extended sports coverage for the B-B-E community brought to you by the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper in Brooten, MN. (Address: P.O. Box 250, Brooten) http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com. ALL VIEWS posted are strictly and without exception the opinions of the newspaper owner and no one else; they're written in first hand format. Please submit feedback in writing to the address posted above. **This is Minnesota's oldest varsity high school sports blog. We hope to keep it going into the future!
Monday, August 31, 2015
Volleyball opener
In their season opener at the Breakdown Showcase in Hopkins, the B-B-E Jaguars volleyball team lost 3-1 to sixth-ranked (Class 1A) Heritage Christian. Game scores were 25-17, 20-25, 9-25, 16-25. You can be sure the Jaguars learned a lot about themselves and will be ready for Minneota tonight! They face the Vikings at Ridgewater College in Willmar with a 7 p.m. start time.
Below is video from late in the third quarter during the Royalton game on Friday:
Click on the graphic for best viewing on the open house scheduling this week.
That advertisement was on page two of the last two issues of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. It is important to subscribe and stay informed!
Coaches Moscho and Gossen talk to their defensive unit in the second quarter tonight.
Holy cow! What an ending! How wild was tonight's game? Well, for starters, the game went down to extra points...and overtime. Overtime! Yeah, overtime for the second week in a row. The game had so many highs and lows, and then the ultimate high of Royalton failing to convert their two-point conversion attempt after scoring a touchdown in their side of the overtime session. It was madness...and thank goodness we came out on top! I don't even remember how the Jaguars made the stop on the two-point conversion. It's a blur in my mind right now. (Glad I have video of it to review)
"Absolutely incredible" is how I'd describe what happened tonight. After trailing 20-6 in the third quarter tonight, the B-B-E Jaguars football team dug deep and found the heart and character necessary to pull together and win their first home game of the season. Final score: B-B-E Jaguars 27, Royalton Royals 26. It improves the Jaguars to 2-0 in the all-time series between the two schools. This was B-B-E's first win at home since the Section 4A semifinals in October 2013, when the Jaguars beat Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 26-22.Fun statistic: the Jaguars rolled up over 300 yards of offense, most of the yardage coming on the ground
A huge part of the win was the excellent play of B-B-E's pass defense. While Royalton did get their overtime touchdown via the pass, that was only their second pass completion of the whole night out of eight pass plays. Their junior quarterback, Ryan Fussy, finished two-for-eight for 35 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Another key to the win was the outstanding play of the Jaguars offensive line in the second half. They were really clicking and firing on all cylinders for most of the third and fourth quarters.
Here's video from the final minutes of the fourth quarter:
Here's Royalton's first touchdown of the game, scored on a running play with 9:29 left in the second quarter...they kicked the PAT to go up 7-6:
Up next for Week Three: the Jaguars have a huge, huge task at hand as they try to move above .500 on the season with a trip north to Browerville on Friday, September 4. The Browerville/Eagle Valley Tigers are 2-0 on the season after pounding on winless West Central Area in Barrett with a final score of 28-0.
Here's football scores involving teams in Sub-District 3 of the Midstate District:
Parkers Prairie 22, Kimball Area 7
Upsala/Swanville Area 44, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 14 (Patriots led 44-0 after three quarters; the Fighting Saints had 96 total yards of offense)
Browerville/Eagle Valley 28, West Central Area 0
Tomorrow is game day for Week Two of the high school football season. I just viewed the weather forecast and was pleasantly surprised. If it holds, it will be as perfect as it can get for high school football. At kickoff, the wind will be just about absent (6 miles an hour from the south) with a temperature of 70 degrees. By the time halftime approaches, it will have cooled off to about 65 degrees.
Pack up the family and tell all your neighbors to come to town!! 7 p.m kickoff at Jaguar Stadium at the high school sports complex. Read more about the Jaguars and see a preview of the game with information on the Royalton Royals on page six and 10 of this week's Bonanza Valley Voice.
Also, prior to the football game is a home match between our Jaguars girls' tennis team and the Sauk Centre Mainstreeters at 10 a.m. at the high school.
