Jump on the bandwagon! Elrosa Saints win 3rd straight playoff title and regain possession of the Keg

Ethan Vogt carries the Keg back to the Elrosa dugout following the win today...the Saints were trying to regain possession of the Keg in their fourth meeting of the year with the Chargers. Spring Hill had regained the Keg after the teams' first meeting, a 7-1 Chargers win on June 18 under the lights in Elrosa. The Saints held the Keg all winter long, having beaten Spring Hill in the 2010 division playoff championship game.

The Elrosa Saints open up the Region 15C amateur baseball tournament next Saturday, August 6 at 3:30 against Farming. Today in Spring Hill, the Saints defeated the Chargers 3-2 to repeat as Stearns County League North playoff champions. It's actually a three-peat, as the Saints have won the SCL-North playoff title in 2009, 2010 and this season.

Elrosa, now 9-8 this season in Stearns County League games and 3-1 in the playoffs, took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, then Spring Hill scored twice in the bottom of the 8th inning. In the top of the 9th inning, Elrosa scored twice to go up 3-2 and held on for the win. Brady Weller pitched the first six innings in his first career playoff start, with Dustin Breitbach coming in for the seventh inning and picking up the win. Brent Terres started for Spring Hill, with Chris Spanier closing.

The Farming Flames are the Stearns County League South playoff runners-up, after they lost in 12 innings at Lake Henry today. Brad Mergen pitched the final 5 1/3 frames for Farming and gave up a solo home run to Cory Nietfeld in the bottom of the 12th. Farming led 4-1 with three innings in the book.

Farming advances to the Region 15C tournament for the first time since 2002, when they also advanced to the state tournament.

Visit the St. Cloud Times story at the following link to see a great story written by Tom Elliot, who was in Lake Henry today... http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110801/SPORTS/108010015/Amateur-baseball-Lakers-win-blast?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Umbrella

Saturday, August 6 Region 15C schedule: (*Updated Sunday night)
10:30 am - Lake Henry vs. Atwater
1 pm - Norway Lake-Sunburg vs. Spring Hill
3:30 pm - Elrosa vs. Farming

Sunday, August 7 Region 15C schedule:
Game four at 10:30am - Game 1 winner vs. Loser of Game 2
Game five at 1pm - Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner
Game six at 3:30pm - Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser

**Update from the County Line League...Norway Lake-Sunburg emerged as the CLL champion, and they join Atwater as the representatives from that league in the Region 15C tournament. Atwater is the runner-up from the County Line League. Norway Lake-Sunburg edged Atwater 6-5 today in the championship game, coming from behind after trailing 5-3 with seven innings complete. With two outs in the ninth, the Lakers’ Chris Braaten scored the game-ending run blasting in from third base while Jonah Johnson beat out an infield grounder in a bang-bang play at first.

In the playback final game, Atwater clobbered Starbuck 13-2 in seven innings to advance to the championship game.

Norway Lake-Sunburg drafted Starbuck's Jon Hoffman, while Atwater drafted Austen Hadley from the Regal Eagles.

Lake Henry drafted Scott Schroeder of Richmond. Farming drafted Josh Engquist, also of Richmond.

Action from the eighth inning tonight, with Spring Hill scoring the run that tied the game 1-1...


More will follow on Monday.

This Elrosa Saints and Stearns County League playoff update is brought to you by:

Stearns County Fair 4-H Blue Ribbon Auction held on Friday night

Below, North Fork Livewires 4-H club member Erin Anderson brings her market steer through the Blue Ribbon Auction on Friday night...

More scenes from the Elrosa at Farming Little League playoff game

An update from the Stearns County League...the SCL Legion championship playoff game will be on Tuesday, August 2 between St. Martin at Spring Hill.

Elrosa Saints punch ticket to Region 15C

For the third year in a row, the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team is Region 15C-bound. Their play back final win today over Greenwald put them at regions, as they defeated the Cubs 4-2. Ethan Vogt pitched the complete game for Elrosa.

The Saints (8-8 SCL) travel to Spring Hill on Sunday for the Stearns County League North division playoff championship game. First pitch is at 1:30.

In the SCL-South elimination game, Lake Henry beat Richmond 3-0, with Nathan Nietfeld going the distance for the region-bound Lakers.

In the County Line League, Atwater beat Paynesville 3-2 and Norway Lake-Sunburg defeated Starbuck 13-6.

The Region 15C tournament begins at 10:30 next Saturday morning, August 6 at Green Lake Diamonds in Spicer.

More will follow later.

Second of three demolition derbies is held tonight at the 110th annual Stearns County Fair

Shown is the first division competing this evening at the fair grounds, the truck demo...with a couple minivans thrown into the mix...

