Play Ball!

Spring baseball season has finally arrived, and the Sheyenne-New Rockford Black Sox are gearing up for a promising season.

What makes this season promising, you ask?

Well, for starters, it's the first season in some time that isn't being delayed or hindered by several feet of snow.

In previous years, the local baseball diamonds were smothered in snow to start the season, but this year the Black Sox were able to get outside and practice on the field.

Head coach Dave Skogen and his team were out on the field on Tuesday, April 2, preparing for their first game of the season on Thursday.

Skogen said they're already far ahead of where they were at this time a year ago, in part because so many of his players are returning from last season.

"We cleaned up a lot of things last year, and we're starting to see it already," said Skogen. "We got a lot of experience coming back but at the same time we're still really young.

"... from the region standpoint we probably have the most experience coming back as a whole, but still we're one of the younger teams in the region."

The Black Sox' three seniors this year, Connor Knatterud, Keaton Cudworth and Luke Yri will be definitely ones to watch this season.

All three will be on the mound throughout the season, making up what Skogen believes is one of the best rotations in the region this year.

All three are also great hitters and defenders, and will be key to any hopes the Black Sox have of making a run in the postseason.

Skogen said a point of emphasis in practices so far has been hitting, noting that the offense wasn't as good as it needed to be a season ago.

"We need to be able to hit the ball a lot better than we did last year at a consistent level," said Skogen.

The Sox have a few experienced weapons there, and other underclassmen who Skogen believes will step up.

"In the lineup we got Brody and Alex providing power, and we got Thomas Allmaras and Skye Kramlich who are younger guys who are good hitters for their age, and we got speed throughout," said Skogen.

The Black Sox' first test of the season came on Thursday, April 4, when they traveled to Larimore for their first game of the season.

That game, as well as their following game on Tuesday, April 9 in Cando, will be covered in next week's Transcript.

With an older and more experienced roster than last year, the Black Sox will be hoping for a good start to the year and an overall more enjoyable spring season.

When asked what he's most looking forward to this season, Skogen chuckled and said "Hopefully the weather! The weather looks fantastic to start out with.

"But really just how much love these guys have for baseball, getting out here, letting these guys do what they do, and watching them grow as players."