International Falls is in uncharted waters under coach Vic Heinlen, and it has nothing to do with the wet spring.
The Broncos (14-3) enter today’s Section 7AA tournament as a top seed for the first time in Heinlen’s nine seasons, and the long-time coach has already admitted several times that this is the best team he’s managed.
The lineup is stacked with upperclassmen and the pitching has been a staple — posting eight straight complete games at one point this season — but Heinlen pointed to another factor as the biggest key to success.
“I think the defense leads the team,” he said Monday after giving his team the weekend off.
The Broncos defense has been its Achilles heel in year’s past, and not coincidentally, the school hasn’t sent a baseball team to state since 1995. For this year’s team, a state tournament bid was its top goal since Day 1, and they cruised through the regular season on their way to the top seed.
The Broncos won their first 10 games — outscoring opponents 117-19 along the way — and during the stretch of eight complete games, the Broncos outscored opponents 90-8, including three shutouts. Overall, the state hopefuls plated 166 runs and allowed only 61 in 17 games for an average score of roughly 9.8-3.6.
“The team’s playing very well,” Heinlen said. “We finished up strong against Roseau and I thought we played really well.”
Before Roseau, the Broncos lost for only the third time this season, 8-7 to Hermantown in 10 innings. The Hawks, who earned the No. 3 seed, are the only Section 7AA team to beat the Broncos this season. Out of the Falls’ three losses, two came late in extra innings.
“I think they’re ready,” Heinlen said.
Duluth Marshall, the No. 8 seed, steps onto Scheela Field today in a first-round matchup. The Broncos pummeled Marshall 9-0 back on May 2. The first two games are single elimination.
“You gotta go out and play every game,” Heinlen said. “The first two are winner-go-home, so you’ve got to go out prepared every day, no matter who you’re facing.”
