PRESS & DAKOTAN SPRING SPORTS 2016: PAGE 5 PLAIN TALK First-Year Coach Heisinger Looks To Lead Tanagers Back To State BY ELYSE BRIGHTMAN BASEBALL (0-1) Elyse.brightman@plaintalk.net Vermillion High School baseball team is looking to for a repeat of last season’s Region 1B championship and a third place run at the state tournament, but the Tanagers will be doing under new direction. After the conclusion of last season, long-time head coach Jason Gault stepped away from the position after a 13-year career, which included a 2012 state championship, and former assistant coach Tom Heisinger is taking over the position. “(Last season) I helped out with the junior varsity mostly and just keeping the dugout organized and making sure the guys attitudes are in line. (I was) just helping out where I could,” Heisinger said. “Jason asked me if I would like to do it and I was happy to do so.” The confidence in the new coach is also seen in the players, who are happy to have someone they are familiar with replacing the only coach they’ve only played under at the high school level. “I think the whole team is really comfortable with Tom,” said senior Hunter Christopherson. “He’s really good with us, he knows how to work with us and knows our strengths and weaknesses. I think he’s going to be good for us.” This will be Heisinger’s second year in Vermillion and after spending time with the team last year, he is familiar with the players and what to expect from them come game time. “I’m excited because there are a lot of good players that are back,” he said. “I’m excited to see those guys take another step forward, but also there’s a good mix of younger guys that need Mar. 31 Apr. 7 Apr. 8 Apr. 11 Apr. 17 Apr. 20 Apr. 23 Apr. 25 Apr. 27 Apr. 29 May 4 at Dakota Valley L 5-15 vs. Elk Point-Jefferson — vs. Dakota Valley 5 p.m. vs. Beresford 5:30 p.m. at Turner-Hutch (Irene) 2 p.m. at Parkston 5:30 p.m. vs. Wagner 2 p.m. at Dakota Valley 5 p.m. at Beresford 5:30 p.m. at Elk Point-Jeff. 5:30 p.m. at Bon Homme-Scotland 5 p.m. May 15-16 Region Tourn. TBD May 30 State B (Sioux Falls) TBD to step up. There’s a couple spots that I think are open and they are question marks right now ,but I think with the leadership that we have coming back the younger guys will be able to fall in line and find their roles with the team.” Of the returning players, Christopherson is expected to make a big impact on the mound, where last spring he pitched in seven games, including two in the postseason. “I’m exciting about Hunter Christopherson,” Heisinger said. “I thought he really improved through the spring and summer last year.” Christopherson has a pretty reliable routine when facing batters that also proves effective as he pitched for a 2-2 record last season and recorded one save from one attempt and earned an ERA of 3.5 with 22 hits and 17 strikeouts with a 2-2 record. “I think to start out with throwing as many fastballs as I can to get them expecting a fastball,” he said. Then, he’ll throw in a changeup or a curve ball catch them off guard. But, when a batter gets a piece of the ball, Christopherson knows the defense behind him can get the job done. “I’ve got really good throughout the batting order to get guys on base and bring in runs, as opposed to power hitting. “We’ll have a lot of speed at the top of our order and hopefully speed at the end of our order, too,” Mockler said. “We kind of put our big guys in the middle, so hopefully that will get us some runs.” Last season, Mockler batted middle of the lineup and had nine hits, eight RBI and scored 19 runs for a .273 average. Leadoff hitter Kratz, a junior, recorded 17 hits, including five of the team total seven triples, and 12 RBI in 54 at-bats for a .407 batting average. As a team, the Tanagers combined for a .298 average with 77 strikeouts. VERMILLION: 2015 Class B Third Place Finishers “We can’t be looking at strikeouts,” Christopherson said. “If we have people on confidence (in the defense). job at the plate,” Christopher- here earlier, but was gone base we are going to have to We have a really solid infield son said. for about a year, was a very get them in. that’s what we and outfield,” Christopherson The Tanagers have just talented pitcher and a hard struggled with last year.” said. “I don’t really have to one returning outfielder in worker,” Heisinger said. “He The Tanagers will again be worry about anything as long Brandon Mockler after gradu- was here before I was here facing a competitive region as I put the ball in play my ating Jack Brown, Travis We- in Vermillion. He moved defense is going to have my ber and Jake Odens. Mockler, with his family, but now they with tough Dakota Valley, Beresford and Bon Homme back.” a returning centerfielder, is moved back this year. He’s teams. The infield will return of back after an injury kept