While the varsity baseball team took the field in a recent home game, the younger JV players watched intently, cheering their teammates on and dreaming about their chances to play varsity baseball.
The Cook County High School Vikings baseball team lost 8-7 to Mountain- Iron-Buhl (MIB) in the first game of the Section 7A baseball playoffs.
“It was a disappointing loss, of course,” said coach Arleigh Jorgenson. “As I pointed out to the players today as we gathered, this tournament has one purpose, to select a team from section 7A for the state tournament. We knew that we had the pitching and so set it up accordingly. Tristen Bockovich started against MIB.
Ethan Sporn was to start against Carlton, and Andrew Miller would go against the tournament favorite, 18-2 Deer River. Unfortunately, the cards were not in our favor. Bloop hits, very costly defensive mistakes, and base running mistakes cost us the game.”
The game unfolded this way. Tristen Bockovich took the mound for the Vikings, and Coach Jorgenson said, “Tristen started off well, but things were not breaking his way. In the first inning, after a ground out to second, a single, and a walk, a liner sailed over the head of our right fielder. Two runs scored. Another error allowed the third run to score.
“Colton Furlong opened the Vikings’ offense with a walk and a stolen base. Tristen drove him in with a single.
“We were shaken though, when Ethan Sporn had his right index finger stepped on by the first baseman as he dove back into first. He had been called upon to run for Tristen to steal second base, and he did,” said Jorgenson.
However, as the coach noted, Sporn was tagged to pitch the second game, or pitch relief in this game if the team needed him, and he was now out of action as a pitcher.
“It was a pretty heavy price to pay for that stolen base. It was a bad omen! MIB then plated five runs in the second. There were five errors in all, along with three bloop hits and a walk. We had to go to our number one pitcher, Andrew Miller, in the third, to try to shut them down the rest of the way, which he did. We settled down and played defense the rest of the way too. And, we did not quit. Josh Prom was hit by a pitch, stole second and third, and came across on a ground ball out to short.
“In the bottom of the fifth,” Jorgenson said, “Our rally happened. Wyatt Baker and Dillon Sjogren opened the bottom of the fifth with consecutive walks. Colton hit into a fielder’s choice taking Dillon off the base paths, but promptly stole second. Josh singled, but Andrew popped up to the first baseman.
“Tristen singled and then Erik, Garrett, and Cameron walked. Erik scored on a passed ball, and the score was now at 8-7. In the sixth Dillon grounded out, but Colton walked. MIB brought in a new pitcher. Choosing to send Colton, rather than bunt him down to second, resulted in a huge out. Colton was caught leaving too soon, and was picked off. Josh grounded out to end the inning. Andrew Miller led off the seventh reaching on an error by the MIB right fielder, and promptly stole second. With the pitcher not holding him at second, Andrew took off for third. It was the pitch Tristen was looking for, but he hit it off the end of the bat for a lazy fly to the first baseman and Andrew was doubled off second. Erik struck out to end the game.”
Jorgenson noted that the Vikings’ playoff game was its 15th of the season, while Deer River and pretty much every other team had played 20 or more games.
“We practice often and well, but our game experience is short, and it comes into play. We are looking forward to a modest VFW schedule, this summer, playing not many dates, but doubleheaders each time out. We must find playing time for our entire roster and we must send our pitchers out there a few times so that they can find their strengths and find comfort on the mound. Two of our top pitchers, Tristen Bockovich and Ethan Sporn, had way too few innings this spring. We have to do something about that. It is my job to make sure those opportunities are provided this summer. We talked also about the need to find some early season games next spring. We must travel at least as far south as the Twin Cities, maybe more. This team can set a tone for our program that will endure for years. This is a fine team and we must prepare them.
“We came a long way, but our journey has only just begun. We say goodbye to an exemplary teammate, Erik Lawler. He is a fine young man with a great future, I believe. He will begin his next journey at North Dakota State University. We wish him well, and we will be watching. We can announce also, that Andrew Miller has been selected as a Polar League All-Star and will be invited to play in the Polar League All-Star Game at Wade Stadium on June 20.
“Yes, we picked ourselves up today and dusted ourselves off. We will head to Virginia on June 13 and to Ely on June 15 for VFW doubleheaders. Our first presently scheduled home VFW game will be against Eveleth on June 29. Ely will be here on July 10 and Deer River on July 15. We will travel to Grand Rapids for sub-districts on July 22 and 23, and hopefully to Ely on July 29-31 for the district tournament which will select a representative for the VFW state tournament.”
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