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!
Friday, June 30, 2023
Elrosa Saints in action on back-to-back days
The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team has a night game and then an afternoon game this weekend. Tonight they played at St. Martin in a big Stearns County League match up of teams with their eyes set on Region1 15C berths. Tomorrow they travel to New Munich to take on the first-place Silverstreaks in a huge SCL-North battle. The Saints (5-2) could pull into a virtual tie for first if they can beat New Munich (7-1).
UPDATE: the Saints improved to 6-2 in the SCL-North standings with a 2-0 win at St. Martin tonight. Payton VanBeck started and pitched 8 innings while earning 11 strikeouts.
The Redhead Creamery's annual Curd Fest celebration is in the rear view mirror, but we should continue patronizing their business and looking forward to an exciting expansion! They are opening a restaurant in the future, with seating up to 99, that is going to be a destination location for travels near and far.
At Curd Fest on June 17, the Sjostrom family included numerous live bands performing under a large tent. Below is video from the final band. Altogether they had a turnout of over 1,500! That is terrific!
Here's the Josh Cleveland Band performing at Curd Fest:
Right after the four-minute mark in that video, you can see Josh Reed helping oversee his Goat Ridge Brewing booth located by the dairy barn. Josh is a 1991 B-B-E graduate and was on the very first boys' basketball team led by Hall of Fame Coach Dave Montbriand. Goat Ridge Brewing of New London is another local business we need to support around the year!
Agritourism is not a new phenomenon in America, but the Redhead Creamery is unique to our area. They are excited to look forward to a 10-year anniversary to celebrate when they opened for business in August 2014. Their retail website can be found by clicking here: https://redhead-creamery.myshopify.com.
THURSDAY update...the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website has been updated with new (brief) web articles. You can click over at this link: https://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com. Thursday has been a very busy day, and it culminated with a terrific concert in the park at Belgrade. Also, the B-B-E Jaguars fastpitch 17-U team earned a Summer Recreation series split with Upsala. I didn't write down the score of game one, but in game two, the Jaguars won 9-4. Great job!
The Prayer and Party turnout in Elrosa is terrific! I'm sitting in the church parking lot just after 8 p.m. and seeing a huge level of activity. This is awesome!
In sports news...today's amateur baseball game between Elrosa and Lake Henry was postponed due to the threat of bad weather. On the upside: much of our Bonanza Valley area received substantial and highly needed rain. The city of Brooten got about one inch of rain yesterday and last night.
I'll get video uploaded here later tonight.
Here's a video from the Prayer and Party event:
Coming this week: the Belgrade Economic Development Authority invites everyone from the surrounding area to their free concert in the park on Thursday, June 29. The band performing live that night at the Belgrade city park (South Highway 71) will be the Island Time Steel Drum Band. You can see more on the band at their website: islandtimesteeldrums.com. Also, the B-B-E Just For Kix dance team will be selling food during the concert to raise funds for team members who will perform at the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 1, 2024.
In other news...
Click over to the newspaper's website to see a video I finally got online dating back about a week to Curd Fest at Redhead Creamery: https://rb.gy/7g2lq.
While the spring sports competition has offically ended at the conclusion of the Class 1A state baseball tournament on Wednesday, June 14, the spring sports coverage in the Bonanza Valley Voice will continue at least another week. Postseason awards for track and field plus baseball have yet to be published.
You can take a look at the spring sports photo albums that have been uploaded to the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper's website: https://bonanzavalley.smugmug.com/BBE-Spring-Sports-2023. As of tonight, the state baseball tournament games haven't been uploaded. I ran some rough math on my state baseball photos, and the total number is over 320! Yikes.
I have an ambitious item on the horizon with coverage on the oldest living subscriber to the newspaper, who graduated in 1941 from Brooten high school. She has an amazing live story that I am excited to share at some point in July in The Voice. Stay tuned!
NOTE: on Saturday, a web article plus updates to the last blog post were added...you can see the sand volleyball update by clicking here: BVD 2023 is coming!. The web article can be found here: https://rb.gy/76eka.
We all have to ramp up our promotion of the upcoming Bonanza Valley Days in Brooten...it's coming fast! The dates are July 6, 7, 8 and 9...click here to read about the BVD 3-on-3 youth and men's basketball tournaments (short link): https://tinyurl.com/6ey7c23s.
