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Cy Oberholtzer legs it for second base while Paul Dorr fields the baseball. Issac Sandstrom is fielding second base. The Vikings have been practicing hard for the opening baseball season. Staff photos by Brian Larsen
Cook County High School Baseball Coach Arleigh Jorgenson will field a far different baseball team than the one he coached two years ago. That was the last time the Vikings took to the playing field because last year’s season was wiped out by COVID-19.
Coming off that cancelled 2020 season, few of the 30 kids out this year have any varsity playing experience.
“Two seasons ago,” said Jorgenson, “Our team earned the number one seed in the sectional tournament. It was a senior laden team. Paul Dorr was our starting defensive centerfielder, and Kole Anderson saw some time in left field.”
“But this year’s team played behind these guys of 2019. They learned and worked hard. Then, they played last summer in a district league, which, essentially replaced legion play, and they played well.”
“So no, we are not rebuilding. We are expecting to play competitively,” Coach Jorgenson said.
When asked about his players, Coach Jorgenson responded, “Our senior leaders are Patrick Pierre, Tate Crawford, DJ Seidel, Riley Tarver and Danny Deschampe. Two juniors, Jacob Dorr and Isaac Sandstrom will add pitching depth along with Patrick, Tate, Riley, and sophomores Paul Dorr and Kole Anderson. Other players ready to help are J Shannon, Amos Falter, Ray Dressely, Cy Oberholtzer, Ben Obinger, and Benelli Meyers. Ethan Tate and Ryan Smith are pitchers on the rise.”
Pitcher Patrick Pierre (in green shirt) gets ready to throw to Ben Obinger on first as Recko Helmerson valiantly sprints down the base path during a recent Viking baseball practice.
Coach was asked about starting pitchers, closers, and who his starting infield and outfield players might be, but those questions will be answered, he said, as the kids get into the season.
“Who plays where and who closes? That’s pretty wide open,” Coach said. “The kids will play their way into their spots. We are missing the superstar pitching of Andrew Miller, but we may just be deeper. We have been working hard with urgency as our pre-season was shortened, but ready or not, here we go. Our Monday and Thursday games for next week with Two Harbors have been postponed, but we are headed to McGregor on Tuesday! If Patrick can go, he will start on the mound with Kole behind the plate. Ben will play first, Benelli second, Paul shortstop, and Tate third. DJ will man central, J left, and Amos right.”
“Following the Varsity game, our Junior High kids will take the field as McGregor does not have a JV squad, but does have a Junior High team.”
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