Ryan Clover is wanted on a Felony Warrant out of Isanti County for Failure to Register- Predatory Offender. Please contact Isanti County Sheriff’s Office at 763-689-2141 if you have information on the location of this individual. DO NOT ENGAGE OR TALK TO THIS FUGITIVE! Here is recent information released by Paynesville Police Chief Paul Wegner:
Officers lost track of him near a river on the north side of town. Clover was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and no shoes. He is 5 ’6-160 pounds and has scruffy facial hair and several tattoos. If anyone sees him in the area, you’re urged to contact Paynesville Police at 320-243-7346 or the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office.
A few updates late TUESDAY night, August 25:
a helicopter flew in at about 11 p.m. to help with the search. The rivers and trains were searched. A K-9 unit with two dogs was brought in from Willmar. Joining in the manhunt are the state patrol who is assisting with local law enforcement. Intelligence has suggested he is on the loose without shoes or socks on.
Praying this little bastard is caught!!!!!
*Update at 00:17 hours, Tuesday morning: the helicopter just left Paynesville, and they did not find him. From what my sources tell me, they are ending the massive manhunt that has been underway for the past few hours. Surveillance will continue.
**Update at 09:48 on Wednesday morning: the fugitive is believed to still be in Paynesville with no way out of town.
The list of area schools who have this shady, and in my opinion, shameful "alternate lunch" policy is long. I don't have a complete record of it.
**For the record, at B-B-E, at this point, the school gets a hot lunch to any student who stands in the lunch line and wants one. I will fight to the bitter end to see this policy remains in place as long as I am around. Mistakes or innocent oversights of parents should NEVER fall back on our children. I have spoken at length with B-B-E school staff about this sensitive issue. In some cases, negative lunch balances can shoot well past $100. In every case, the school does everything they can to work with families to get the account paid up. What I have heard from school staff is that in almost every case, the accounts are eventually paid up. If it ever becomes a financial issue for the school, they need to talk to the local business community and others about getting private assistance instead of "food shaming" kids at lunch time.
NOT food shaming kids is simply the right thing to do.
An injured dog standing on a grate, which was its home, at the Valley View Kennel near Eden Valley. This business is adjacent to Amaz'n Farmyard, a location of field trips for many schools and day cares throughout central Minnesota (including B-B-E). Click on the photo to enlarge it for best viewing.
This photo was taken by the USDA at an inspection of Valley View Kennel
owned by Paul and Sheila Haag, the supplier of puppies at Amaz'n
Farmyard. It's suspected that it's is a photo of a Bichon Frise who had a
"noticeable limp and swelling of the front left paw" as noted in the
inspection report dated April 9, 2013.
This is the inside of
the puppy mill where they breed dogs at a level that is hard to fathom.
At last count there were 916 dogs/puppies living in the barns located
on the property of the Amaze'n Farmyard. I've recently began gathering
information and evidence about what goes on at this place. I'm about
"knee deep" into it, as it is very time-consuming. Once I began asking questions about this business, literally, within hours, I was attacked online through Facebook by supporters of the Haag family. Textbook cyberbullying. It was a very interesting experience, to say the least.
A
number of area schools have taken this business off of their list of
approved places for field trips. New London-Spicer, Sauk Rapids-Rice and Albany are three
districts I know who have made that decision this summer.
Here's
links to stories done on Valley View Kennel and Amaz'n Farmyard in August by the City Pages. These stories take about 10 minutes to read but it's worth the time spent.
Finally,
here's the Facebook page that's a gathering place of stories from
people who have done business with the Haag family. Some of the stories
are very hard to read. A recent post just made last night was given
about a dog once owned by the Haags (had a chip embedded in it that
proves it was their dog) who was literally dumped in the winter in
Belgrade. I'm currently trying to track down the police report that was
filed when law enforcement picked it up.
If you're reading this, I ask you to keep an open mind. If I get evidence that 99% of the dogs housed here (approx. 750 according to the most recent USDA report, not over 900) are healthy, then so be it. Wonderful! Disease and injuries will happen in any group of animals. If these cases are isolated, so be it. Wonderful! Right now the shroud of secrecy at Valley View Kennel only brings more questions to mind.
