Sports

Braves have 'state'ly expectations

By Tyler Ohmann

03/27/2012

After a thrilling region championship victory to make it to the state tournament last year the Bottineau Braves finished fifth.

They are looking to remedy that this year.

“With the group of seniors I have this year, we expect to do very well in our region,” said Braves Head Coach Nate Simpson. “Nothing less than a region championship will be accepted. We expect to go to state and win a state championship.”

“After the past two seasons finish, and their finish at state legions last year, they have high expectations,” Simpson added.

One of those seniors is Mark LaCroix, who returns as the teams starting catcher, and one of the biggest threats on the mound and at the plate for the Braves.

LaCroix said the biggest thing that Bottineau needs to do this season is begin games better offensively.

“We usually have a problem falling behind early to teams,” LaCroix said. “We need to stay on top of teams early and keep tagging on runs.”

“Sometimes we won’t score runs until the fifth inning, you can’t have that if you’re going to win the state tournament,” LaCroix added.

The Braves will return starters in first baseman Cody Brooks, shortstop/pitcher Justin McCloud, third baseman Logan Millican, outfielder Matt Bowers and catcher/infielder Andrew Hill.

They do lose starters Jake Folven and Taylor Milbrath.

To fill Milbrath’s void in center field and on the mound, transfer Ging Martin, may take up the task.

“I think it’s going to help us with Ging in center field,” LaCroix said. “I’ve been with him in the cage and he can hit left or right, and he can throw left or right, which is kind of crazy.”

“He’s really going to step up and be a big part of our offense the way he hits the ball,” LaCroix added.
Simpson is also excited for some of the newcomers who will try and fill in where needed.

Those fighting for starting spots include Luke Amsbaugh, Brock Hiltner, Brody Moum, Lee Schneider and Parker Engelhard.

Whatever the case Simpson knows the Braves will need a better start to the season than last year. He was disappointed in some of the region losses the Braves suffered early in the season.

“We’re going to try and get focused up right away on what we want to accomplish,” Simpson said. “The kids need to realize that region games are important. Last year we lost some region games that pushed us down in the seeding, and gave us a tough play-in game into regions.”

LaCroix pointed to pitching and defense as the teams strengths once again this season, as it has been in the past.

“Pitching and defense we’ve relied on the past couple years, and I think we have some solid pitching this year,” LaCroix said. “Defensively we’re pretty solid, you just have to fix little things at the beginning of the season.”

With the mild weather the past couple of weeks, the Braves began practice outside this year, something that lacked last year. Simpson hopes it will help eliminate some of the fielding problems they had early last season.

“I know the kids get sick of the gym so quickly, and when it’s spring you want to be outside practicing in nice weather,” Simpson said. “Last year I think we had one practice outside before our first game, and it showed, we lost 9-7 to Rolette.”

Bottineau opens their season at 4 p.m. with a home game on April 5 against region rival Rugby. They open the season with six straight home games.