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It’s not uncommon for the Vermilion Ironhawks to play baseball in early-March.
But the community college baseball team’s ninegame swing in Florida, which started Friday, won’t be the first time on the diamond this season.
Thanks to an unseasonably mild and almost snowfree winter, the Ironhawks already have an outdoor practice under their belt as well as an extensive scrimmage.
Both came during the last week at Aurora, home to an artificial turf field. The Ironhawks got on the turf for a Feb. 21 practice as well as a 14-inning scrimmage Monday with division rival Itasca.
The unprecedented February field time gives Vermilion a head start on its season, which begins in earnest with the annual trip to the Orlando area.
“February baseball on the Iron Range - that’s unheard of,” said Vermilion Head Coach Tom Coombe. “But we got the chance this year because of the weather and our guys were excited to get outside and take advantage of this opportunity.”
Vermilion has 28 players - believed to be the largest roster in program history - as well as high hopes with the return of several starters off a team that won 15 games last spring and gave the Ironhawks their second regional playoff berth in three season.
An experienced sophomore group includes three players who gained All-Northern Division honors last year: Mason Kostka, Jake Palomo and DeSoto Hood.
Kostka, a sophomore infielder from Eau Claire, WI, hit a team-best .355 as a freshman with three home runs and 35 runs batted in. He gained All-Northern Division first team honors and was also an All-Region 13 selection.
Two returning Vermilion pitchers won all-division acclaim, with Hood (Liberty County, Fla.) collecting five wins as a freshman, with 62 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched.
Palomo, a second-year hurler from Colorado Springs, CO, picked up three wins as a freshman while compiling a 4.03 earned run average. A third starting pitcher, sophomore Jacob Mickelson (4-2 in 2023) of Hugo, is also back.
“We have three-fourths of our starting rotation back and that’s a good start to build around,” said Coombe. “I think we have some other sophomores who can step in on the mound as well as a number of freshmen. I like our pitching depth.”
Kostka and Hood (.306, 12 RBI) are two key cogs back in the lineup, along with outfielder Jake Casazza (.270, 15 RBI) of Homasassa, FL, outfielder Franklin Wildes of Wilton, WI, and third baseman Marcus Haire (.290, 15 RBI) of San Antonio, TX.
Sophomores including first baseman Chase Snyder (Ellwsorth, WI) and catcher Kelbee Woodham (Bonifay, FL) are looking to break into the lineup, while first-year additions figure to include speedy Nick Berglund, an outfielder from Becker with Ely family ties.
Freshmen infielders Will Thibodeau (Eau Claire) and Chris Arambula (Wray, CO) figure to make an immediate impact for Vermilion, along with outfielder Landon Wilkins (Reno, NV), and pitchers Parker Coach (Black River Falls, WI) and Jerron Turney (Haxtun, CO).
The Vermilion roster has local flavor as well, with 2023 Ely graduate Erron Anderson serving as the team’s backup first baseman.
Vermilion, which competes at the NJCAA Division III level, has a rugged schedule in Florida with a mix of games against Division III and Division II junior college opposition.
The Ironhawks will play their games in the RussMatt Classic in the Orlando area, with contests at ballparks at Auburndale and Davenport.
Vermilion isn’t scheduled to play a home game in Ely until mid-April, but could begin action in northeastern Minnesota as soon as mid-March on the field at Aurora.
