KDSN RADIO Sports
IKM-Manning Baseball Kicks Off Spring Scrimmage Season with Strong Community Support
The crack of the bat and the buzz of anticipation signal that baseball season is officially underway for the IKM-Manning Wolves. Spring scrimmages have begun, and early signs point to a season filled with growth and strong community backing.
With 21 players reporting this spring, the Wolves are building momentum under the leadership of Head Coach Jeremy Nielsen and Assistant Coaches Kirk Huehn, Justin Mundt and Brad Kusel. The roster includes two seniors, Isaac Blankman and Jace Starman, who will provide leadership and experience as the team develops throughout the season.
Fans will have a chance to catch the Wolves in action during the Gatorade Scrimmage on Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at Charley Schram Field in Manilla. Admission is two Gatorades per person.
Coach Nielsen is encouraging the community to come out and support the team as they prepare for the regular season, which begins at home on May 18 against Glidden-Ralston.
Beyond the field, the program has seen significant progress thanks to community support. After identifying ongoing needs earlier this year, additional financial backing was requested in February. In March, the IKM-Manning Baseball Boosters officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, helping formalize fundraising efforts.
Thanks to the community’s generosity, the team has been able to purchase essential equipment, including new bats, a pitching machine, L-screens, a ball cart and basket, bases, a radar gun, baseballs, training bands and new catcher’s gear.
The program has also benefited from continued partnerships with local organizations. The City of Manilla and Rasmussen Lumber have supported the upkeep of the batting cage and field, while Manning Municipal Utilities funded the use of GameChanger, an app that allows games to be streamed live and tracks player statistics in real time.
Coach Nielsen expressed his gratitude for the support and excitement surrounding the team.
“We have incredible talent building in our team, and investing in these guys with good quality equipment will help them continue to develop further,” Nielsen said. “We are grateful for the outpouring of support for our baseball team. We hope you’ll come out and see us this season.”