him a very talented pitcher, first “Dakota Valley, they like three mainstay infielders in sidelined for the fall and a baseman, third baseman. He to hit the long ball, they’re Joe Miller at secondbase, majority of the winter. throws hard and has good pretty good at that,” Mockler Carter Kratz at shortstop and “We lost a couple outfield- velocity, so he’s a good key said. “Beresford, they play Cole Anderson at third base. ers last year and then with addition to our team.” “Carter Kratz is a smooth Brandon Mockler’s knee Mount will also make a big the small game because they handed short stop,” Heising- injury we are kind of waiting impact on the batting lineup. have some fast guys, but we’ll just have to learn more er said. “A guy like Joe Miller to see how he reacts on the “Billy also is a very good can play second base, he can baseball field,” Heisinger hitter,” Heisinger said. “We’ll as the season progresses and see what they are doing.” play third. He’s really strong said. “We’ve got a couple have our leadoff hitter Vermillion opens the seaup the middle.” spots that are question marks back, Carter Kratz, and then Last season, Kratz played like that.” Brandon Mockler and Hunter son at Dakota Valley where in 16 games with 33 assists Heisinger is expecting Christopherson, those will be last season the Tanagers took and just two errors. Miller some younger faces to return our middle of the order guys. a 15-5 opening day loss, but found time in 11 games mak- to the diamond this year. RiJoe Miller and Cole Anderson went on to beat the Panthers in the two teams’ final two ing 22 assists with two errors. ley Peters and Trey Hage are do a good job of putting the meetings. The game is schedAs a team, Vermillion com- to players who didn’t tryout ball in play and moving runuled for Thursday, March 31 bined for 22 fielding errors in last year, but are making a go ners when they have to and the season over 17 games. at it this year. getting bunts down. From top at 5 p.m. “Just work hard and play “I think our main focus “It will be interesting to to bottom I think our lineup your hearts out,” Mockler this year is to lessen up the see what spots they find and is pretty strong. We have said. “That’s all you can ask errors around the infield and their role,” he said. guys that set the table and for. If you do that hopefully the pitchers just do their job, Another big addition to then guys like Hunter and you win at the end of the put the ball in play and rely the team will be the return of Billy that can drive in some game.” on the defense and then we junior Billy Mount. runs.” are going to have to do the “Billy Mount, who was Vermillion relies on speed Two Bucks Set To Continue Playing Career In College BY BEN HEGGE sports@yankton.net The opportunity to continue to play baseball at the collegiate level is an one few get to experience. But two Yankton Buck seniors will be doing just that this fall. Colin Muth will join the Mount Marty Lancers program, while Sheldon Gant will play baseball at Minnesota State University at Mankato. “I am honored to have the chance to play for Mount Marty,” said Muth. “It is a great program, and I am eager to play with a lot of new people.” Muth will be a great addition to the Lancer squad. Not only is he a dominant left handed pitcher, but he can play first base and outfield too. “Colin has good stuff on the mound, and can play different positions,” said Bucks head coach Derrik Nelson. “He is a force to reckon with in the batters box. He can really hit for power.” Sheldon Gant will walk on to a very successful Minnesota State program in the fall. “The chance to play more baseball after high school has motivated me to be the best that I can be,” said Gant. “Whether it’s getting in a few more swings or staying after practice, knowing I get Tennis FROM PAGE 4 while playing in the number two spot. This year, he will be making the step into the number one spot for the Tanagers. His technique and strategy, with the ability to stay calm, will make him competitive, even at that big step up in competition. “The number one position is always incredibly tough,” Hughes said. “(Craig) a really good all-around player. He’s really good at moving people back and forth, up and down and he plays really good strategy. He stays calm, so he is has a ton of strengths to bring this year.” 407 Walnut St. 605.689.2244 Open 7 Days A Week At 11AM YANKTON: Colin Muth to continue playing for four more years helps me work hard.” Gant can play just about anywhere on the field, as he has the ability to pitch, catch, and play infield or outfield. “Sheldon is an amazing athlete,” said Nelson. “He can play anywhere and be successful.” Not only do these Muth and Gant talented, they are great leaders as well. “I can’t say enough about these two as baseball players and as