Tiger softball climbs with two 3AA-North wins

Barricades were up to limit parking for the substantial Tuesday action in prep softball here. We're into the post-season. Much of the tournament is double-elimination which always has the possibility for confusing yours truly. So I'll just summarize each of the two individual games for the Tigers. 

Nothing but wins. We surely have lived up to the No. 1 seed. 

After Mark Ekren's public comments about how a pedestrian mishap was almost a certainty at the new facility, new safeguards were in place. Did UMM take charge of this? There are three government-based entities involved. Don't tell me there isn't some potential for conflict with this. 

Anyway, the powers-that-be, whoever they are, decided no more parking in the non-paved area between two of the fields. That place had gotten packed previously. Yes, kind of a zoo. 

Is the new situation that much better? Parked cars line the sides of the road going out to the bypass. Prairie Lane? Isn't there kind of a safety danger with this too? You have to look for people coming in and out between the vehicles. Meanwhile the cars driving along that road are going faster than they would in town. The same concern exists for the Morris cross country invitational: cars lining the shoulders along a state highway. 

When in doubt, slow down. That's what "Coach Ek" would want you to do. I enjoyed my relationship with him in my newspaper years. I can overlook the green of Breckenridge. I learned to dislike that color. 

I arrived on bike Tuesday and walked toward the outfield seating area. Watching from the outfield? A fair number of fans appear to be choosing this. Do they really prefer this vantage point? I'd say not. Problem is, attractive viewing opportunities are quite limited. That has been my No. 1 criticism. 

The area behind home plate is too small and among the fans there, many cannot get a full view of the playing field. I have tested those sight lines when the place is empty. Haven't gotten arrested yet. 

Oh, and then I saw a table set up a fair distance away. I had no intention of passing by it. But then it dawned on me: they're charging admission! Oh my. It's going to be hard catching all the fans for this, because they can arrive from varying directions. I feel for the person manning the table. I think it was Lenora Waddell who does yeoman's work. I didn't get close enough to be sure. 

I departed quickly and moved on. Got some popcorn for a snack at Willie's Super Valu. Meanwhile the MACA softball team was taking care of business against two opponents. First they dispatched winless ACGC 10-0 in a predictable outcome. Then it was on to face Montevideo, the Thunder Hawks. The game had an identical complexion to the previous one. The score this time: 11-1. 

So are the Tigers on their way to state? Keep an eye on the teams from southern Minnesota, they can be very difficult to beat. I'm not sure why. Keep an eye on Pipestone.

 

Tigers 11, Montevideo 1

Our win over the T-Hawks saw our bats resonate for eleven hits. This was a Section 3AA-North winners bracket game. My, we scored in every inning! 

Our line score was eleven runs, eleven hits and zero errors - perfection. Monte was held to five hits by the pitching of Brienna Dybdahl. She struck out two batters and walked two in her six innings. Monte used two pitchers: Megan Anderson (pitcher of record) and Kassey Pauling. 

A number of offensive standouts for us, like LaRae Kram: three hits including a double, two stolen bases, three runs scored and an RBI. Brianna Marty was on base constantly with her three walks received and a hit. This Tiger scored three runs and drove in one. 

Emma Bowman stroked a pair of doubles and accumulated three RBIs. Makenna Hufford had a hit and a stolen base, plus she walked, scored a run and drove in a run. Sydney Dietz went one-for-three with a stolen base, a walk received and a run. 

Katelyn Wehking had a hot bat with three hits and three RBIs. She stole two bases and scored a run. Hannah Fischer stole a base, walked twice and scored a run. And Courtney Lehman had a stolen base and run scored.

 

Tigers 10, ACGC 0

Odds were high this game would only go five innings, and sure enough. Makenna Hufford made a statement in the first inning with a home run, a two-run job. Brianna Marty connected for an RBI single in the fifth to enact the ten-run rule. We made a big push toward that outcome in the fourth: six runs. 

Dybdahl's pitching arm did the work in this game too. She struck out two batters in her four innings. Yasmin Westerman pitched the fifth and allowed no hits.

 

Spiritual concern

Is the Christian faith turning into the QAnon faith? The trend appears to be growing, whether you all like it or not. Quite possibly some of you are on board with the disturbing direction. There are some quite conservative churches in the Morris area. 

For those who take a deep breath and try to seek demonstrated truth, where are we to go? I mean, if we feel discouraged from being part of Christianity anymore? I really have to wonder. Does the Christian faith today exist to promote Donald Trump? Or his associates like Michael Flynn? 

If so many Christians can be this ignorant and clueless, what is to become of our cherished faith? Beware false prophets. But many in the flock wouldn't listen to me.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com