No injuries reported in train/semi accident near Belgrade

A video clip of the accident scene is below...showing the semi wreck, and then at the end, a shot of the two-car train that collided with the truck at the Liebl Farms crossing along Highway 55...


The accident took place at approximately 12:15pm today. No injuries were reported, and the semi truck driver was walking and did not require medical attention following the accident. The Brooten/Belgrade police department, Stearns County Sheriff and State Highway Patrol all responded to the accident. The driver of the semi is from Atwater, and the semi rig is owned by the Stamer Farms conglomerate.

Read more in next week's Sauk Centre Herald. You can view a photo album of pictures of the accident scene at http://saukherald.mycapture.com

Regarding possible Elrosa Post Office closure...

Interesting...Elrosa is not on this most recent "cut" list, where the U.S. Postal Service is studying a number of cities across the country where the Post Offices may be closed...

Visit the link to see the list: http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/states/minnesota.htm

Stearns County 4-H Clubs get into action today for non-livestock entry judging

A video clip from the early evening hours tonight at the Stearns County fairgrounds...

Stearns County League fans - the best in Minnesota

Over 200 fans were at Chargers Park in Spring Hill on Sunday for the Battle of the Keg - Playoff style!


Ethan Vogt went the distance for Elrosa on Sunday...he's been a work horse this season for the Saints...

Be sure to make the trip to Elrosa on Saturday, for the Elrosa vs. Greenwald loser's bracket final game of the Stearns County League North division playoffs. First pitch is at 1:30.

Who's excited for the Stearns County Fair?

The Stearns County Fair runs this week, Wednesday through Sunday...plus, 4-H judging begins on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00...

Elrosa Saints are blanked at Spring Hill - face Greenwald in elimination bracket next Saturday

Action from the top of the fourth inning, with Pat Illies getting tagged out on an attempt to slide home. He collides with Chargers catcher Nate Terres after the 20-second mark in the clip...

The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team lost 4-0 today at Spring Hill in the winner's bracket final of the Stearns County League North division playoffs. The Keg remains in Spring Hill's possession, and the playoff series during the auspice of the "Battle for the Keg" now stands in favor of Elrosa by a 5-3 margin.

Greenwald beat Meire Grove 8-1 in the elimination game of the SCL-North playoffs. Greenwald (6-9 SCL) travels to Elrosa (7-8 SCL) next Saturday (July 30) afternoon for a 1:30 game at Saints Field. The winner of that game goes to Region 15C and will also face Spring Hill (14-1 SCL) the next day in the SCL-North division playoff championship.

SCL-South division results on July 24:
Lake Henry 4, St. Martin 3 (14 innings! Lakers win on a suicide squeeze play)
Farming 4, Richmond 1 (Brad Mergen had 18 strikeouts and gave up one hit)

Out of the County Line League today...Regal lost their second playoff game of the 2011 season today, blowing a 6-3 lead in the eighth inning. Norway Lake-Sunburg plated four runs in the top of the eighth to grab the lead. The Lakers held on for a 7-6 win to advance in the postseason. Regal was eliminated with the loss.

Norway Lake-Sunburg, Paynesville and Starbuck remain alive. Atwater played New London-Spicer today in another elimination game, and I don't have the results from that action.

In a Little League playoff game, Elrosa was trailing 7-2 heading into the 7th inning tonight at Farming when I headed home. It is a Stearns County League quarterfinal playoff game. Final score: #1 seed Farming 7, #8 seed Elrosa 3.

Action from Farming tonight...


More will follow on Monday.

This Elrosa Saints playoff baseball update is brought to you by:

Noteworthy - New London-Spicer is accepted to the Wright County Conference

New London-Spicer's membership in the Wright County Conference will begin in the fall of 2012.

NL-S and B-B-E were both members of the West Central South Conference from 1989 to 1999.

Coming on Sunday - Battle for the Keg at Spring Hill

First pitch between Elrosa and Spring Hill is set for 1:30 on Sunday.

A Legion update...the Elrosa Saints lost 2-0 at Lake Henry on Tuesday night in the Stearns County League playoff opener.

The Little League team from Elrosa beat St. Martin 6-1 on Wednesday. They play at Farming on Sunday night at 6:30 in the quarterfinals.

110th annual Stearns County Fair is coming July 27-31 in Sauk Centre

The Stearns County Fair is coming in a couple weekends to the fairgrounds in Sauk Centre.

The event begins on Wednesday, July 27 with Entry Day. The Midway opens at 3:00, with wristband time from 5 to 10:00.

