A strong senior class will help lead the Cook County High School baseball team this spring. (L-R, front) Rory Bakke and Frankie Miller. (LR, back) Assistant Coach Bob Baker standing in for his son Jaret Baker, Leo Johnson, Jack Wieben, Owen Anderson, and Andrew Lashinski.
Unless the weather throws the Cook County High School baseball team a curve ball, it should be a season in which they get to play outdoors. Most of the snow is gone off the baseball field, but for now, the team is getting their at-bats and practice throws/catches in the gymnasium.
Head Coach Arleigh Jorgenson welcomed 27 players out for the 2016 CCHS baseball team this spring, and hope, if not the scent of flowers, is in the air.
With a mix of veterans and youth, this year’s team looks to be strong; coming off back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the Section finals.
“Our leadership is coming from the entire senior class which consists of seven players,” said Jorgenson.
And those players all have a lot of experience and skill.
“Owen Anderson, Frankie Miller, Leo Johnson, Rory Bakke, Jaret Baker, Andrew Lashinski and Jack Wieben are all returning starters and letter winners from last year’s high school team and they played on the American Legion team,” Jorgenson said.
Pitching should be deep, Coach Jorgenson added. “Beginning with our top pitcher from last year, Frankie Miller; the team also returns Rory Bakke, Jaret Baker, Leo Johnson, Andrew Lashinski, and Andrew Miller as either starters or relievers.
“We also believe that freshmen Tristen Bockovich and Ethan Sporn will give us some solid relief innings as well,” said Jorgenson.
Leading the team in the field and at the plate will be Owen Anderson.
“Our lead-off hitter and all-star center-fielder, Owen returns after posting plus-400 batting averages from both the high school and Legion teams. We do have some holes to fill; Richie Furlong and Travis Bradley graduated. There will be some competition to see who will step up and take over our catching responsibilities. The great thing is that our seniors are all very versatile players.”
Other than catcher, the Vikings’ infield and outfield appears solid, with starters returning to those positions and strong back-ups ready to fill in where needed.
Top competition figures to be Section champ Deer River, although, said Jorgenson, “South Ridge is a senior-laden team as well. Ely’s strong program is always a threat and will be again. In Polar League Conference play, Moose Lake comes into the season after an American Legion State Tournament trip. Esko and Two Harbors will also be strong once again along with section threat South Ridge.”
But that doesn’t mean Jorgenson expects the Vikings to be in the back of the pack. “Cook County, however, has to be included in the mix of both conference and section favorites,” said Jorgenson.
The Vikings’ first game is scheduled for April 12 at McGregor— weather permitting of course.
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