by Willy » Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:17 am
LEGION BASEBALL PREVIEW: Dahl knows Royals well
First-year coach helped develop players on this year's team
By Brad Schlossman
Herald Staff Writer
Grand Forks Royals first-year coach Gabe Dahl has a few challenges in front of him.
Familiarity won't be one of them.
The Royals have a young team, returning just a few starters. Much of the team will be made up of players who were on the Dahl-coached Grand Forks Blues last season.
Dahl also knows the older players well, as he served as an assistant on the Blues in prior seasons.
"It's nice to have seen all these guys in game situations before," said Dahl, who is taking over for Brent Polum. "I know what situations they are able to succeed in and I can put guys in position to succeed. It's different watching a game from the stands than it is to watch it from the dugout. I've seen all these guys from the dugout."
The Royals will have raised expectations, despite being so young, after the success the Grand Forks prep baseball teams had at state. Red River finished tied for third, while Central won the title.
The Royals aren't exactly a combination of those two teams, however.
"We don't have everyone from the high school teams. If we did, it would be a different story," Dahl said. "But we have a lot of players I'm very excited about."
Some of those players are on the mound.
David Spies and Sean Potter were two of the best pitchers in the East Region this spring. Alex Kreis earned a win in the first round at state and picked up the save in the state title game.
At the plate, the Royals have three guys who hit better than .330 back in Spies (.476), Andy Sadler (.375) and John Greicar (.334).
They also get UND player Dan Cary back. Cary missed last season with a knee injury, but now is ready to go.
Shortstop Eric Meland, outfielder Jarrett Galbreath, outfielder Dan Jones and pitcher-second baseman Kreis all made impacts on their varsity baseball teams this spring and are expected to play key roles on the Royals.
"We have a lot of guys who haven't played legion ball before," Dahl said. "But they have a lot of experience. Kreis picking up the save in the state championship - that's as pressure-packed as it's going to be."
Dahl said the Royals won't drastically change under him. He said they will play small ball with a lack of power in the lineup.
"We'll probably bunt a lot - hit and run," he said. "We'll be very aggressive."