With the weather being so nice so early, the Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjacks team is taking full advantage. With Corbett Field in Minot, North Dakota already in playable condition, the Lumberjacks and the Mystics from Bismarck State have decided to open up their seasons early. The two teams are set to square off today starting at 2:00 P.M
The Lumberjacks they are looking to improve from last season under 2nd year Head Coach Mark LaCroix. In his initial campaign last spring, the Lumberjacks started 4-4 before injuries injuries piled up and so did the losses. LaCroix stated "It was tough at times last year as we had key injuries to key positions, at one point we had 4 P.O.'s on the field and were on our 4th string catcher. Now, with a new season approaching, and with 15 freshman and 9 returners on the roster, we are looking to grow from last season's experience."
For the returners, the Lumberjacks will be looking for Jean Tirado to produce on the field like he did last season. Tirado played every game at 2nd base last season for the Lumberjacks while leading the way at the plate with a .362 batting average. Along with Tirado, the Lumberjacks bring back Wolfdon Thorson. Thorson, a Bottineau High School product, will be looked on to be at the top of the lineup with Tirado again. With the Lumberjacks bringing back their 1 and 2 hitters from last season, they have a sturdy foundation in their lineup.
One of the incoming freshmen expected to help the Jacks will be Isaac Morfin from Windsor, Colorado. Morfin will primarily play 3rd base for the Lumberjacks while also seeing time at 1st base. Morfin will bat in the middle of the Lumberjacks lineup and will be expected early to help produce runs for the team. One of the areas the Lumberjacks truly struggled in last season was knocking in runners when they were in scoring position, one area that Morfin hopefully will right away help DCB with.
Pitching wise, the Lumberjacks have added multiple new faces this spring. Newcomers Josh Churchill and Blake Smith will start Games 1 and 2 of the team's weekday series. Both are coming in with very high outlooks from Coach LaCroix. Also helping out the Jacks on the mound this spring will be returning pitchers Dillon Marco, Darrin Wersal and Cody Ruden.
Following their season opener against Bismarck State, the Jacks will travel to Colorado and Arizona for their spring trip. In Colorado they will play Colorado State University and Adams State University, before heading to Arizona were they will play 8 games over a week's span. The Lumberjacks are slated to have 41 games this spring season.
Here's hoping for a warm and successful spring.