Stearns County Legion Baseball - Playoff Semi-Finals, Regal 5, St.Martin 4 - Lake Henry 6, Farming 1

Regal Legion team Coach Beier talking up one of the Eagles' players who was at bat.


St.Martin's coach leaving the premises of Buddy Beier Field in Regal. He was ejected after a violent confrontation with Regal Eagles coach Joe Beier, directly in front of the Eagles' dugout. Interestingly, Coach Beier had nothing to do with the play that the Martins' coach was disputing (a pop fly tip to the Eagles' catcher for a strikeout).

It was a scene straight out of a Major League Baseball game. A sad affair indeed, especially at a high school-level Legion baseball game. Credit should be given to both baseball teams, as the players conducted themselves with a high level of sportsmanship in a tense game that went 2 extra innings (nine total).

In the other semi-final game, Lake Henry overcame a 15 strikeout, three-hitter from Farming's Brad Mergen. The Lakers were cuffed in the first few innings, as Wergen opened up the game with nine strikeouts. In the sixth inning, Lake Henry found traction with Josh Roelike's three-run home run on a full count. The Farming Flames play with mostly Albany high school players, a team that placed 5th in the Class AA state tournament this past June. Mergen won the game for the Huskies in the State Consolation Semi-finals.

Lake Henry and Regal will meet next Tuesday at 6:30 in Regal for the championship game. It is a rematch from last year's title game, won by Lake Henry.

More will be added on Wednesday afternoon.

This B-B-E area sports update brought to you by:

Region 15C Tournament Set

The following Region 15C teams will wean themselves down to a final two who will advance to the Amateur Baseball State Tournament later in August= New Munich, Spring Hill, Lake Henry, St.Martin, Atwater, New London-Spicer.

This Friday in St.Martin, the region tournament opens at 8:15 with Spring Hill and New London-Spicer facing off. The next games are on Saturday at Noon and 2:30. At Noon Lake Henry faces Atwater, and at 2:30 St.Martin (the host team) plays New Munich.

I've got some updates on my advertising up finally. The link to the Bonanza Valley State Bank is active and can be seen with their advertisement on the right. Plus the 3 major towns inside B-B-E all have their "welcome" signs added on the right column.

This Tuesday night the Regal Eagles Legion team plays in the Stearns County League tournament. I believe they are in the semi-final round. The game is at 6:30 in Regal, but I haven't found out who they play yet. The Lake Henry Lakers host the other semi-final game at 6:30.

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Summer Update on Jaguars Sports

A few items that are noteworthy...

The Jaguars volleyball team won every tournament in their regular Junior Olympics season they entered. In many of these tournaments they won in convincing fashion as well. From what I heard, they took 7th place at the Star of the North tournament in St.Paul, held the last week of June.

Update on July 28th...I learned that the Jaguars volleyball season opener will be at Sauk Centre. Not sure on a date though, but I am guessing either August 26th or 28th. Ortonville was scrubbed from the schedule. Good news!

The Jaguars boys basketball team was regular season co-champions with Morris Area of the Alexandria Summer Basketball League. This bodes quite well for their upcoming season, as many teams in this league are also in the Jaguars' playoff group, Section 6AA. They are currently running a ship without a skipper, with the termination of former Varsity Coach Chuck Thompson last spring. No word yet on who will take over one of B-B-E's best athletic programs this winter.

Teams in the Alex summer league were: Browerville, Alexandria, Chokio-Alberta, Minnewaska, Morris Area, Ortonville, Battle Lake, B-B-E, Parkers Prairie, Sauk Centre and Bertha-Hewitt.

Jaguars girls tennis head coach Katy Westrom recently reported that the team has been running weekly captains' practices this summer, held at the High School athletic complex courts. After the most successful season in school history for girls tennis, going 10-14 overall in 2007, the returning team members have their sights on a .500 or better season this fall.

Last but not least, the Jaguars football season opener will be on Friday, August 29th at Barret, MN, roughly a 1/2 hour west of Alexandria on Highway 55. The High School of West Central Area school district is there. In 2007, the Jaguars defeated the Knights 33-8 at our home field. The last time the Jaguars played there was in 1997, the final year the Knights played in the West Central South Conference.

Here's a summary of local business I know that have websites: Bonanza Valley State Bank, North American State Bank, Dee-Jay Sounds, Greater Visions Photography. I'm sure there are more, I just don't know about them yet. I'm guessing larger businesses like Bayer Built and Breitbach Construction have websites. I'm thinking of new ways to promote these websites on here, and I hope to have that implemented soon.

Saints Are Out... 7-3 Loss to Spring Hill in Game 3 of Divisional Play

The Saints went 1-4 against the defending Region 15C champion Spring Hill Chargers in 2008. They look to regroup and bring it next season..

The Saints started off on the right note with leadoff hitter Jonathan Olmscheid's solo home run in the top of the first inning. Very little went right after that, however, as the Chargers moved in front 3-1 and ultimately took a 7-2 lead after five innings.

