaseballWisconsin.com.

NEIL HERBERT -- STANLEY-BOYD
by Joe Waite

Eau Claire Regis coach Andy Niese has seen a lot of good baseball players in the Eau Claire area and he recognizes Stanley-Boyd’s Neil Hebert as a dandy.   “He is a very, very good catcher and pitcher who I feel has flown under the radar the last few years,” Niese said.

Neil, who is the son of Stanley-Boyd head coach Joe Hebert, now in his seventh year coaching the program, hit .476 last  year for the Orioles while driving in 26 runs.  The Orioles top pitcher last year, he went 7-2 on the mound with an impressive 2.86 ERA.  He throws right, bats left, and has been starting for Stanley-Boyd since his freshman year.  For those efforts, he was named Honorable Mention All-District last year, and Eau Claire Leader-Telegram All-Area 2nd Team.

The sons of coaches always have a unique relationship with their father/coach as the dad watches his son grow before his eyes.  Joe Hebert said, “It has been a joy watching him develop as a player and young man…he takes a great deal of responsibility for what happens on his team, but has learned to take events in stride and knows that he and his teammates need to move forward whether the outcome is good or bad.”

Joe and his wife Lori have been watching Neil play organized baseball since he was six years old and was drawn to the catching position from that time.  He’s a competitor and likes to be involved with every play, so catching and pitching was a natural draw for him.  Joe said, “His love for baseball has helped him develop an in-depth knowledge of the game and gives me the confidence to have him call games behind the plate.”

Neil is much more than a baseball player.  He’s in the National Honor Society and is president for the Stanley-Boyd Athletic Association.  He’s been on the Math Team for four years and a 1st place team member at the UWEC Meet in 2009 and won an individual award at UWP in 2010.  He was an All-Conference vocalist and got nine out of ten top ratings at the State Vocal Competition.

He’s a great student and a great all-around athlete.  He was the Orioles starting quarterback for the last two years and was named 1st Team All-Conference and All Northwest Honorable Mention in 2010.  He led his basketball team in scoring last year and will probably do it again this year.

The good news for college coaches out there is that he hasn’t made up his mind to where he wants to go, but he intends to play baseball.

“Baseball has been a huge part of my life as long as I can remember.  I have been fortunate over the past few years to play with and face some of the best players in the nation and to play at venues all around the country.  These experiences have helped prepare me for playing at the next level,” Neil said.

He has a variety of baseball experiences that will help him.  He played for the Wisconsin All-Stars in 2009 and Greg Reinhard Baseball in the Milwaukee area in 2010.  He’ll play for that club again this year.

Not surpisingly, his role model is a catcher, Joe Mauer.

Neil and Joe Hebert are going to share special times this year as they try to take Stanley-Boyd to a Conference Title and push deep into the State Tournament.  


ERIC KEENAN -- WEYAUWEGA-FREMONT
by Joe Waite

Eric Keenan has always had a passion for playing the game of baseball.  A four year starter at Weyauwega-Fremont, Eric has continually improved his game, making him one of the premier players in Central Wisconsin and in the state.  Eric started playing baseball when he was three.  He said, “My dad played catch with me at the age of three and I started playing T-Ball when I was four.  I really enjoyed playing and I knew this was the sport for me.”  Eric has excelled in baseball at Weyauwega-Fremont.  He started at third base for the Indians as a freshman, moved to second base his sophomore year and settled in at shortstop his last two years.  Coach Jeff Fahser commented, “Eric had to wait his turn at shortstop, as former Indian standout and current Ripon Redhawk Kyle Bosquez had that position.  Eric was chomping at the bit to play shortstop and has not disappointed as he picked up right where Kyle left off.

“Eric is constantly trying to improve his game.  Eric is in the weight room getting stronger and constantly organizes open gyms to get himself and his teammates better.  Eric has been our team captain for the last two years and will be a four year letter winner at season’s end. He leads by example and gets others to improve their quality of play while leading his team,”  Fahser said.

Eric has been a member of the CWC-8 All-Conference team for the past two seasons.  As a sophomore, Eric set the school record with a .524 conference batting average and was named 1st Team All Post-Crescent and Honorable Mention District.  Eric holds school records in walks, doubles, runs scored and season batting average.  This past summer he was asked to play for the Wisconsin All-Star team where he helped his team win the Triple Crown Sports Championship in New York.  He attributes his summer season to helping him improve.  The tournaments that he played in made him appreciate the game even more.  Eric says, “The competition was good and you had to be on your game.  We played with wood bats and the pitching was very good.  I learned a lot from this opportunity.”

A three sport athlete while attending Weyauwega-Fremont, Eric has excelled on the football field and on the basketball court.  In football, Eric has twice been captain of his team.  He was named to the All-Conference team as a quarterback and defensive back, and a three year letter winner.  In basketball, he has lettered twice and has been a starter for the highly successful Indian basketball program.  

Eric is a true leader in school as well.  He has numerous volunteer hours at school and in the community.  Eric has been instrumental with sixth grade water testing in conjunction with the Science Department.  He gives of his time to the Big Buddies Program where he mentors middle school students that are in need of some extra attention.  All this while being a member of the High Honor Roll at Weyauwega-Fremont.  Eric volunteers as a coach for the Little League baseball program in town and serves as an umpire for Babe Ruth baseball during his summers.

After graduating from High School, Eric will take his baseball skills to Carroll University in Waukesha where he will play for Derek Hassell who saw Eric play this summer with the Wisconsin All-Stars.  Eric will major in pediatric science and hopes to become a pediatrician.  “Eric is such a well-rounded young man and so talented in all that he does.  He has a very bright future on the ball diamond and in life.  Eric is one of the most talented people that I have coached and taught,”  Fahser concluded.