I see the region playing out this way.
1. Lakota - They bring back 7/9 starters from a 14-3 team from last year with all their pitching. Their infield will be the very good and with Hoerth behind the plate, very few teams will take any extra bases. When Hoerth is on the mound you have Olderbak catching and he has a better arm than Hoerth. They need to replace two outfielders. Pratt and Swenson both started at times last year so they will probably both start. They have Tate Aronson who is a very good athlete who could play the other spot or fill in with someone else also. I believe both Kuchar and Aronson play for DP's babe ruth team in summer. Someone will have to step up defensively in the outfield to help replace Wall as he was an excellent centerfielder. They will probably have the best hitting team overall as Olderbak, Johansen, Hoerth, Mattern, Wilkinson and Kuchar are all solid hitters and can put the ball in play.The rest of the lineup will have to contribute some if they are to be successful.
2. Dakota Prairie - They have one very good pitcher in Nichols who when he is throwing strikes is almost unbeatable. The rest of their pitching will be solid but not great. As far as hitting goes they have Nichols and Severson who are very good and Gourneau who was solid last year. The rest of their line up does not hit very well or didn't last year anyway against better pitchers.
3. New Rockford - They have a lot of solid kids back and have gotten much better the last two years. Kolstad throws hard and the rest of their staff isn't bad. They will compete.
After that it is probably Midkota, Carrington and Harvey. Midkota has some good kids back in Hardings and Quick but probably not enough to get past the top three.
There will be some exciting games in the region and it will be close all the way to the end. As far as individual awards, who cares, its about who can win the regional and advance to state tourney.
1.
pakkyzoo wrote:I just dont see Midkota being worse the Carrington and Harvey. But this is how i see the Region playing out..
1. Dakota Prairie- Severson and Nichols are a good 1-2 punch on the mound and at the plate. They have a solid supporting cast, that are all juniors or younger. They have been playing since they were either 7th or 8th graders. They suceeded then. They have made it to state babe ruth the last 4 years. And were part of a state tournament team in 2005. I think the youth has developed and formed a great supporting cast for the big two. Watch for Lamb at third, Luehring at center and on the mound, Vasicheck at 1st, and Gourneau a freshman lefty DH at the plate.
2. Lakota- With Olderbaak and Johannson on the mound you won't loose many games. Hourth and Mattern are both solid hitters, and Hourth is a great catcher. Kuchar and Wilkson are solid in the infield, but after that they are young and have very little experience. The first 4 are very solid and will give many teams a all they can handle. My question for Lakota is, how much more can Olderbaak really handle?? I remember when he was a freshmen, he would pitch a full game of babe ruth and then go pitch a full game of legion that night. I feel bad for the kid, he is a great baseball player, that could have been even better if he was coached correctly. Thats almost 200 to 250 in a day. I hope he stays successful and plays college, but his rotator cuff has to be sore.
3. New Rockford- Brandon Kolstad and Cody Berg are solid players. Both arent real standouts, just solid players that work hard. Both are pretty decent pitchers that throw strikes, not overly hard. The two Allmaras are good players. They will be a good team, but I dont think they can compete with DP or Lakota in the end.
4. Midkota- Sheldon Harding is one of the best shortstops in the state. He is a solid pitcher that throws strikes, not very hard, but has a good breaking ball. He is a solid hitter. Josh Quick is a very good hitter and a solid first baseman. I could see him playing 3rd or 2nd this year. Nic Harding, is a pretty decent infielder and okay pitcher. Other then that they will be very young. The reason why I put them over the rest of the region is coach Rick Chrisitanson.
5. Carrington- Don't know much about them. They will be co-oping with Kensal, but I dont know how much that will benefit them. They get that Simonson kid, he will be a good player for them. They do have some young players that could develope.
6. Harvey- They lost a ton of players from last years team. I think they only have 1 returning starter in Kenny Kellar. They have some talent in Mike Leier. But other then them 2, the rest are very young and inexperienced.
Predictions
Region Champ- Dakota Prairie or Lakota
Coach of the Year- Garrett Magner, Dakota Prairie
Senior Athlete- Nichols or Severson DP or James Olderbaak Lakota
All Region Team- Nichols, Severson, Luehring DP
Olderbaak, Johanson, Hourth Lakota
S. Harding and Josh Quick Midkota
Cody Berg and Brandon Kolstad New Rockford
Simonson Carrington