Frenzel’s frenzy

• Cole Frenzel

Press Photo by Chris Aarhus Dickinson Roughriders hitter Cole Frenzel has 21 home runs in 34 games.

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Cole Frenzel remembers the season Zac Elgie of Minot hit 34 home runs.

It was 2007 and Elgie led the state-champion Vistas to the Central Plains Regional where he hit five home runs and extended the program’s single-season home-run record.

“I think he only hit one off of us,” Frenzel remembered of Elgie, who plays baseball at Kansas University. “He was a great player. I’d have to get pretty lucky to hit that many home runs.”

Frenzel, who hits in the No. 3 hole for the Dickinson Roughriders, may not have to rely on luck to reach that mark as long as the Riders can rack up some more games. With 21 home runs in just 34 games, Frenzel’s pace is a little faster than that of Elgie, who reached his mark in 65 games.

However, even with a great season that would include a trip to the Central Plains Regional, the Roughriders would have to be lucky to reach 50 games played.

“Everything would have to work out,” Frenzel said. “There s a chance I could (hit 34).”

Frenzel’s home-run hitting has become habitual. He hit two against Fargo Post 2 pitcher Kyle Kingsley on Friday and will be looking for No. 22 when the Riders host Williston at 5:30 p.m. today at Southside Municipal Ballpark.

“He hits two home runs almost every three games,” Dickinson coach Andy Emard said. “He doesn’t miss when he hits it. It’s been fun to watch to see what he’s doing.”

Frenzel is the first to admit he’s been a direct benefit of a lineup that has Stephen Laylock in front of him, and “Big Ben” Herauf and Tyler Steffan behind him.

Laylock hits for a high average, and Herauf and Steffan both returned from college where they started for the University of Mary. Herauf was last year’s state tournament most valuable player, finishing with five homers and 15 RBIs.

“They’re throwing to me a lot more than they are throwing to those two,” Frenzel said. “I’m not getting walked as much and I’m getting good pitches to hit.”

Emard agreed.

“They can’t pitch around him like in years past,” Emard said. “They’ve got two other horses to deal with. It’s relieving for Cole that he knows he’s going to get some pitches to hit.”

Though Frenzel has dazzled Dickinson fans with his dingers, Emard said it’s important to keep in mind that Frenzel is not a home run hitter.

“I wouldn’t classify him as a home-run power-hitter,” Emard said. “I’d classify him as a great all-around hitter. He doesn’t strike out and he’s disciplined. He doesn’t just swing hard and swing for the fence.”

Frenzel’s homers against Fargo helped Dickinson wrap up its second consecutive regular-season title as the Riders picked up a split. Dickinson (28-6) is 16-2 in the conference and earned the top spot in the state seeding tournament, which starts Thursday at Corbett Field in Minot. Dickinson won the regular-season title last year with a 15-5 record.

With this title sewn up, Emard said it’s important that the Roughriders stay focused and still take today’s games seriously. It certainly means something to the Williston Keybirds, who are tied with Minot for the state’s second spot with a record of 13-5. Minot swept Williston earlier this season, meaning the Vistas own the tiebreaker. Minot hosts Devils Lake on Monday.

“You want to into any tournament on a good note,” Emard said. “It doesn’t do us any good just to go through the motions.”

Tags: legion baseball, sports, roughriders