Do people still remember me covering the Morris graduation when I was with the Morris paper? You're quite forgiven if you do not. I also covered MAHS softball in its very earliest years. I deserve some credit - you're not allowed to disagree with that!
I have a post on my companion blog "Morris of Course" on the softball team and how it's gearing up for its very important annual test or tests against the teams from southern Minnesota. It all unfolds tomorrow (Saturday). So we're looking at Pipestone! Action will be in Marshall which unfortunately is a long drive from here. My blog post includes a photo of coach Mary Holmberg at the bottom where Mary is holding her cat! Here is the link and thanks for reading. God bless.
The Tigers of the baseball world wrapped up the regular season with a close win over Minnewaska Area, 6-5. And now they're ready to play Minnewaska again for the start of post-season. The action unfolds Tuesday here in Morris (much preferable to driving to Marshall). The Tigers and Lakers will vie beginning at 5 p.m. The Tigers are of course in 3AA.
Tigers 6, Lakers 5
Let's take a look at how the MACA baseball team defeated the Lakers on Wednesday. Chizek Field was the site. Fans can enjoy grandstand seating there, unlike at our softball complex. I have commented on this but I probably just get people upset.
I experienced turbulence with my professional standing when Switzer was superintendent. There were some things he should have addressed, at least sooner than he did. Then again, as his son explained to me while we were on our way to a 10K run once, "People don't realize that he works for the board, it isn't the other way around."
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| Fred Switzer |
The Tigers beat the Lakers in exciting come-from-behind fashion! This we did with a big five-run seventh! We finished with six runs on five hits and two errors. The 'Waska line score was 5-6-0. We survived our two errors.
The seventh inning story had Riley Asmus rapping an RBI single that resulted in the bases full. Alex Asmus brought his bat to the plate. A double with the sacks full! This cleared the bases. Score tied!
'Waska kept unraveling by issuing two straight walks. Hunter Westerman lofted a sacrifice fly to score Alex Asmus. Victory with this "walk-off" run - a term that I do not remember from when I as young. Oh to be young again.
Riley Asmus finished the afternoon with a one-for-two line, plus he walked twice. He stole a base, scored two runs and drove in one. Alex Asmus had his double and he collected four RBIs while scoring a run. Ozzy Jerome was a perfect two-for-two with one of his hits a double. He walked twice and stole a base. Hunter Westerman drove in a run with a SAC fly, plus he walked. Kye Suess walked and scored a run. Hunter Smith had a hit, a walk and a run scored. Riley Saito walked twice and scored a run.
Since we won at the end, it was our relief pitcher Brayden Carlson getting the 'W'. He was preceded on the hill by Ozzy Jerome and Jack Kehoe. Jerome struck out three batters and walked none. the losing pitcher was Conner Eerickson.
Bring on Section 3AA play!
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| You know who this is |
Is Caitlin Clark going to play for the Indiana Fever tonight (Friday) against the Valkyries? Good question. She is listed as "probable." She sat out Wednesday for the game against the "Fire."
The issue is back soreness. That is always to be taken seriously. Tonight's game is at home for the "Fever." Below is an email about CC that I sent to my friend and fellow sports enthusiast Dan Sayles on Thursday. You know Dan, the dog training guy. I see him on many mornings at DeToy's Restaurant, along with Neal Hofland. Sports keeps us young, knock on wood.
Well Dan, sad to say but I think Caitlin's career is being derailed by injury. Of course she will always be famous no matter what. She'll be able to make money from that. She could do some limited "barnstorming" I think, like to give clinics at high schools. But I think her body is breaking down under the demands of pro basketball. She was scrubbed from action at the last minute last night. The Fever won easily over Portland, a team that had defeated the New York Liberty.
I was able to watch livestream again.
I've told you before that Caitlin had almost no break between her last college Final 4 and her rookie pro season. I began wondering from early-on if she was pushing her body too hard. And then for her second season, word got out that she "bulked up" to better withstand the pro game. And she was hurt all season.
And then this new season started with CC doing a reversal and trying to be light and fast. During her "bulking up" period, I wonder if she used PEDs. That is very risky because there can be long-term consequences. The soft tissue injuries would seem very likely to get aggravated. If and when she plays again, fans will be holding their breath about her coming up lame. Such a shame. I hope she socked away some money.
The word last night was that Caitlin has a "stiff back." That makes me laugh because I remember in Jim Bouton's famous baseball book, he told about pitchers who were always saying "My arm isn't sore, it's just a little stiff." Trying to be in denial. I will bet that CC has a sore back and that can really become a chronic problem.
So now the Tiger softball team will play one of those southern MN teams Saturday at Marshall. Another long drive to Marshall for the Morris fans. I bet this cuts down on fan numbers. As much as I have been around, I have never been to Southwest State for a high school game.
Warrenn Anderson told me "the parents are divided up into so many activities these days," we're less likely to see the kind of mass fan turnout like what we saw at Concordia with Kevin Loge.
Does MAHS even have a fall sports banquet or winter sports banquet anymore, or do the teams all have their own banquets? Of course the old banquets could be kind of a sensitive situation. A chance for the coaches to criticize me, even. Someone told me those banquets were a good idea because it gave parents with the different teams a chance to interact with each other, get more familiar with each other. Sports parents all have things in common!
One minute Spencer Yone is public enemy No. 1 in Morris, and a few years later he gets a standing ovation at the Morris banquet! I don't think schools today would put up with some of Spencer's "idiosyncrasies." He was too intense.
Remember Whitey Ford and Dick Hall the 1960s baseball pitchers? Both were noteworthy for pitching to an advanced age like in their late 30s. What did they have in common? Both started pitching late. They spared their arms. If Whitey had started pitching at age nine in Little League, he would have come and gone quickly.
- BW
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