Littlefork-Big Falls finished 13-8 in 2009, with most of those losses due to bad play in the field.
“That was a killer,” Vikings head coach Mike Imhof said.
The Vikings enter 2010 with the same weakness, and will need to adapt early with six players taking over new positions.
“We got people who can fill in those spots. Got a good pitcher this year,” said senior Emily Trappe.
Trappe is one of six seniors on this year’s team along with Kari Imhof, Hannah Larson, Liz Bobst, Haylee Gates and Hannah Hell. The experience will only help with youngsters filling out the roster.
“There’s a lot of pressure when you go in with two ninth-graders as your 1-2 punch,” Imhof said, “so we’re going to have to play defense if we want to win.”
The new pitchers — taking over for last year’s ace, Carley Anderson — are freshmen Courtney Pfeifer and Kristy Horne Dunn. Hell could also contribute toeing the rubber.
Anderson wasn’t the only player they lost, however. Caitlyn Medecke (catcher), Whitney Junker (1B), Kelly Millerbernd (2B) and Kristi Bloom (CF) all graduated, leaving a huge hole to fill up the middle. Bobst is taking over at catcher, Brooke Millerbernd at first, Pfeifer at second (when she isn’t pitching) and Larson in center field. Gates will take over for Larson in right field.
“Things are looking pretty good so far, but we haven’t played a game yet,” said Imhof, who’s led teams to three state tournaments. This is his seventh season.
“Hitting-wise, we’re pretty good,” he said. “We should be able to hit. They’re all pretty good athletes.”
Imhof also expects to run more this season.
However, the conversation always rotated back to defense.
“We can hit, so I think it’s mostly the defense,” Bobst said.
“We’re all pretty good at (hitting), so we’re focusing on defense,” Trappe said in an entirely different conversation.
Imhof is just looking forward to another season.
“It will be fun working with them,” he said.
2010 Vikings Softball Schedule
DATE OPPONENT TIME
April 12 at Lake of the Woods 4:30 p.m.
April 13 HOME vs. Deer River 4:30 p.m.
April 15 at Cherry 4:30 p.m.
April 22 HOME vs. Blackduck 4:30 p.m.
April 23 at Nashwauk-Keewatin 4:30 p.m.
April 24 at Ba./Gr.-Middle River (Tournament) 9 a.m.
April 30 HOME vs. Cook 4:30 p.m.
May 3 HOME vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl 4:30 p.m.
May 4 at Chisholm 4:30 p.m.
May 6 at Blackduck 4:30 p.m.
May 7 at International Falls 4:30 p.m.
May 10 at Northland 2 p.m.
May 10 at Hill City 4:30 p.m.
May 11 at Mesabi East 4:30 p.m.
May 13 HOME vs. Lake of the Woods 4:30 p.m.
May 14 at BEST 3 p.m.
May 14 at Ely 5 p.m.
May 20 at Warroad 4:30 p.m.
