Power Rankings

ND Class A

1. Fargo Davies

2. Bismarck

3. Dickinson

4. Century

Head Coaches Mike Gustavsson, and Kent Schweigert think that hitting and defense give their team a chance to win. Hitters Hunter Walsh, Ryan Gesellchen, Broc Otterness, Seth Lundberg, Evan Warren, Matt Keller, Hunter Huff, Logan Krivoruschka, Andrew Bargmann, Cyril Nagurski and Mason Pryzbilla will be everyday players in the lineup.

But pitching could be the Achilles heel, only have 3 wins come back from last season’s staff. Walsh, Krivorucha, Warren will need to step up.

“We have to get consistant effort from our pitchers.  They need to keep us in games, and off the field.  We will also need to stay healthy!  We have had some kids injury in the early part of camp.  They need to get healthy and stay healthy,”

One of those injuries is Hunter Walsh who was all-state last year with .395 10 2B, 4 3B, 16 RBIs, he’s coming back from a broken hand that he hurt during basketball season.

5. Grand Forks Red River

ND Class B

1. Beulah

Beulah was 27-5 last year and won the State Class B Tourney. Returning starters: Trevor Zacher Karson Hintz Patrick Becker Brett Koch Cody Nelson Returning players that saw action: Logan Behm Mark Muscha Hunter Eslinger  Strengths: return some very solid pitching: Zacher, Becker, Nelson, Behm and Muscha. Strengths: also return a number of solid hitters from last year: Zacher, Becker, Koch, Nelson and Hintz.

Manager Bob Koch knows that pitching will be the key with such a destructive offense in place, “Our pitchers need to throw strikes, at the plate we need to be aggressive in the zone and we have to be willing to take the walk at the plate. If we can get base runners on we have pretty good team speed that we definitely need to use. Defensively is we can make the routine play consistently and throw strikes we should be ok.”

2. Grafton

3. Central Cass

Head Coach Dustin Maasjo

Pitching depth will be an advantage for Central Cass if they can stay healthy.  The Squirrels have a lot of experience returning to the varsity team.

Ellery Bresnahan maybe best known for his pitching but in 72 at bats last season he had a .500 AVG. with an OBP of .511.  2 HRs, 17 RBIs, 19 SBs. He’s committed to pitch for UND next year. Mitch Scheer is another big offensive weapon with a .400 AVG. in 70 ABs with 1 HR and 15 RBIs.

Ellery Bresnahan and Ross Radermacher will command the pitching staff.