Once the snow melts – and it will, eventually – and local baseball fields are finally playable, Hermantown coach Bill Tafs says his team will be more than ready to compete for a Section 7AAA championship.
“The season obviously will be packed tightly due to the late spring, which actually might be in our favor due to our deep and experienced pitching staff,” said Tafs.
Minnesota baseball teams are limited to 20 games in a 30-day period, and pitch counts are closely regulated.
“I remember us having two five-game weeks last year, when our pitching arms got a little light,” said Tafs. “Advantage fo the teams with the deepest pitching staffs.”
Tafs said the Hawks are pitching rich, with somewhere around a dozen pitchers who can throw strikes.
“Even 12 strong arms might not be enough if the season gets backed up, as we suspect it will,” said Tafs. “The good news for us is we have good pitching one through six, all guys with solid arms, and other positional players we can throw in there to get guys out.”
Cruz Runyan will likely be the opening game starter, Tafs said. Fellow seniors Dawson Rannow and Wylee Arro are returning starting pitchers. Burly sophomore catcher River Freeman and senior starting third baseman Bruce Slygh, perhaps the Hawks’ hardest thrower, will also be asked to provide pitching depth.
Hermantown pitchers and positionals will get some much-needed work in a live-pitching batting cage session against Duluth East on Saturday morning in Hermantown.
“It’s a way for both teams to keep our kids engaged, with live at-bats in the cage against another team’s pitchers,” Tafs said of the unique preseason workout. “I presume that pitching will still be ahead of hitting, but it will give us a good measuring stick for where our pitching and hitting is at as we continue to prepare for the regular season.”
Tafs said he is eager to see how several of his star veteran positions such as centerfielder Wyatt Carlson, middle infielder Garron Opsahl, Alex King, Freeman, Dawson and Slygh, among others, hit live pitching.
The Hawks finished 14-6 a year ago, losing to Chisago Lakes 10-8 in the Section 7AAA semifinals. Tafs expects his club to compete with Grand Rapids, North Branch and Chisago Lakes for the section championship this spring.
“Grand Rapids is ranked fifth in the 3A state poll,” Tafs said.
The Hawks are scheduled to face the Thunder Hawks on April 13 at Wade Stadium, playable field pending.