Burnsville Blaze Baseball: A Preview

The Burnsville baseball program got the experience of a lifetime to end its 2010 season. They faced Eden Prairie at the brand new Target Field for the state championship.

Though they didn’t take home the trophy, the Blaze has plenty to build on for the 2011 campaign after the experience the program gained last year. 

“We have a totally different team this year. This team hasn’t done anything yet,” said Mick Scholl, the team’s head coach. “We were a senior-laden team at the key positions. We were one of the first teamsthat got to play at Target Field, so now the kids that are back know what that’s like.”

2010 Burnsville Blaze Baseball

• 21-6 overall (12-5 Lake Conference)
• Section 3AAA Champions
• Class AAA State Tourn.: Def. Brainerd 6-5; def. Coon Rapids 5-3; lost to Eden Prairie 7-5

The Burnsville baseball team had one of the most succesful seasons in school history in 2010, winning 21 games and finishing second in the Class AAA State Tournament. The Blaze also won the Lake Conference with a 12-5 record.

But it is a new year as the team graduated three seniors that accounted for 90 runs, 90 RBI and 14 wins. Coach Mick Scholl must find a way to replace Jacob Threlkeld, Brandon Peterson and Tom Sherman.

Key Returning Players

The Blaze has three important seniors back that will have the biggest impact on the team for the upcoming season.

• Quinn Johnson went 4-1 as a starting pitcher last year and got a victory on the mound in the Class AAA State Tournament.
• Justin Threlkeld is a senior catcher who earned Honorable MentionAll-Conference honors last year and made the AAA All Tournament Team.
• Derek Johnson was also an Honorable Mention selection in the infield.
• Derek Stemper is also an impact player in the infield. 

The Blaze has three sophomore starters back from last year, and Scholl says the team is young.

“We have a lot of unknowns,” Scholl said. “If every kid plays to their ability, we have kids who can throw.We have six returners back from last year. The key is going to be pitching, that could be a weak spot.”

Conference Outlook

This spring the Blaze will compete in the newly-formed South Suburban Conference, which figures to be one of the toughest high school conferences in the state.

Remove Chaska, Chanhassen and Eden Prairie and add Prior Lake, Bloomington Jefferson and Bloomington Kennedy. Scholl said the goal is to win the conference, but it won’t be easy. The conference slate includes trips to Eastview, Eagan, Apple Valley and Rosemount.

The Section 6AAA Tournament will be essentially the same field, so expect the Suburban Conference race to be one of the tightest in the state.