Kernels Seek Success in
NORTH STAR LEAGUE
The Cokato Kernels, who play their home games at Veterans
Memorial Park at Brooks Lake in Cokato, are looking to make
a name for themselves in the North Star League in their fi fth
season of play. Their nickname, the Kernels, references the
community’s strong ties to corn agriculture.
Team: Cokato Kernels
Manager: Nick Corbin, fi fth year
League: North Star League – Maple Lake, Hutchinson, Buffalo,
Loretto, Delano, Dassel-Cokato, Howard Lake, Maple Plain,
Cokato, Litchfi eld, Waverly.
State Tournaments: None.
Hall of Famers: None.
2018 fi nish: In the 2018 NSL playoffs, the Kernels needed
two wins in the “pigtail” bracket to make the fi nal, 8-team
tournament. The Kernels won the fi rst game over Litchfi eld,
4-0, but lost a 5-4 heartbreaker to Maple Plain on a walkoff,
infi eld error.
The team fi nished 7-13 in the regular season in the NSL.
Isaac Nelson led the team in hitting, with a .432 average. He
had 35 hits in 81 at-bats, with nine doubles, one home run,
and a team-high 17 RBI.
Steve Schmitt led the Kernels with four wins, while Dalton
Asplin led Cokato with an ERA of 2.85, and a team-high 36
strikeouts. Asplin will not be returning this season.
Teams to beat: [From NorthStarLeague.org] For 2019, the
North Star League managers are predicting the standings
will look a lot like the 2018 standings.
Maple Lake and Hutchinson are picked by most to compete
for the championship. Delano is expected to be healthier
and is picked third.
Buffalo and Loretto are the selections for fourth and fi fth, with
D-C slotted for the sixth slot. Howard Lake, which needed
to win a tie breaker to avoid being in the bottom four, is
predicted for seventh place, and Maple Plain, which lost
that tie breaker, is picked for eighth.
The next three teams are picked to also make the top seven
and receive a bye into the regionals. That leaves the three
teams who fi nished as the bottom three last year, and the
managers are predicting the same fi nish with Cokato ninth,
Litchfi eld 10th and Montrose/Waverly to be 11th.
Key returning players: Key veterans returning on the offensive
side include Tom Halonen, Billy Aho, Isaac Nelson, Ethan
Niemela, Luke Morris, and Luke Nelson. The pitching staff
includes Steve Schmitt, Eric Pokornowski, Tanner Terning, and
Vinne Pokornowski.
Being a young team full of talent and speed, but without
the superstar players of other teams in the league, the entire
Photo
hoto by Brad Salmen
Isaac Nelson led the Kernels with a .432 batting average last
season, and will be counted on to lead Cokato this season.
team will have to step up
and contribute. A complete
team effort is needed for
the Kernels to win – throwing
strikes,
playing
good
defense, and wreaking
havoc on the bases.
Player Losses from 2018:
Dalton Asplin, Zach Martin,
Seth Looft, Jake Smith,
Jason Lyrek, Larry Niemela,
Tyler Halonen. Asplin will be
a big loss for the Kernels,
as he led the team in ERA
and was second on the
team in innings pitched and
strikeouts.
Key 2019 acquisitions: The
Kernels will have one key
player who is returning from
a couple-year absence in
3B/P Eric Pokornowski, who,
when he is on, has an ace-
like repertoire.
Photo by Brad Salmen
Kernels manager/catcher Nick
Corbin enters his fi fth year at the
helm of the Kernels.
Cokato Kernels 2019 Roster
Player
Dalton Asplin
Adam Barnaal
Chad Koivisto
Logan Niemela
Luke Nelson
Vinne Pokornowski
Steve Schmitt
Garret Lueders
Tom Halonen
Billy Aho
320.286.2118
Pos.
OF, P
INF
INF
P, OF
2B, P
OF/P
P
C
INF, P
LF
Player
Jacob Schmitz
Tanner Terning
Jake Hendrickson
Ethan Niemela
Isaac Nelson
Luke Morris
Eric Pokornowski
Pos.
P/C
P
INF
INF
C
OF
3B/P
Manager: Nick Corbin
DASSELCOKATO.COM
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