Asmus, Storck pick up pitching wins

First, a promo here for Monday night band concert, May 16. The concert starts at 7:30. but there's an ice cream social beforehand. Let's all be aware that festivities at the school begin at 6:30. This is a joyous return of a tradition that was nixed last year due to the pandemic. The pandemic stays on the corner of our minds. But we've also seen restoration of most standard events. How can you beat an ice cream social? Solos and ensembles perform at the cafeteria area beginning at 6:30. People then move into the concert hall for the 7:30 main event. Featured will be grades 9-12 musicians. A friend of mine talks about the "I Scream Social." Graduation is soon on the slate. UMM had its outdoor graduation Saturday. I was at Pizza Hut with a friend when a grad wearing cap came in with family. I offered personal congrats to the young man. I had been informed prior to graduation that there would be no band or choir. So I was disheartened.

Baseball: Tigers 15, BOLD 0

The Tigers of the baseball world owned the May 10 game against BOLD. The elements have been against the student-athletes through much of this spring. But the May 10 game at the BOLD diamond was on, especially to the delight of MACA fans who watched their team work to a 15-0 win. 

The "Minnesota Scores" site tells us the Tigers now have an 11-2 record, 8-1 in conference. 

The Tigers took charge early-on with a 10-0 advantage after two innings. Our hit total was ten compared to the Warriors' six. A telling stat was in errors where the host Warriors stumbled, committing eight. Meanwhile the MACA fielding was flawless. 

Riley Asmus picked up the pitching win with his four-inning performance. He struck out five batters, walked none. Dylan Rose finished up on the hill with one inning in which he fanned a batter. BOLD's pitchers were Daylen Weber and Owen Flann. 

Many offensive highlights for the Tiger crew obviously. Brandon Jergenson had two hits including a double. He scored two runs and drove in two. Asmus was a perfect two-for-two with three RBIs and a walk received. Brendan Hardy drove in three runs with his two-for-three performance. He drew a walk and scored a run. 

Ross Marty had a hit, a walk and two runs scored. Kaleb Breuer delivered a hit. Rose was one-for-two with a run scored and two RBIs. Noah Erickson had a hit in his only at-bat, plus he scored a run. Sam Kleinwolterink scored three runs and drove in two, plus he drew a walk. Durgin Decker walked and scored a run. Brandon Ross scored two runs. Brett Hanson and Trevor Buss each scored one run. 

BOLD players who hit safely were Tate Sheehan, Owen Flann, Jack Kisser and Mason Uhlenkamp.

Tigers 6, WCA 0

The story was another shutout for MACA in the May 5 contest at the Barrett diamond. So the score was 6-0 as the orange and black disposed of the Knights of West Central Area. The line scores were 6-9-0 for MACA and 0-2-2 for WCA.

Drew Storck struck out four batters in picking up the pitching win. He worked four innings, walked none and allowed two hits. The pitching save was gained by Drew Huebner who worked three innings, fanned three batters, walked none and allowed no hits. Cole Bruss took the loss for WCA. Jack Courier also pitched for the Knights. 

Our batters with multiple hits were Ross Marty, Brandon Jergenson and Sam Kleinwolterink. Marty had a two-for-three boxscore line, two runs scored, a HBP, an RBI and two stolen bases. Jergenson was two-for-four with two RBIs and a run scored. Kleinwolterink had a pair of hits, one a double, and drove in a run. Kaleb Breuer walked and stole a base. Riley Asmus was one-for-three with a walk. 

Durgin Decker had a hit and a run scored. Trevor Buss walked and scored a run. Dylan Rose had a hit, a stolen base and a run scored. 

Knights who hit safely were Cole Anderson and Dane Anderson. Bryce Kjesbo and Colton Lindquist each stole a base.

 

The big storm

If it was not a true "derecho" that blew through here on Thursday night, it had to be close. Derecho is the term for a windstorm that seems truly out of hell. 

You can drive around Morris and see many signs of what blew through here. It will be quite the effort to deal with downed trees. I'm wondering about trees or electric poles that might be de-stabilized, not actually down but susceptible to going down now. 

I was watching through the picture windows facing south at my residence, as the wind took down two large evergreen trees. On Sunday my old high school friend Art Cruze visited and took a photo. Art lives in Paynesville. He and I graduated with the Morris High Class of '73. Take a look at the photo:

 

Church today

Am I an old-timer in using the word "Baccalaureate Sunday?" Well, graduating seniors got their due of recognition this morning (Sunday) at my church of First Lutheran. And am I ever impressed: ten total! The numbers have generally gotten thin through the years, surely in comparison with my young era which was "boomer" times. That's the baby boomers. My confirmation class at First Lutheran was lined up in rows for our photo, and we weren't even combined with any other church. 

I had no idea at the time that times would change, numbers would shrink. There were kids everywhere in my day. We ran around unsupervised so much. So, we learned to be "self-starters," right? To organize our own ballgames, arrange for bases etc.? Sometimes we brag about that. The good old days? Let's not apply that as a broad brush, to be sure. 

Anyway, the free-roaming days got curtailed largely because of the Wetterling episode. When all was said and done, the episode was more about law enforcement incompetence than anything. In the meantime our culture changed. A friend of mine joked a few years back, "maybe we should all just wrap our kids in Nerf until they're 18." 

I wasn't going to stay for coffee hour at church this morning but then I realized cake would probably be served because of the special day. I was right. So I availed myself - good cake - and was reminded again of the late Allen Anderson who had an instinct for such things. May God rest his soul. 

It has been a difficult spring for the public school: quite bad weather afflicting the outdoor sports. Therefore I haven't much felt in the swing for writing about it. On some days when games were played, weather was still discouraging. Hard to get in the spirit. But now? Well now maybe (?) we can forget all that. Or will the winds blow out of hell again? Anyway, I'm looking forward to the Monday band event. Wouldn't miss it for anything.

First Lutheran is ELCA. We have the reputation of being a "liberal" church. I'm sure the majority of Stevens County churches, the conservative ones, are cheering the impending Supreme Court decision on Roe vs. Wade. Ah, you "support life!" Rather sanctimonious to say that. 

The abortion issue is full of complicated nuances with great consequences for women, once draconian laws are applied. I'm sure that in my church, there is a positive attitude about "women's reproductive health rights." One thing for sure: the current developments with the Supreme Court would not be happening if men could get pregnant. Women, you now have "Justice Brewsky" (Kavanaugh) and other men making decisions about your body.

 

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