Brendon Loch, Adrian Belden and Tanner Heinsius line up for the second coin toss of Saturday night.
Mark my word: the Jaguars will come back from this with a vengeance from that loss! They have a tall task at hand, facing a very experienced, brawny and talented Royalton team for the home opener. Read more on the season opener and preview the home opener in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.
Friday Night Lights I: tear your hearts out, OT loss
Early in the second quarter in the 2015 season opener: Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 7, B-B-E 6. At halftime, the Jaguars held a 22-14 lead.
At the 4th quarter break: 22-22 tie!
End of regulation: 22-22 tie!!!!!
Final in overtime: ACGC 28, Jaguars 22. In overtime, the Jaguars gained a couple yards before losing big yardage on fourth down...it was ugly. The Falcons gained rushes of seven and three yards to score the game's final touchdown and start the year 1-0.
Here's a short video clip from the first quarter of the game, when the Jaguars stopped A-C-GC on their second drive of the game:
Here's video showing part of the first touchdown drive by the Jaguars tonight. They scored all 22 points in the second quarter.
Next for Week Two: the 1-0 Royalton Royals invade our home field on Friday, August 28 to start the Mid-State District, Sub-District 3 schedule. The Royals beat New York Mills 19-0 tonight. Time to head home, more to come later tonight including overtime video.
In amateur baseball news...last night (Friday) the Lake Henry Lakers lost 10-3 to Blue Earth in their Class C state tournament opener. Today at Cold Spring, the Spring Hill Chargers kept their Cinderella season alive with a gutsy and incredible 1-0 win over heavily-favored Sobieski. The Skis are the defending Class C state champion.
Scores from games involving Sub-District 3 teams from the Mid-State District: Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 41, West Central Area/Ashby 6 Yellow Medicine East 18, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Browerville/Eagle Valley 35, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 6 Maple Lake 35, Kimball Area 6 Upsala/Swanville Area 39, Lake Park-Audubon 12 Parkers Prairie 30, Wadena-Deer Creek 6
Area football scores in Week One: Eden Valley-Watkins 56, Benson 20 Yellow Medicine East 18, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (YME went 2-34 in the last four seasons) Pierz 38, Annandale 12 Glencoe-Silver Lake 20, New London-Spicer 6 Albany 14, Fergus Falls 7 Montevideo 27, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 21 MACCRAY 48, Park Christian (Moorhead) 0 Windom Area 26, Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity 24 Osakis 26, Pelican Rapids 14 Holdingford 19, Minnewaska Area 14 Melrose Area 36, Sauk Centre 15 Paynesville Area 26, BOLD 13 Rockford Area 15, Watertown-Mayer 8
The season opener for the B-B-E Jaguars football team is set for 7 p.m. tonight in Grove City the against Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Falcons. If you've never watched football at A-C-GC, here's where you go: drive to Grove City (I like the Paynesville way unless you're in the southern region of the B-B-E district) and then skip across the train tracks on the west side of Grove City to get to their 5th-12th grade high school. The football complex is located southeast of the school.
If you want to read the season preview for the Jaguars, go to page four of this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.
Here's video of the Jaguars warming up for practice on Monday, August 17:
The weather forecast says that Grove City may get hit by thunderstorms this afternoon (2:45 p.m. according to Weather.com) and then by rain between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m....but by game time there is no sign that bad weather will be an issue.
As of now, if thunderstorms somehow interrupted or nixed the game, the only option is to move it to Monday night. Which would not be good and would make an absolute mess of next week!! Obviously, no matter what, if the game can't be played tonight due to the weather, it will not be played. *Praise the Lord that we're only talking about a trip to Grove City and not to Lester Prairie or Norwood-Young America!!! Thank you, District Football!
