- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,153,455
- Reaction score
- 59
Apr. 2—WORTHINGTON — The Minnesota West baseball team has already played 20 games this season, but will begin play in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference South division this week.
The Bluejays are 10-11 this season, playing non-conference series in Mitchell and Sioux Falls, along with an extended stay in Tucson, Arizona.
So far, coach Joe Kinley has liked what he has seen from his team, but that some of the finer details still have room for growth.
"I think we've looked pretty good overall," Kinley said. "Our pitching has been really where we've wanted it to be. And even offensively, there are moments where it's like we can definitely play with any team around. Just some of the finer details, really making sure that we're executing with runners in scoring position and really being able to make our adjustments at the plate are really the two biggest things right now."
Their first slate of division games comes on Friday and Saturday in a four-game series with Western Technical College. The first two games will be Friday in La Crosse, Wisconsin with the final two following Saturday in Worthington. The Cavaliers are 2-12 this spring.
The rest of the MCAC south features solid teams from Riverland, Rochester and Century College.
But the Bluejays believe they can compete with the rest of their division and there's plenty of talent on the roster to back that up.
They have three primary sophomore pitchers back from last year, including Worthington native Tucker Brandner. The 2024 WHS graduate was named the MCAC South Division Pitcher of the Week last week and has been good all year.
In five starts, Brandner has a 3-0 record with 43 strikeouts and a 1.43 earned run average. He also leads the team with 27 innings pitched.
"I'd say my biggest improvement is throwing a lot more strikes," Brandner said. "I mean, I'll still be out here walking a couple of guys, but I think I throw a lot more strikes."
Other key arms on the mound for the Bluejays include Sam Palfini with 23 strikeouts and a 2.77 ERA in 26 innings and Keaton Husband with 24 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
There is also returning production at the plate for Minnesota West this spring.
Their top hitter so far has been sophomore infielder Ales Zhao, who leads the team in hits (15), doubles (5) and RBIs (10) and also holds a 0.319 batting average.
Sophomore Eliecer Gonzalez has also been productive at the plate with 12 hits, nine RBIs and a 0.316 average. Returning infielder Takuto Usami leads the Bluejays in batting average at 0.368. Infielder Shahir Brahim and catcher Samuel Taveras also return to the squad.
Along with the returning sophomore contributors comes a solid freshman class making an impact.
At the plate, outfielder Johan Mendoza is second on the team in batting average at 0.324. Other leaders in total hits include infielder Layke Miller (11) and outfielder/left-handed pitcher Max Biehl (9).
"These are all kids that I've recruited, I've had at least an idea of where I wanted them since when I started talking to them," Kinley said of his lineup. "So it's kind of just progressed and obviously, then there's the little bit of 'Who's playing well as of right now,' then we might have to move some guys around."
All of those pieces have filled the gaps left by graduates like Johnny Ramsey, Haruta Endo and Triston Sauerbrei.
Along with non-conference series with Iowa Lakes, along with JV teams from Dakota State, Bethany Lutheran and Northwestern College, the Bluejays have 16 division games ahead of them and they are aiming for 10 wins in that schedule.
"I think that's absolutely doable," Brandner said. "I think we should be able to make the playoffs this year."
Last year, they went 14-28-1 overall and 3-13 in conference play, so 10 wins in conference play would be a big one-year leap. But the talent and confidence is there to potentially make it happen.
"I honestly believe that we can compete with anybody," Kinley said. "We beat, we beat St. Cloud, they're ranked 11th in the nation. We have to play well, but if we do, I don't think there's a team that we can't compete with."
Continue reading...
The Bluejays are 10-11 this season, playing non-conference series in Mitchell and Sioux Falls, along with an extended stay in Tucson, Arizona.
So far, coach Joe Kinley has liked what he has seen from his team, but that some of the finer details still have room for growth.
"I think we've looked pretty good overall," Kinley said. "Our pitching has been really where we've wanted it to be. And even offensively, there are moments where it's like we can definitely play with any team around. Just some of the finer details, really making sure that we're executing with runners in scoring position and really being able to make our adjustments at the plate are really the two biggest things right now."
Their first slate of division games comes on Friday and Saturday in a four-game series with Western Technical College. The first two games will be Friday in La Crosse, Wisconsin with the final two following Saturday in Worthington. The Cavaliers are 2-12 this spring.
The rest of the MCAC south features solid teams from Riverland, Rochester and Century College.
But the Bluejays believe they can compete with the rest of their division and there's plenty of talent on the roster to back that up.
They have three primary sophomore pitchers back from last year, including Worthington native Tucker Brandner. The 2024 WHS graduate was named the MCAC South Division Pitcher of the Week last week and has been good all year.
In five starts, Brandner has a 3-0 record with 43 strikeouts and a 1.43 earned run average. He also leads the team with 27 innings pitched.
"I'd say my biggest improvement is throwing a lot more strikes," Brandner said. "I mean, I'll still be out here walking a couple of guys, but I think I throw a lot more strikes."
Other key arms on the mound for the Bluejays include Sam Palfini with 23 strikeouts and a 2.77 ERA in 26 innings and Keaton Husband with 24 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
There is also returning production at the plate for Minnesota West this spring.
Their top hitter so far has been sophomore infielder Ales Zhao, who leads the team in hits (15), doubles (5) and RBIs (10) and also holds a 0.319 batting average.
Sophomore Eliecer Gonzalez has also been productive at the plate with 12 hits, nine RBIs and a 0.316 average. Returning infielder Takuto Usami leads the Bluejays in batting average at 0.368. Infielder Shahir Brahim and catcher Samuel Taveras also return to the squad.
Along with the returning sophomore contributors comes a solid freshman class making an impact.
At the plate, outfielder Johan Mendoza is second on the team in batting average at 0.324. Other leaders in total hits include infielder Layke Miller (11) and outfielder/left-handed pitcher Max Biehl (9).
"These are all kids that I've recruited, I've had at least an idea of where I wanted them since when I started talking to them," Kinley said of his lineup. "So it's kind of just progressed and obviously, then there's the little bit of 'Who's playing well as of right now,' then we might have to move some guys around."
All of those pieces have filled the gaps left by graduates like Johnny Ramsey, Haruta Endo and Triston Sauerbrei.
Along with non-conference series with Iowa Lakes, along with JV teams from Dakota State, Bethany Lutheran and Northwestern College, the Bluejays have 16 division games ahead of them and they are aiming for 10 wins in that schedule.
"I think that's absolutely doable," Brandner said. "I think we should be able to make the playoffs this year."
Last year, they went 14-28-1 overall and 3-13 in conference play, so 10 wins in conference play would be a big one-year leap. But the talent and confidence is there to potentially make it happen.
"I honestly believe that we can compete with anybody," Kinley said. "We beat, we beat St. Cloud, they're ranked 11th in the nation. We have to play well, but if we do, I don't think there's a team that we can't compete with."
Continue reading...