Children's Day is both Friday and Saturday, with over $1,000 worth of prizes given away.

Read all about it on page two of this week's Mid-Minnesota Shopper, which can be found in the Sauk Centre Herald.

You can also vie the Mid-Minnesota Shopper online at http://mntrails.com/Shopper_Pages_pdfs/default.html

This message is brought to you by:

Yes, fall sports are coming in just a few weeks - schedule necessary athletic exams at Glacial Ridge Health System in Glenwood

Click to enlarge...

The official start date for fall varsity practices at B-B-E is Monday, August 15.

Elrosa vs. Meire Grove - playoff opening action

Music and a big crowd at the Bonanza Valley Days Firemen's chicken dinner

(Should have posted this last week...it's been a little busy around here.)

Elrosa Saints win playoff opener

Dustin Barten and Dustin Breitbach are welcomed home after scoring on Kevin Kuefler's two-RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning against Meire Grove today...

Final score from Elrosa: Elrosa 6, Meire Grove 2 in a Stearns County League North division playoff opener.

The Saints evened their SCL record at 7-7 with the win, and they will travel to Spring Hill next Sunday for a 1:30 game. The winner gets an automatic bid to the Region 15C tournament.

Other Stearns County League playoff opener results on July 17:
Spring Hill 10, Greenwald 7 (7 innings)
Farming 10, Lake Henry 7
Richmond 4, St. Martin 2

Crazy...for the first time since 2005, either St. Martin or Lake Henry will not make it to the Region 15C tournament. Those two teams play next Sunday in Lake Henry in a Stearns County League South division elimination game.

At the Sinclair Lewis Days Little League Support the Troops tournament, the Elrosa Saints defeated Osakis 8-2 in the third place game.

This Elrosa Saints playoff update is brought to you by:

Elrosa Little League plays at 11am today

The Elrosa Saints Little League plays at 11am today in Sauk Centre at Jaycee Park (north end of town)...they went 1-1 yesterday after beating one of the Sauk Centre teams and then losing 5-4 in an extra-inning game to Alexandria. The Saints are one of six teams playing in the Sinclair Lewis Days tournament.

At 1:30 in Elrosa, the Saints amateur team hosts Meire Grove in the playoff opener.

And...if you didn't already know, the heat is dangerous today. Actually it's the humidity that is making being outside dangerous.

More coming later tonight.

Elrosa Little League team will play at the Sinclair Lewis Days Support the Troops tournament this weekend

A Little League baseball tournament will be hosted by the Sauk Centre Sluggers baseball team this weekend during the Sinclair Lewis Days festival. All games will be hosted at the Jaycee Park complex.

Action begins on Saturday at 8 a.m. when Sauk Centre Maroon faces neighboring rival Elrosa.

Sauk Centre Black faces Osakis at 9:30 a.m. in the second game.

At 1 p.m., a Veterans Ceremony will take place, with General Gerald Lang being on hand to throw out the first pitch as the Charlie Company unit is honored.

Further details are in this week's Sauk Centre Herald.

Coming on Thursday to rural Elrosa - Stearns County Discover Farm Field Day

Click to enlarge the poster for more details...

Elrosa Saints Legion wins regular season finale over Regal

The Elrosa Saints won on the home diamond in Stearns County League Legion baseball action on Tuesday night, defeating Regal 6-2.

The Saints capped the regular season with a 5-4 record in the SCL standings.

They open the playoffs next Tuesday, July 19 at Lake Henry at 6:30.

Elrosa Saints clinch #2 playoff seed for upcoming Stearns County League playoffs

Jonathan Olmscheid, a 2004 graduate of B-B-E, knocked a solo home run in the fourth inning for Elrosa's game-winning run.

The Elrosa Saints won 5-3 today over visiting Meire Grove to clinch the #2 seed for the Stearns County League North division playoffs.

They will take on either Meire Grove or Greenwald next Sunday, July 17, at 1:30 p.m. in Elrosa for their playoff opener.

I also heard that New Munich lost 5-2 to Lake Henry today, and Spring Hill beat Greenwald 7-3. The Chargers finished the regular season with a 12-1 record to win the Stearns County League North title outright.

**Update at 8pm...the Elrosa Saints will host Meire Grove next Sunday for the playoff opener. The Grovers won tonight's coin flip against Greenwald, and the Cubs will travel to #1 seed Spring Hill for the other playoff opener in the SCL-North.

From Elrosa today...Jeron Klaphake pitched well in relief of Matt Imdieke, throwing the 6th, 7th and 8th innings...


More will follow later.

This Elrosa Saints baseball update is brought to you by:

Tonight at Bonanza Valley Days - a busy evening of fun!