Here's what happens when enrollment dips in a small school, something we need to work to fight against every day of the year at B-B-E...at MACCRAY their class sizes have dipped so low (into the 30s) in the high school that they have moved to nine-man football for the first time in the history of their consolidated school. As recently as 2008, MACCRAY was a Class 2A football school, but they have fallen on very hard times in recent years. MACCRAY begins their nine-man football season in Moorhead today (1 p.m game)...nuts!! Then for away games they go to Brandon (85 miles one way!), Danube (just 23 miles vs. Renville County West) and Graceville (85 miles vs. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley).
Fun facts: here's the list of previous season-opening opponents for our Jaguars football team...the closest we've had in school history is Kimball (back in the 90s the Cubs were a non-conference opponent until 1999) = Bertha-Hewitt, Kimball, Ortonville, Ogilvie, West Central Area, Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity and finally, for just one year, Norwood-Young America (2014).
B-H was the season-opening opponent in 1988. In that game, the first-ever game for the Jaguars football team, the Blue & Silver won 34-18 in Bertha. From 1989 through 1998, the Jaguars only managed to get two wins against Kimball (1990, 1997) in the season opener. Against Ortonville (1999-2004) the Jaguars beat the Trojans just one time, in 2000, by a 13-8 score. Against Ogilvie, the Jaguars went 1-1 with a loss in Belgrade in 2005 and then a 36-22 win at Ogilvie in 2006; I remember that long, long trip to Ogilvie in 2006 of 90 miles!!!! Good grief! It was just a bit farther than the drive to Ortonville. From 2007 to 2010, the Jaguars went 2-2 against the Knights, including a 13-0 win at Barrett in Coach Chris Moscho's first game as head coach of the program. From 2011 to 2013, the Jaguars went 1-2 against LP/HT. And last year, against Class 2A NYA, the Jaguars lost 28-0 to a team that made it all the way to the state tournament after losing in their section finals game in 2013.
For the foreseeable future, A-C-GC will be the season-opening opponent for the Jaguars. I think it's absolutely terrific to get an opponent in Week One that is just a hop and a skip away and not 60 to 90 miles away!
Brian Goodwin lets a pass fly to the flats at Rockford on Sept. 27, 2013 when the Jaguars spoiled the Rockets' homecoming and went home with a 22-7 win.
Brian Goodwin, B-B-E graduate in 2014 and a leader of two state championship Jaguars boys' basketball teams, has transferred from North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton to Wayne State, Nebraska. At Wayne State, Goodwin remains a Wildcat but moves from the Division II ranks of the junior college world to the NCAA Division II realm.
TRUTH! I never recall feeling bad after going out for a drive on our FourTrax four-wheeler while I was a teenager. Good grief, I spent hours and hours on that four-wheeler in all different corners of not only our dairy farm but also Norway Lake Township (and even Colfax Township at times) throughout the 1990s!!!!!!
On an unrelated note...do you know how many returning starters the B-B-E Jaguars football team has this year from the 2014 squad? Or who they will be setting up in the backfield on offense? Or on the offensive line? If you get the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper you'd know after reading this week's issue and the season preview story on page four. http://lifeinbonanzavalley.blogspot.com/2015/01/online-payment-for-subscriptions.html
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink..."
The volleyball Jaguars running around the high school track this morning.
All three fall varsity sports teams have preseason practices underway. The football team started last Monday, while the volleyball and girls' tennis teams began today.
I'm cooking up season preview articles on the Jaguars football team and Jaguars girls' tennis team for this week's Bonanza Valley Voice.
Austin Schoenberg's three-RBI double in the top of the fifth inning was the deal-breaker for the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team in the Region 15C tournament's elimination bracket on Saturday in Roscoe.
Spring Hill's starting pitcher, who went 8 1/3 innings on the hill, hit the one-out bomb deep to the left corner of the outfield with the bases loaded. That put the end to Elrosa's slim 2-1 lead and put the Chargers in the drivers seat on their way to their third straight trip to the Class C state tournament.
Elrosa ends their season 20-6 overall with the most wins in the history of the town.
Spring Hill faces division rival New Munich at 9:30 a.m. this morning (Sunday) in a seeding game to see who ends up in the championship series against New London-Spicer.
