Posted: 7/5/07
Summer ball sends boys to World Series
 Four North Branch seniors play on the North Metro Barons baseball team. The team competes in the Gopher State Baseball League and recently earned a spot at the United States Speciality Association World Series in Florida |
By Steve Morris
Four North Branch baseball players will soon know what it's like to play in the World Series.
It may be a step or two below the Major League World Series, but for the local boys, it's still a dream come true. North Branch High School seniors Tony Dahlberg, Danny Ginal, Jarred Grams and Sam Johnson helped steer the North Metro Barons baseball team to the United States Specialists Sports Association World Series July 15-22 in Orlando, Fla.
The boys are part of a baseball conglomerate of players from around the area. The team is comprised of two players from Mora, three from Spring Lake Park, four from Becker and four from North Branch.
The North Metro Barons earned an entry to the USSSA World Series by placing second at the Gopher State Mid Summer Challenge Tournament June 22-24. At the tournament, the team went 4-1 and lost to Thunder Bay All-Stars from Ontario, Canada in the championship game. The top-two teams earned a spot in the world series.
For Dahlberg, it may be the highlight of his young baseball career.
"It's pretty sweet. I never thought I would be going to Florida to play baseball," he said. "I think this team has a pretty good shot down there and we might give them a run for their money."
Dahlberg wants to play baseball in college and is looking at possibly attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Ginal echoed the same sentiment and hopes to beat some of the more "arrogant" southern teams.
"Our whole team is so excited," he said.
The team will play in Osceola County Stadium, which is the spring training home of the Houston Astros. Teams will be placed in pools where they will play two to three games and then be placed in a championship (double elimination) bracket following pool play.
Dahlberg and Ginal have good reason to believe they will do well come show time because the team is loaded with some of the best talent in the north metro. The team has six all-conference players, three all-conference honorable mention players and four boys who can pitch an 80 miles per hour fastball.
"We're pretty stacked," Ginal admitted. "I really think we can do some damage."
Ginal, who said he is batting .350, has never been out of state to play baseball and is excited to show off his skills to potential college scouts. If given the opportunity, Ginal would like to play college ball.
Earning a spot at the USSSA World Series isn't free. Deb Dahlberg. mother of Tony Dahlberg, said it will cost $13,000 to send 11 players and two coaches to Florida. To offset the cost, the team is hosting a car wash July 8 from noon to 6 p.m in the North Branch AmericInn parking lot. All proceeds will go toward the trip.
"What we don't raise, will come out of our own pockets," she said.
The North Metro Barons play in the Gopher State League and are currently among the best teams in the 16-18/19 Under league.
This is the third season the four North Branch boys have played on the team and the first time they have qualified for the USSSA World Series. In 2005, the team won the division. The team is coached by Drew Rousu.
The boys are hoping the extra summer ball will pay dividends come next April with the high school season starts.
Of the four North Branch boys, Grams was the only one who didn't play varsity baseball last year. Instead, he used his quickness on the track field.
Dahlberg said he wasn't sure if Grams was going out for track next year or not -- but he would love to see his summer league teammate on the diamond 10 months from now.
Dahlberg and Ginal were both starters while Johnson didn't see much playing time on the varsity team yet is expected to see quality innings in the spring.
In the competitive North Suburban Conference, the boys will need all the extra help they can get. Last season, the Vikings finished 5-16 overall and 2-12 in the NSC and lost to Duluth East in the first round of the section playoffs.
Now, however, the focus is on playing well in Florida.
"It's exciting," Dahlberg said.
Comment from Deb Dahlberg, 7/9/07
Thanks, Steve, for a GREAT article!
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