Trying to stay one step ahead of the competition, Viking baseball Head Coach Arleigh Jorgenson ponders his team’s next move. The Vikings’ long time baseball coach has an experienced team this year led by a strong senior class. The team is off to a good start with a home opening win, but tougher competition is on the horizon.
Cook County won its baseball opener against Northeast Range by a score of 14-3 in a game played at home on Friday, April 15.
Northeast scored one run in the first and the Vikings came back and scored two of their own, and added one more run in the second to go up 3-1.
With both coaches changing pitchers every inning and moving kids in and out of the line-up, the game got very interesting in the third when the Rangers scored three runs and held the Vikings scoreless to take a 4-3 lead into the fourth inning.
At that juncture the Rangers inserted a young right-handed pitcher who had a nice curve ball and threw strikes, something most pitchers had trouble doing in the first three innings. It didn’t take the Viking hitters long to find a groove and start teeing off, sending the ball to all parts of the outfield. Before the inning was over the Vikings batted through their lineup to score 11 runs.
Andrew “Mini” Miller (gotta love that nickname) came in and shut the Rangers down in the top of the fifth and the game was called because of the 10-run rule.
The Vikings’ first three hurlers were Andrew Lashinski, Leo Johnson and Rory Bakke. If the Vikings got in any real trouble, Head Coach Arleigh Jorgenson said he had last year’s ace Frankie Miller in the bullpen warming up.
After the game Coach Jorgenson explained some of the substitutions. “Winning, while important on Friday, was secondary to the purpose of beginning our playoff preparation.
“This was the first time our pitchers threw off a mound this year. We came right out of the gym for this game.
“We think we are deep in pitching, but we need to showcase it to give ourselves confidence in every one of our pitchers, as well as to develop each one of our pitchers.
“We are also confident offensively. We know we will score once we get rolling.”
Another factor for the Vikings is to make do with less.
“We have 14 scheduled games with which to prepare. Our top playoff opponents have 20 games scheduled, the Minnesota High School League limit. We have to figure out a way to prepare our team with significantly fewer games, especially our pitchers. To do that we have decided that we need to get them out there on the mound as often as we can, and by limiting their pitches, we can bring them back with less rest. It is early also, we are building arm strength.
“As we go, however, we will need to stretch each pitcher out a little. We would benefit greatly from a full schedule. But we do some things like this to get ready and even though it is never the same, we also try to tailor our practices with competitive scrimmages.”
The re-entry rule allowed Jorgenson to reassign players to spots vacated by the person he subbed into the pitching rotation.
“For example, Leo Johnson came out of the game in the second to warm up for the third inning. Erik Lawler took his place. Leo reentered as a starter to pitch and Erik had to come out. Another substitute, Garrett Curran, came in so that Rory Bakke could come out to warm up for the fourth. Billy Hackett came in so Andrew Miller could warm up for the fifth. Mikey Burton was in so Frankie Miller could warm up for the sixth.
“This enabled us to get some of our top substitutes out onto the field as well,” said Jorgenson.
While the starting line-up isn’t set in stone, Jorgenson said, “We do have seven seniors who can all play. They are versatile. We were happy with Jack Wieben’s performance at catcher. This was his first game back there. He has taken this job very seriously and it shows. I won’t say we are completely settled there, but we are breathing easier. His arm is quick and strong as we saw when he threw out his first runner ever at third base.
“Expect Jaret Baker to start at first base. Jaret had a slow start this spring missing a couple of weeks of practice.
“Rory has been our starting second baseman for a couple of years, so it is hard to move him to shortstop, but we are giving it a try. Leo can play shortstop, as can Frankie and possibly Andrew Lashinski.
“Because these guys all pitch, we have to move them around a bit to be at our best defensively. Frankie can also play third, as can Andrew Lashinski, but Andrew is also a strong left fielder. Andrew Miller, however, can handle left field just fine and we need his bat in the lineup.
“Owen took a few reps at catcher this spring, in case we needed him to do so, as did Leo and Frankie, but with Owen in centerfield, our entire outfield is stronger.
“Josh Prom has the wheels and the ability to play any outfield spot, but we have to find a place for Jake Bilben’s bat. He can also play right field, as well as first when Jaret is on the mound.
“Colton Furlong has a strong bat and will challenge for an outfield spot. Erik Lawler not only can play second, he can play third, and we are eager to put him on the mound. He is a bit of a sidewinder, and I think he can be effective.
“Tristen Bockovich, who was out sick on Friday, can contribute as an infielder and as a pitcher. He throws a nasty little slider.
“Billy Hackett can play third, first or in the outfield, and has a good bat.
“We have had trouble determining just where Mikey Burton’s defense should be played, because he is one of those versatile athletes who can play pretty much anywhere. But, as he is maturing, we really like what we are seeing in the outfield.
“Garrett Curran, while young, picks up ground balls as well as anybody we have.
“Ethan Sporn is getting off to a slow start for some good reasons, but as the season goes on, we expect to see him contribute, perhaps on the mound as well.
“All in all, we have 14 games in which to develop our team. We know we can play. Believing it, even when things go wrong, is what it is about each and every day.”
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