In Saturday's first game, Lake Henry ended Roscoe's season with a 9-3 win. Spring Hill then hammered the Lakers 13-2 (seven innings) in the final game of the day. Lake Henry goes to state as the number four seed from Region 15C; they open state on Friday night, August 21 in Cold Spring against TBD.
Here's video from Saturday morning...color photos from Belgrade's August Fest are featured on page one and page 10 of this week's Bonanza Valley Voice.
Today I will be attending the funeral for Wanda Holtberg-Gjerde. I grew up with her, and we were good friends throughout high school. She was truly one of a kind. She had a heart of gold. Why does God always seem to take the good ones from us?
Some video from the middle of the Stearns County League Little Dipper championship game. What a terrific crowd!! It was an awesome night for baseball in Elrosa.
Following the awards ceremony, Will Van Beck (30) gets a host of fist bumps from his fellow Elrosa Saints after they won tonight in the Stearns County League championship game.
The Elrosa Saints Little Dipper team won their second championship of the 2015 summer season tonight. After earning the regular season Stearns County League title, the Saints Little Dipper team won their third playoff game in a row after dispatching a very talented Lake Henry team by a 4-2 score. After Lake Henry took a 1-0 lead in their first at bat, the Saints scored twice to gain the lead that they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the night. It was 3-1 after the third inning was done, and then 4-1 in the fourth. The Lakers scored one run in the top of the sixth for the final score.
Elrosa finishes the season with a perfect 12-0 record. Lake Henry finished 8-4 overall after going 6-3 in the regular season to end up in a three-way tie for second place with Farming and Regal. Video is being uploaded from tonight as I type this.
Here's a short video from after the game:
At Roscoe in an elimination game, the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team ended Atwater's season with a 7-2 win. They play next Saturday, August 15 against Spring Hill at 1:30 p.m. That game is also an elimination game.
Scores from Region 15C:
On Saturday night, New Munich defeated Roscoe 8-0 in the first state-qualifying game of the tournament. Earlier on the day, New Munich bounced Atwater to the elimination bracket with a 6-1 win. New London-Spicer beat St. Martin in their first-round game by a 2-0 score.
On Sunday, in the second state-qualifying game of the tournament, New London-Spicer beat Spring Hill 12-4. In an elimination game, Lake Henry squeaked past rival St. Martin 3-2.
Tonight was the mandatory parent meeting at the school for student-related extra-curricular activities. By the time I was done in Elrosa, it was time to get home where I haven't been since Friday night. I have heard that a second meeting will be held this week, but I haven't gotten confirmation of that from Mr. Gossen.
In case you haven't heard by now, the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team lost 6-0 to Roscoe in the opening round of the Region 15C tournament today. The key statistic of the entire game: the Rangers left six runners stranded in nine innings; the Saints left 14 on base. This is one of the most shocking baseball losses I've seen in my life.
The Saints, sent to the elimination round, face Atwater at 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 9 in Roscoe. The Chuckers were the regular season champions of the County Line League. They were beaten by New Munich this afternoon.
Today's been an incredibly busy day. Belgrade's August Fest activities, events and celebrations were terrific right through a tremendous fireworks display. Bravo!
Here's a short video clip from the Elrosa vs. Roscoe semifinal game in the Stearns County League playoffs on Sunday night:
You can read more about the game and also a feature profile of one of the four oldest players on the team (players who are going into ninth grade this fall) on page six of this week's Bonanza Valley Voice. Elrosa's Little Dipper team hosts the SCL championship game on Sunday. See more details on the game, including when it starts, in the Bonanza Valley Voice.
At the Region 15C amateur baseball tournament opener, hosted by Paynesville, the Spring Hill Chargers roughed up Lake Henry 10-0 in seven innings. Colin Spooner's single in the third inning was the only hit the Lakers could muster against Chargers starter Austin Schoenberg, who pitched a complete game.
Spring Hill, the number three seed out of the SCL-North, plays next at 11 a.m . on Sunday in Roscoe this weekend. They play the winner of the New London-Spicer vs. St. Martin game. The Chargers are gunning for their third straight trip to the state tournament, and I have to say, I like their chances.