I heard that St.Martin defeated Richmond 5-0. No word yet on New Munich.

Lake Henry defeated Farming 14-2 on Tuesday night in Watkins.

I'm currently gathering information on the Stearns County League Little League/Legion baseball playoffs.

This Elrosa Saints amateur baseball update brought to you by:

Elrosa Saints Respond in Round 2 of Divisionals With a 13-5 Thrashing of Defending Region 15C Champion Spring Hill

The Elrosa Saints and Spring Hill Chargers will face off on Monday night (July 21) in the final game of the best-of-three series at 8:30pm in Cold Spring. The winner advances to the Region 15C tournament. The loser packs up until 2009.

The only other score I have is Farming 2, Lake Henry 0. St.Martin and New Munich also won round-two games, so all four series in the Stearns County League will go to a third deciding game. From what everyone has told me that I've asked, this has never happened in the long and storied history of the league.

More will be added on Monday.

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Photos from Bonanza Valley Days

Note: A few changes will be made soon, including the addition of a photo of the Bonanza Valley State Bank which will have a direct link to their new bank website. Also, Irrigation Pump Service was recently sold from Pete Hansen to Brent Dekok, who took over the business this summer. His wife Melanie will continue as owner of RJ's Mini-Mart. I'll be creating new ads for IPS & RJ's.

Another hot week ahead of us. Drink lots of water!

These Bonanza Valley Days photos brought to you by:

Elrosa Saints Fall in Divisional Opener 5-0 to Spring Hill

The Saints will host the Chargers next Sunday at 1:30 in the best-of-three series.
Full coverage of the Stearns County League playoffs can be found in the Belgrade Observer.

This Elrosa Saints playoffs update brought to you by:

Elrosa Saints Edge Greenwald in 10 Innings, 5-4 to Wrap Up Regular Season -- Playoffs Begin July 13

The Saints will have to wait to see the outcome of the Sunday game between Spring Hill and Meire Grove to find out who they play in the divisional series. They open Stearns County North playoffs next Sunday, July 13, at 1:30 in either New Munich or Spring Hill.

Update on Sunday night: The Saints will travel to defending Region 15C champion Spring Hill to open up division playoffs on Sunday (July 13) at 1:30. One week later they would host the Chargers in Elrosa in the best-of-three series. Today Spring Hill defeated Meire Grove 4-3, putting the Grovers in 4th place in the final standings. The top four teams advance to division playoffs.

Final SCL-North Standings:
New Munich 13-0
Spring Hill 7-6
Elrosa 5-8
Meire Grove 4-9
Greenwald 2-11

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Bonanza Valley Days Coming July 11, 12, 13 -- City-Wide Beach Party

Photos from the 2006 Bonanza Valley Days.


From the 2007 Bonanza Valley Days. The Friday night street dance.

Excerpts from the Bonanza Valley Voice:

"BEACH PARTIES ARE GREAT in 2008!" The Bonanza Valley Days are just around the corner, beginning next Friday, July 11th. The three-day beach party has lots in store for every age. There are wave after wave of activities so get ready to hang out in Brooten for all the fun.

The events begin on Friday night with the Brooten Fire Department Relief Association's annual Chicken BBQ Dinner at the City Park, 5-8pm. The cost is $7 for 1/4 of a chicken and $8.50 for 1/2 of a chicken. The B-B-E Community Band will be playing during the chicken feed.

From 7 to 11pm on Friday, Custom Duct is sponsoring "Herman, Francis and the Country Cruisers" at the Pavilion. At 7:30, the men's softball tournament begins. You can call Boyce Fisher at 352-6268 to enter.

At 8:30, a free Street Dance, sponsored by Fauskee Oil & RJ's Mini Mart, featuring "Dee Jay Sounds" will close out Day 1 of Bonanza Valley Days.

The men's softball continues at 8:00am at the City Park. City-wide garage sales begin at 7:00am. Maps are available at various sites.

On Saturday night at 7:00, the Miss Brooten Pageant will take place at the B-B-E elementary school, with the theme being "Surfin' the Night Away". Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for students. Children 5 and under are free.

On Sunday the Grand Parade will begin at 1:30 at the north end of Main Street, traveling south on Roe street, corners at Western Avenue and ends near the Pavilion. That evening, a community church service will take place at 5:00 in the City Park.

This B-B-E community update brought to you by:

(Now owned & operated by Brent Dekok, who recently purchased the business from Pete Hansen, founder and owner since the 1970s)

Upgrades Coming to the Website

Over the next week, I'll be adding more advertising from local businesses, as well as creating active links to local businesses that have their own websites. The cost of running a website for a business can be considerably high, and it's great to see a handful of B-B-E businesses taking on such an endeavor.

As one example, the Bonanza Valley State Bank has a new website that was just unveiled last month. You can click through to their bank's website by going to the logo on the right for the city of Brooten.