Today’s Surveying the Field with Frontier Precision features returning catcher Brody Tanksley and pitcher Zach Mann. They are teammates at Indiana University (IU) Southeast.
Tanksley is a junior at IU Southeast. In the 43 games that Tanksley appeared in for the Larks in 2019, he averaged .268 with 26 runs, 3 home runs, 11 doubles and 26 RBI.
“I loved it. I loved the atmosphere and the fans,” Tanksley said. When the season ended, he knew he wanted to return. “After our last game, I asked coach Repay if he could help me come back to Bismarck the next summer.”
Larks new head coach Will Flynt offered Tanksley a contract for the 2020 season after hearing a lot of good things about him, as well as speaking with Tanksley. Flynt hopes Tanksley will have a future in professional baseball.
“I’m hoping that Brody gets drafted,” Flynt said. “Everything I’ve heard about him and then talking with him – he’s top notch. I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing him this summer, but if not, then I hope he’s in pro ball.”
Bismarck proved to be a place that was about more than just baseball for Tanksley.
“I’m really excited to see the host families that I really got close with last summer. I haven’t seen them in a while and I’m looking forward to reuniting with them,” said Tanksley.
Tanksley’s teammate at IU Southeast, Zach Mann, will also join the Larks this summer.
Mann is a redshirt junior transfer from Chattanooga State Community College to IU Southeast. The 6’6” 235-pound right-handed pitcher said he is very intense when he goes into a game and will do whatever it takes to get a win for the team.
“I’m excited to be playing against the competition that we’ll get to play against,” said Mann. “The high-level caliber of play – that’ll be a lot of fun.”
The Larks 2020 season is scheduled to start on time on May 26. with a home game against the Duluth Huskies.
The Scheels 7 Game Pack is the best way to see the Larks play this summer. It includes 7 games, all you can eat food and drinks, a hat, jersey, flip flops and more. Tickets are $21/game. They are already 92 percent sold out.
The Bismarck Larks are a proud affiliate of the Northwoods League, the proven leader in development of elite college baseball players. The Larks mission is to use FUN to make a difference in the lives of our families, businesses, players, and communities we serve. This is accomplished with a commitment to putting fans first and providing high quality family entertainment at affordable prices. In 2019, the Larks sold out 97% of all home game tickets at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, home of Dakota Community Bank and Trust Field. The Larks were named Northwoods Organization of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 26thseason, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 230 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