Lake Henry, the top seed out of the SCL-South, plays next at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday this weekend against the loser of the NL-S vs. St. Martin game. The loser of this game on Sunday is eliminated from the tournament.
*Here's what I'm looking forward to: the Elrosa Saints open up Region 15C action tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. in Roscoe against Roscoe. See you there Saints fans!!!!!
Other games on Saturday include: Atwater vs. New Munich at 1:30 p.m.; and St. Martin
faces New London-Spicer at 4 p.m. The day concludes with a 7:30 p.m. game in Paynesville between the winners of the Elrosa/Roscoe and Atwater/New Munich games.
The funeral for Wanda (Holtberg) Gjerde, member of the B-B-E Class of 1996, will be at 1 p.m. in Belgrade on Thursday, August 13 at Grace Lutheran Church.
Wanda passed away peacefully on Thursday morning this week after a courageous battle with cancer.
Amelia Rose's grandmother is from Brooten. I wanted to share this link and ask everyone to consider giving money to her family through the safe and secure website "GoFundMe". Even a gift of $5 or $10 is helpful. EVERY BIT truly helps!!!!
Being healthy is truly a blessing. It's a blessing that not everyone experiences. It's been a tough week as I recently learned that a B-B-E classmate of mine has untreatable cancer. In fact that classmate passed away today. She's the second member of the B-B-E Class of 1996 to die from cancer.
It's awful.
On an entirely unrelated note...here's information on an Belgrade August Fest activity taking place on Saturday. This is also noted on page two of this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.
B-B-E Area Jaycees Bean Bag tournament
The BBE Area Jaycees are hosting a bean bag tournament again this year on Saturday, Aug 8 on main street across from the post office. Registration and payment begins at 5:30pm and tournament starts promptly at 6pm. Double elimination with a limit of 40 teams (2 people per team). The fee is $20 per team and must be paid on Aug 8th before starting. You may sign up that day to play. To pre-register and pay Aug 8th, call or text Shelly Theis at 320-424-0945 with your information or any questions.
Click on the bracket to enlarge it for best viewing.
Read page seven of this week's Bonanza Valley Voice to see more information on the Elrosa Saints and read about their bid for a Stearns County League playoff pennant last weekend.
The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team beat New Munich 9-4 this afternoon to claim the playoff division title in the Stearns County League North. They advance to Region 15C as a number one seed. *Update: Elrosa plays at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 8 in the opening round of the Region 15C tournament. They face Roscoe in Roscoe. Matt Imdieke from Meire Grove is their draftee.
More information will follow tonight.
In Atwater, Regal lost out of region contention in a 4-3 loss to New London-Spicer. The County Line League will send New London-Spicer and Atwater to the Region 15C tournament.
Riley Lenarz hitting for Elrosa in Sunday night's win over Roscoe.
**The Elrosa Little Dipper team beat Roscoe 7-1 in the semifinals of the Stearns County League playoffs tonight. They will host the SCL championship game on Sunday, August 9; their opponent will be Lake Henry, who beat visiting Regal 4-3 in the other semifinal game tonight.
Don't miss out on this baked ham supper...sounds delicious!
The Elrosa Saints Little Dipper baseball team plays in the Stearns County League Final Four round on Sunday night, August 2 at home. They host Roscoe, the sixth seed, who edged third-seeded Farming in the quarterfinals.
Here's video from the end of Elrosa's quarterfinal win over Meire Grove by a 9-0 score:
First pitch for Elrosa's semifinal game is set for 6:30 p.m. at Saints Field.
The Elrosa Saints defeated Spring Hill by a 5-2 score today in the opening round of the Stearns County League amateur baseball playoffs. They host New Munich in the SCL-North division championship game at 12 p.m. noon on Sunday, August 2. The Silverstreaks beat Meire Grove 4-0 in the other division opener.
Video from today's win in Elrosa:
No word yet on how Regal fared in an elimination game against Norway Lake-Sunburg. *Update: the Eagles won 3-1! They play in Atwater tomorrow at noon against New London-Spicer in the final County Line League elimination game. The winner advances to regions.
