Liz Dietz, Jen Solvie excel in 11-1 triumph

The bats sizzled in MACA softball's 11-1 win over Melrose on May 3. Melrose didn't score until the seventh. Until then, pitcher Liz Dietz had the Dutchmen put up a string of goose eggs. Dietz was quite in the groove as she struck out ten batters. She walked just two and gave up two hits.
The losing pitcher was Makiya Luetmer who gave up 14 hits and eleven runs, nine earned. She struck out six batters and walked two.
Jen Solvie brought her lumber to the plate and delivered a solo home run to ignite a two-out rally in the fourth. Jen would finish the day with three hits in four at-bats. The home run seemed decisive for putting the momentum in the Tigers' corner.
Bailey Marty connected for two hits in five at-bats. Emma Bowman doubled as part of a two-for-four showing. Dietz supplied a hit to the mix. Whitney DeMaris and Abby McNally both went one-for-four. Karly Fehr had a two-for-four line and Riley Decker went two-for-three. Melrose's Luetmer connected for two hits.
We scored four runs in the fourth inning, five in the fifth and two in the seventh. Our line score was eleven runs, 14 hits and one error, while Melrose had 1-7-3 numbers.

Let's play golf!
The destination was Olivia for the West Central Conference golf meet Friday (5/4). It was a day for Minnewaska Area to shine. 'Waska took top team honors in the eight-team field. Melrose was runner-up. As for our Tigers, we were No. 4 in the standings. Here's the rundown on our individuals: Chase Engebretson (45), Brady Loge (46), Dalton Koehler (53), Brock Peterson (45), Tyler Buss (51) and Easton Hacker (47).
Minnewaska's Isaac Burgess took medalist honors, shooting a 39. Melrose's John Brang was second (40) and Minnewaska's Drew Nelson was No. 3 (41).

The Schlief family benefit
I don't know the Schliefs but I was happy to come and support the fundraiser benefit Saturday evening. Such a pleasant early-summer day for the affair. So tranquil. How blessed we would be if there were no cause for the benefit. But as I told one of the relations of the van driver in the accident, "God works in ways mysterious." God has a plan that challenges all of us and invites all of us. We need to stay committed to his Word.
I haven't gotten around much in recent years because of family commitments, taking care of people entering their 90s. Those circumstances have changed now. My late Mom would be happy seeing me get around to events like the Schlief benefit. What a crowded gymnasium for the event. Oh, if I had a nickel for every time I visited there when I reported for the local corporate media. For 15 years I was the sports reporter and a chief photographer for the Hancock Record newspaper. I photographed the Owls at the Met Sports Center and Williams Arena in the Twin Cities. Those were the days before digital photography.
Some of the memories are bittersweet because there was a coach who, while wildly successful, had some personal weaknesses that called for him to be punished in prison. Those days are drifting quite far into the past now.
I remember Dave Schoeck as the boys basketball coach. He was an agreeable fellow while maybe not setting the world on fire with his coaching. I know he loved being the coach. He had some dynamic sons who played sports like "Boo," remember? Wrestling had a somewhat volatile person - ahem - at the coaching helm: Spencer Yohe. He was certainly driven. I doubt that some of his excesses would be allowed today.
I think that today, everything is run very smoothly with school programs, with everyone on the same page in terms of their approach and temperament. I liked working with Adam Steege who coached football. I thought it was cute how Adam talked about a pair of twins in school, one who he described as a "pacifist" because he was not on board with football, while the other one was. "Pacifist!" I like that word and think it is an admirable trait.
I looked around the gym Saturday and unfortunately, did not see very many familiar faces. Ah, time passes. It has been sad checking in on the Schlief page on Caring Bridge. So many prayers for them. How do we rationalize all that has happened so that it makes sense? Man, I don't know. But we need to keep the faith, pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and move on. Bless the Schliefs.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com