Elrosa Saints win a wild 10-inning game

FIRST: another reminder about the BVD Walk/Run event! This was written about in great detail in a blog post on Thursday. It starts at 8:30 a.m. SHARP near the Catholic church in Brooten, with registration starting at 8 a.m.

The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team improved to 9-1 in the Stearns County League North division with a 7-6, 10-inning win over visiting St. Martin on Hall of Fame night. It pained me that I was unable to make it to the Hall of Fame induction. That was just not possible tonight. I've been able to leave Brooten for Elrosa Hall of Fame inductions in the past, but this year has been especially and uniquely stressful and busy leading up to and now during our BVD weekend.

Meanwhile, in Brooten...crazy fun continued today and tonight for Day II of Bonanza Valley Days. I've got some details on Friday to post on the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website. Let's just say that we had a crushing level of turnout for everything! I was honored to speak to a former school bus friend, Scott Rudningen, at the KaDe Shack as the street dance was winding down. Scott is a 1992 B-B-E graduate who played on Coach Montbriand's first two Jaguar teams after he assumed head coaching duties in 1990. When Scott was a senior, his Jaguar team played in the Sub-Section 5A-3 championship game against Bob Brink's Rocori Spartans at St. Cloud State University. That was 30 years ago! Where has the time gone?

Speaking of basketball...Coach Anderson's 3-on-3 BVD tournament had an outstanding first day for an event that was not held in 2020 (COVID) or 2021 (school construction)...the 8th-12th grade division took place earlier today, and the adult men's division ran tonight. I heard from Coach Anderson that the men's division included seven teams. I was happy to bring a couple groups of fans (students) of Coach Austin Rambow to the gym to give him his own personal cheering section. It's important to state very clearly that our students love Mr. Rambow! You had to be there to see the look on his face when the first group walked in and waved at him. It was priceless. He is an outstanding teacher and coach at B-B-E. (If you didn't know, he is an assistant coach in football and girls' basketball, and our school is blessed to have him.)

And speaking of Brooten...at the KaDe Shack while I was talking to Scott Rudningen, I also chatted briefly with B-B-E ag teacher and FFA advisor Gary Rodgers. The highlight of the conversation went like this:
Me: "Today's been a great day for Brooten and a great day to be in Brooten."
Gary: "Every day is a great day to be in Brooten."

Now HE sure has the right attitude. Thank you, Mr. Rodgers!

It's past 2 a.m. now and I have to make another run through the city park in a security check of what's there. We take care of our property in Brooten, and many, many eyeballs are on the lookout for shenanigans after the sun has set!