kids,” said Nelson. “They are both great kids and Robinson, an ambidextrous player, is returning for his second year as a varsity player and has spent time in the off season, as well as last season, improving his game for a shot at his final state tournament. “My forehands and backhands improved and over the summer I had to work on my serves,” he said. Hughes has taken notice has Robinson’s improvements in his serve — and other skills — even before any matches have been played. “Daniel is really working on his serve and he can actually play both right and left handed so he has been switching that,” she said. “I notice this year already that he has that worked out. He is starting the season a stronger player than he played last year. His ground strokes are also stronger, so I’m excited for him to start out the season playing better than he finished last season.” Among the two seniors, Vermillion is bringing up Avery Mollett, who saw some varsity playing time last season in tournaments. “He (Mollett) has some really good experiences and some really close matches, so Avery will step into (varsity) pretty easily,” Hughes said. Vermillion may see some growing pains throughout this season, and with no shortage of tough competition it can be expected, but Hughes is expecting to see some wins and competitive matches with the smaller schools on the schedule. Even with the tough YANKTON: Sheldon Gant any program will be lucky to have them next year.” Before Muth and Gant take on new challenges at the college level, they have some schedule against larger schools, like Sioux Falls Roosevelt and Sioux Falls Lincoln, the players see the real competition as just staying in the game mentally. “Every competition is going to be tough because most of it you are kind of playing against yourself, I guess you can say, because you have to have a really good mental state,” Robinson said. “If you get down on yourself, you’re not going to have a good chance at winning the match.” Vermillion has four home matches this season with the first on April 24 against Sioux Falls Christian at 4 p.m. Home matches are played at the tennis courts on the campus of the University of South Dakota. unfinished business in their senior year. “We would be selling ourselves short if we were striving for anything less SCOTLAND HIGHLANDERS Track & Field Mar. 29.........Lounsbery Early Bird (ppd) Apr. 5 ................................. Scotland Inv. Apr. 12 .........Rotary Relays (Centerville) Apr. 15 .....................................Avon Inv. Apr. 19 .........SD/NE Challenge (Tyndall) Apr. 22 .... Jim Flevares Relays (Tyndall) Apr. 28 ......Great Plains Conf. (Gayville) Apr. 30 ...................... Andes Central Inv. May 3 ..........................LMVC (Parkston) May 6-7........Howard Wood Relays (SF) May 10 ...........................SESD (Winner) May 13 ............Trojan Relays (Parkston) May 19 ................. Region 5B (Scotland) May 27-28................. State (Sioux Falls) Golf Apr. 8 .............Class B Classic (Mitchell) Apr. 14 ....................SESDSS (Fox Run) Apr. 19 ....... Mount Vernon Inv. (Mitchell) Apr. 29 ......................Gregory/Burke Inv. May 6 ........................Avon/Scotland Inv. May 13 ......................... Burke/Platte Inv. May 20 ................Avon/Bon Homme Inv. May 23 ............ Pre-Region 4B (Mitchell) May 31 ................... Region 4B (Mitchell) June 6-7..................... State (Rapid City) than a state championship,” said Gant. Follow @BigHeadBenny13 on Twitter ANDES CENTRAL-DAKOTA CHRISTIAN THUNDER Track & Field Mar. 29................................Dan Lennon Apr. 5 ....South Cent.Conf. (Lake Andes) Apr. 12 ........................... Wagner Relays Apr. 15 .....................................Avon Inv. Apr. 19 .................. Jaguar Inv. (Corsica) Apr. 22 .... Jim Flevares Relays (Tyndall) Apr. 28 ......Great Plains Conf. (Gayville) Apr. 30 ...................... Andes Central Inv. May 3 ..........................LMVC (Parkston) May 6-7........Howard Wood Relays (SF) May 10 ...........Fort Randall Conf. (Avon) May 13 ............Trojan Relays (Parkston) May 19 .................. Region 6B (Gregory) May 27-28................. State (Sioux Falls) Golf Apr. 8 .............Class B Classic (Mitchell) Apr. 14 ....................SESDSS (Fox Run) Apr. 19 ....... Mount Vernon Inv. (Mitchell) Apr. 29 ......................Gregory/Burke Inv. May 6 ........................Avon/Scotland Inv. May 13 ......................... Burke/Platte Inv. May 20 ................Avon/Bon Homme Inv. May 23 ............ Pre-Region 4B (Mitchell) May 31 ................... Region 4B (Mitchell) June 6-7..................... State (Rapid City) Gerstner Oil Co. E. Hwy. 50 Yankton 665-5568 P.O. A Touchstone Energy Coorperation Lake Andes, SD 57356 (605)487-7321 267-2665