After 50 years, Decorah's Olejniczak still has passion for baseball

The contract has been signed, sealed and delivered. It's official.Dennis Olejniczak will coach baseball a 50th year at Decorah High School next summer."There is no difference now than there's ever been for me," Olejniczak said. "It's as exciting and challenging to me as it ever has been. The great game of baseball challenges you so much. Things can change in the blink of an eye. And I like to compete, whether it's ping-pong or pool."Olejniczak, 72, is a legend, the second-winningest coach in Iowa prep baseball history, behind only fellow Northeast Iowa counterpart Gene Schultz of Lansing Kee. He is 1,292-490-2 in over 50 years at Janesville and Decorah, with the hope being that win total will climb by three this week at the state tournament.Decorah (26-10) plays Benton Community (35-7) in a Class 3A quarterfinal Tuesday night at 6 at Principal Park in Des Moines. It's Olejniczak's 11th state tournament team, including championships in 1970, 1990 and 1991."This means as much as all the other (years)," he said. "This was a different group of kids, one that jelled after we were able to put the pieces together. My hope is they can play well enough to win their first-round game."Olejniczak said this is a unique team for him in that it doesn't have a true ace pitcher. The coach mixes and maxes with a handful of guys on the mound, and it has worked well.Decorah upset ranked teams New Hampton and Clear Lake en route to Des Moines."Those guys have done a high-quality job of giving our opponents a different look," Olejniczak said.Just as he has done a high-quality job of mentoring kids for over a half-century."The real fun for me is that I have coachable kids," Olejniczak said. "The kids athletically at Decorah will want to meet you halfway. They do."Other 3A quarterfinals Tuesday include Washington (Iowa) against Dallas Center-Grimes at noon and Western Dubuque against Harlan at 2. DC-G (33-2) is the top seed in the tourney, followed by Sioux City Heelan (34-10), Benton and Western Dubuque (34-8).

CLASS 3A QUARTERFINALS

Washington, Iowa (22-14) vs. Dallas Center-Grimes (33-2)

When: Noon, Tuesday

Where: Principal Park, Des Moines

Scouting Report:Second consecutive trip to state for Washington, which faces a significant task in top-seeded DC-G, whose only two losses have been to 4A teams Waukee and Johnston. Demons led in hitting by senior shortstop T.J. Rausch (.396 average). Senior outfielder Jake Redlinger has a club-best 41 RBIs. Jared Henry is the ace pitcher (7-4, 2.44 ERA). Dallas-Center Grimes is making its fourth trip to state. Top hitter is senior Tyler Peyton (.464, 15 doubles). Peyton also is 9-0 with a 0.37 ERA as a pitcher.

Western Dubuque (34-9) vs. Harlan (27-7)

When: 2 p.m., Tuesday

Where: Principal Park, Des Moines

Scouting Report:WD Bobcats are one of three Wamac Conference teams at state: Dyersville Beckman (2A) and Benton Community (3A) are the others. Western Dubuque has won 26 of its last 28 games, including eight in a row coming into this tourney. Bobcats hit .356 collectively, led by senior outfielder Ryan Lehman (.486). He also has 24 doubles and 53 RBIs. Pitchers Cody Reimer and Nick Tuttle have combined to go 16-4 with earned run averages of 1.86 and 2.11, respectively. Harlan lost to Solon in 3A championship game last season. David Ratigan has been Cyclones' best pitcher (8-1, 1.02 ERA).

Benton Community (35-7) vs. Decorah (26-10)

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Principal Park, Des Moines

Scouting Report:A pair of traditional powers play here, especially if you take into account Norway feeds into Benton Community district. This is ninth trip to state for BC, the 11th for Decorah. Benton leads the 3A field in hitting, with an eye-popping team batting average of .373. Eight Bobcats hit .325 or better, led by juniors Jacob Germann (.487) and Mitch Moser (.478). Senior catcher Jake Stenberg has 60 RBIs to go with a .423 average. Junior Jonny Frese is 9-0 as a pitcher with 1.42 ERA. Seniors Josey Jewell and James Ostlie have led Decorah's offense all season, with BAs of .413 and .417, respectively. Jewell has seven home runs. The pitching has been spread around, with Landon Ashbacher, Blake Moen and Kyle Kane all amassing at least 46 2/3 innings.