The Miss Brooten Pageant is at 7:00 at the B-B-E elementary gymnasium. Fireworks will take place at dusk, provided by Precocious Pyrotechnics. The big event of the night will be "Kid Hollywood" playing on Main Street beginning at 8:30. The street dance is sponsored by Marcia's Bar and Grill and the Ka-De Shack.

Sunday brings another full day of activities as well, highlighted by the Grand Parade at 1:30.

Bonanza Valley Days kicks off today - elementary baseball tournament hosts six teams

The Brooten/Belgrade team faces Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg in the clip below...


Below, Elrosa faces off with Paynesville in the 3rd/4th grade championship game today. Riley Lenarz is shown pitching for the Saints. Paynesville won a well-played contest by a 3-2 score.


This Elrosa Saints and Belgrade/Brooten baseball update is brought to you by:

Bonanza Valley Days is this weekend - "Small town heaven in 2011"

The big events of the first day of Bonanza Valley Days, which will help celebrate Brooten's 125th anniversary, include an elementary baseball tournament at the city park and Quisberg park beginning at 9am and also the Fireman's Chicken BBQ from 5 to 8pm at the city park. At 7:30 on Friday night, the 24-team men's softball tournament begins.

The 2011 Miss Brooten Pageant is on Saturday night at 7pm at the B-B-E elementary gymnasium. Admission is $3, with children five and under free.

The grand parade is on Sunday at 1:30.

Also on Sunday is a Centennial Celebration for St. Donatus Catholic Church in Brooten. A celebration Mass will be held at 10:30am at the church, with a chicken dinner to follow (catered by the Padua Pub).

For all the details on the three-day celebration in Brooten, check out this week's 10-page issue of the Bonanza Valley Voice.

Elrosa Saints 2nd-4th grade baseball hosts tonight under the lights

I'm not sure yet when the game begins, but that group will host tonight in Elrosa. One person I talked to said it will begin at either 7:00 or 7:30. The Saints will face Browerville.

On Friday this week, the Elrosa Saints Little League (5th-8th grade kids) will take part in the Bonanza Valley Days tournament. The baseball action, which begins at 9am, will be hosted by the Belgrade/Brooten Little League teams.

According to Belgrade/Brooten coach Paul Weller, games at the tournament will be held in both Belgrade and Brooten. Teams included are Belgrade/Brooten, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, Sauk Centre, Elrosa, Paynesville and Browerville.

In last night's Stearns County League Legion game at Elrosa, the host Saints fell to visiting Spring Hill 8-3. The Saints Legion team slipped to fourth place in the Stearns County League with the loss. Spring Hill remained undefeated in the league (6-0) with the win. Elrosa is now 4-3.

Other Legion scores on Tuesday night: Meire Grove 7, Greenwald 5 - Spring Hill 19, Lake Henry 3.

This Elrosa and Belgrade/Brooten baseball update is brought to you by:

Elrosa Saints Legion hosts Spring Hill tonight under the lights

The Elrosa Saints Legion baseball team will host Spring Hill under the home lights in a make up game. First pitch will be closer to 9:00, according to coach Matt Bauer. Spring Hill begins the evening with a game at Lake Henry, and once that game is over they will head up to Elrosa.

The regular season schedules for the youth baseball teams have been wracked with postponements due to the weather.

In a completely unrelated note, the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team will open the 2011 season with a home match on Tuesday, August 30 against Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta. A short while ago, I posted the Jaguars football schedule and some random notes on their upcoming season for 2011. Yesterday I finally got around to looking through the volleyball schedule. I will have more notes to add about the volleyball team as the summer continues.

**Don't forget...this weekend is Bonanza Valley Days in Brooten!

Happy Birthday, America!

Elrosa Saints split over the 4th of July weekend in Stearns County League action

Sunday, July 3 results in the Stearns County League:
Meire Grove 3, Greenwald 1
Lake Henry 10, Roscoe 4
New Munich 10, Elrosa 9
Spring Hill 16, Richmond 5
Greenwald 4, New Munich 3 (17 innings!)

Saturday, July 2 results in the Stearns County League:
Richmond 4, St. Martin 0
Spring Hill 8, Meire Grove 0
Elrosa 4, Roscoe 1 (amateur baseball rookie Brady Weller pitched all nine innings)

The playoff picture is still pretty murky for the Stearns County League, even after the second to last weekend of regular season action is complete.

The Elrosa Saints are 5-7 in the SCL-North division after going 1-1 this past weekend. They will host Meire Grove next Sunday at 1:30 for the final game of the regular season.

This Elrosa Saints amateur baseball update is brought to you by: