Coming off 15-win season, Broncos need to find replacements for five graduated seniors
New uniforms won’t be the only thing greeting International Falls baseball fans when they come to Scheela Field this spring.
There’s also a lot of new faces.
Vic Heinlen’s best season came last year, when a group of five seniors — Jake Casareto, Daniel Eldien, Chad Sohlman, Mike Menard and Chris Heibel — led the Broncos to a 15-4 record. Casareto (St. Scholastica), Eldien (Itasca) and Sohlman (Rainy River) have moved on to college ball, while Menard and Heibel plan to join Sohlman at RRCC next spring. Casareto earned All-State honors last spring and Menard holds the school record in stolen bases. Casareto also holds the school record in triples.
With that core graduated, Heinlen thinks a new group of upperclassmen is ready to take the reigns in his 10th season as head coach.
“You’re going to miss (the graduated seniors). No way around it,” Heinlen said. “But on the other hand you have kids that played together and some kids that played last year. I think we’ll fill the holes. I think it will be a fun year.”
Captains Willie Corrin and Chris Little return to hold down a pitching staff that expects to get help from Adam Potter, Ames Bryant and Mike Jaksa. Jordan Christianson returns and will help fill the void left at second base and in the outfield, while Nick Lagen will play first base and in the outfield. A batch of newcomers — freshman Gunnar Anderson, sophomores Christian Kittelson and Jon Little and junior Dominic Casareto — will need to gain experience quick to be successful.
“We’ll be alright. A lot of kids have been playing a long time,” Chris Little said.
The Broncos also welcomed the return of junior Zack Tomczak, who took a couple years off.
“When you have 14-16 ready to play, that’s a good coaching problem,” Heinlen said.
The Broncos’ inexperience will also be aided by an early spring and a friendly home schedule. The Broncos have already been outside scrimmaging at Scheela Field longer than anyone can remember, and the first seven games are at home.
The 2010 Broncos lost a lot from last season, but still have seven seniors and five juniors leading the way.
“All in all, we should be OK,” Heinlen said.
2010 Broncos Baseball Schedule
Date Opponent Time
4/20 HOME vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl W, 14-4
4/26 HOME vs. Cherry 4:30 p.m.
4/29 HOME vs. Deer River 4:30 p.m.
5/1 HOME vs. Hibbing 10 a.m.
5/1 HOME vs. Hermantown 12:30 p.m.
5/3 HOME vs. Chisholm 4:30 p.m.
5/6 HOME vs. Eveleth-Gilbert 4:30 p.m.
5/7 at Mesabi East 4:30 p.m.
5/8 at Proctor (vs. Duluth Denfeld) 11 a.m.
5/8 at Proctor (vs. Proctor) 1:30 p.m.
5/10 at Virginia 4:30 p.m.
5/13 at Greenway 4:30 p.m.
5/15 HOME vs. BEST 11 a.m.
5/15 HOME vs. Ely 1:30 p.m.
5/18 at Cook 4:30 p.m.
5/21-22 at John Deyak Tournament TBD
5/25 HOME vs. Littlefork-Big Falls 4:30 p.m.
5/27 at Roseau 4:30 p.m.
