Regular season lasts only a month for Broncos and Vikings
International Falls and Littlefork-Big Falls practiced outside once this season before playing in their first regular season game. Now just over a month later, the two local softball teams enter their respective Section 7 tournaments in the middle of the pack.
And with warm clothes ready.
The Broncos (10-5) grabbed the No. 3 seed in Section 7AA and will take on No. 6 Proctor today at Falls High School. Proctor defeated Hibbing 1-0 Monday to earn the No. 6 seed.
The Falls has played well of late, winning its last three regular season games, but that was over a week ago. The Broncos crammed 15 games between April 17 and May 11, but had their last three games canceled due to poor weather. The weather has handcuffed the Broncos’ learning curve this spring, especially at the plate.
“It’s just kind of been hit or miss. We need to bat better all throughout the lineup in the playoffs,” Broncos head coach Kevin Gordon said Monday.
Top seeds belong to Hermantown and Cloquet in Section 7AA, while Esko and Virginia hold No. 2 seeds. Gordon expects all four to be tough competition and added the favorite is “going to be whoever gets hot.”
The Broncos didn’t play Proctor this season, but hold a 2-3 all time record against the Rails. The last time these two teams met — in last year’s opening round of the Section 7AA tournament — the Broncos won 4-3.
Vikings look to defend section championship
For Littlefork-Big Falls, last year’s state tournament run was fueled by strong pitching and defense. Defense has been its biggest weakness this year and has been the team’s No. 1 factor in either winning or losing.
“We’ve been good at times and plain awful at times,” L-BF head coach Mike Imhof said.
“The key to this run now is our defense. If we can play well, we can play with anybody.”
The No. 4 Vikings (12-8) play host today to No. 5 Mountain Iron-Buhl, a team they beat 7-3 back on April 27.
Imhof picked Silver Bay, Nashwauk-Keewatin and Cherry as the favorites, and unfortunately for the Vikings, they are 0-2 this year against the Spartans and Tigers. They didn’t play Silver Bay.
L-BF does have experience on its side as seven returning starters came back off of last year’s state tournament team, but the Vikings’ success will hinge on its defensive prowess.
This year’s state tournament is June 4-5 in North Mankato.
