×

Arms aplenty

Pitching depth apparent as Magi baseball prepares for new campaign

MDN File Photo Minot High pitcher Noah Tate glances over to first base during a game played against Bismarck St. Mary’s last season at Corbett Field in Minot.

A new pitch count regulation for North Dakota high school baseball went into effect on Friday to limit the number of pitches a pitcher can throw based on how many days of rest they are on.

Simply put, it’s a regulation that will hopefully prevent arm injuries and fatigue. Additionally, for a pitcher abundant team like Minot High School, it’s a rather welcomed change.

“I see (the new rule) as being a plus for our side because we are able to run all but one of varsity players to the mound. That puts us with 14 kids that we can put on the hill, so that’s a definite advantage,” MHS coach Pete Stenberg said. “Carson Tonini is going to be our ace, sophomore Alex Schimke is a tall 6-foot-3 kid, senior Easton Bennett is going to change speeds for us and junior Lofton Klabunde is another big, strong 6-foot-3 kid. Those guys are going to set the tone for us.”

Tonini, a junior, led the Magi in games pitched (12), ERA (2.96) and WHIP (1.23) a season ago. Bennett returns after throwing in nine games with a 3.75 ERA and a .263 batting average against.

“(The pitching depth) helps when it’s a quick week and you have three or four games a week,” Bennett said. “When you have a number of guys pitching, then you can rest (some of) those arms for better and bigger games.”

The graduation departures of Conor Taney and Liam Owens (each pitched in nine games), means Schimke with two games under his belt from last year and Klabunde (no games) will be looking at an increased workload. Although, by having so much depth, that depends on performance as well.

“I think our pitching staff is going to be the biggest (strength) because we will be able to go with the short hook,” Stenberg said. “If anybody starts getting into trouble, then we will be able to wheel somebody else out to the mound.”

The Magi got into trouble all too often last season and managed to finish a game above .500 with a 18-17 overall record and 17-15 in the West Region. The season came to an abrupt close with a 5-3 loss to eventual state champions Dickinson in a state-qualifying contest. Minot led 3-1 after three innings.

The devastating defeat now serves as motivation.

“It’s tough to go out on a loss like that and you didn’t even have a chance to compete at the state tournament,” junior catcher Creighton Rudolph said. “But, we will be fine this year.”

Stenberg added: “That’s one thing the kids have been talking about right away. They didn’t like that feeling that was left in their gut for nine months now.”

The offense needs to keep up with the pitching if the Magi are seeking to avenge what happened last year. Minot returns a handful of above .240 average hitters, who racked up seven or more RBIs last season: Rudolph, Bennett, Tonini, senior Garrett Larson and sophomore Kyler Stenberg.

The Magi also have speed to burn, as those same five guys racking up 36 steals and were caught only eight times last year. Each swiped at least five bases with Bennett leading the way with a team-high 13 successful attempts.

“Offensively, I think we are going to have some pretty good averages,” Pete Stenberg said. “We also have some power up the middle of our lineup and they should be able to swing the bat fairly well with Easton Bennett, Carson Tonini and Lofton Klabunde.”

All that said, the road to reaching the state tournament won’t be easy.

“Dickinson is going to be up there, they are the returning state champions, so they are going to have the target on their back,” Stenberg said. “We got to knock them off. Bismarck Century is returning quite a few kids. Preseason we were ranked No. 3 out of the West, so people are going to be gunning for us too and that’s what we want.”

Minot hasn’t won a West Region championship since 2009 and captured the program’s only state championship in 2005. Getting back to that promise land is always the ultimate end goal.

“Obviously, we would like to win a state title,” Rudolph said. “To do that you got come here every day and be ready to practice and get better. So, that’s what we have been doing.”

The Magi have their season-opener this evening at 4:30 p.m. against Legacy in Bismarck.

Alex Eisen covers Minot High School, Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today