Broncos looking to run the bases in 2011
Though the International Falls baseball team has graduated three players that received both All-Conference and All-Section honors last year, several upperclassmen return.
In 2010, the Broncos went 5-1 in conference play to finish second in the Arrowhead Conference and ended the season 11-9 overall, losing in the second round of the Section 7AA playoffs.
The list of returning players includes two senior co-captains — third baseman Ames Bryant, a fifth-year starter, and left fielder Dominic Casareto.
Other returning seniors include first baseman Andy Jespersen, catcher Jordan Walls, outfielder Mike Misner and utility player Bill Bright.
Two juniors — center fielder Christian Kittelson and second baseman Jon Little — also return as does sophomore shortstop Gunnar Anderson.
“The strengths of the 2011 team should be their defense, team speed and team unity,” said head coach Vic Heinlen, who is in his 11th season leading the Broncos. “This team knows the game of baseball; the challenge facing them is to apply their knowledge of the game and their skills as a team and come together as a team.”
Given a shortage of power hitters and a pitching staff without a lot of varsity experience, Heinlen said he is looking forward to seeing whether the Broncos “can play small ball, put pressure on (the) other team with their base-running skills and in general come together as a team and be one of the top contenders on the 7AA North Sub-section.”
He said the team’s goals include winning the Arrowhead Conference, finishing in the top four in the North Sub-section, and going “deep” into the Section 7AA tournament.
Heinlen said the teams to watch out for this season in the Arrowhead Conference include Ely and Cherry.
“(In Section 7AA), the North Sub-section should be very competitive this season with Hermantown, Greenway and Virginia looking to be very competitive as usual,” he said. “Hibbing, Duluth Marshall, Eveleth-Gilbert and the Falls all have the potential to be among the top teams.”