IMPORTANT! Those who register by June 28 get a discount on the cost!!! So get on that and get your team formed and registered!
ALSO the BVD Sand Volleyball tourmanent is coming on Saturday, July 8 starting at 9 a.m. at the city park sand courts next to the remodeled tennis courts. Registration is set for 8:30 a.m. You can sign up a team by calling the newspaper office at 320-346-2400. Organizers wish to limit this to 8 teams so the tournament will be wrapped up within just a few hours and not last all day.
Here's a short video recorded just before the BVD grand parade last year:
You can read a web article with additional BVD information by clicking here: https://rb.gy/76eka.
The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team is repeat champions of the Elite 8 tournament. They defeated New London-Spicer 4-2 in the championship game tonight. The Saints scored three runs in the bottom of the first to help set up the win. Ethan Vogt pitched a complete game win with five hits, no walks and five strikeouts. He surrendered one earned run, while the Twins gave up three earned runs that proved the difference.
The motto of the weekend was "Great baseball, great weather, and great bonfires!"
NEXT: the Saints (9-2-1 overall) host St. Wendel this Friday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. They resume Stearns County League action two days later on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. against Lake Henry.
That's all for now. I have to get back in the garden to finish planting a late crop of sweet corn before I lose all my natural light!
In the opening game of action at Elrosa's Elite 8 amateur baseball tournament today, the Bluffton Braves defeated the Royalton Riverdogs 4-1 to move into the winner's bracket semifinals. In the second game of the day held at noon, the Fergus Falls Canes defeatd the Brookings Cubs 7-2 to advance to face Elrosa tonight.
In a consolation bracket semifinal game this afternoon, the Benson Plowboys lost 5-4 in 8 innings against Brookings on a walkoff RBI-walk. The Urbank-Parkers Prairie Bombers won 3-2 on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 7th inning against Royalton.
Saturday night update: the Elrosa Saints won by a 2-0 score against Fergus Falls in the nightcap to advance to the championship game. Payton VanBeck earned a whopping 17 strikeouts out of the 21 batters retired in the game. The Saints will face New London-Spicer tomorrow (Sunday) at approximately 4 p.m. The Twins edged Bluffton 4-3 tonight in the other semifinal contest.
Clay trapshooting team at state (VIDEO)...and Saints win
The B-B-E Clay Trapshooting team competed at the Class 5A state championships yesterday in Alexandria. I haven't been able to catch up to all of the results, but that will follow in next week's newspaper. Earning Top Gun awards this season were Kara Wold (girls) and Mason Eckstein (boys), and Coach Gary Rodgers presented plaques to those student shooters during the meet.
Here's a video from the first shooting session yesterday:
The sound of the shot guns firing off at the clays is a wonderful sound. What you are hearing is the sound of kids who have learned the value and importance of gun safety as well as the recreation we find in owning and using guns. God Bless that!
B-B-E's team had 40 student shooters this spring. Out of that group, 25 competed at state yesterday.
Today we head out to the annual Curd Fest celebration at Redhead Creamery...celebrating June Dairy Month and our area dairy farmers! You can read up on that by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/2f74ucx5. NOTE: this event goes until 6 p.m. today and is well worth attending!
In amateur baseball news...
The Elrosa Saints defeated Benson 3-0 last night to kick off the Elite 8 tournament in Elrosa. Will VanBeck pitched the win and gave up seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts. The Saints play tonight in the winner's bracket at approximately 8 p.m.
In the late game last night in Elrosa, New London-Spicer shut out Urbank by a 9-0 score. The Twins play tonight in Elrosa in the winner's bracket at 6 p.m.
Senior Brady Schwinghammer went out in style at the state golf meet. After helping lead the B-B-E Jaguars boys' golf teamfor the past three seasons, Schwinghammer added to his success this season by medaling at state with a 151, good for seventh place. He fired a 72 yesterday and then a 79 today. His golf career will continue at Alexandria Technical College with the Legends men's golf program.
As a team, the Jaguars had a total score of 688 with a 349 today to take sixth out of eight teams. Lakeview won the Class 1A state title, while Walker-Hackensack-Akeley took second. Fertile-Beltrami placed third.
And just like that, the spring sports season goes from 100 miles an hour to zero. The incredible ride that was the 2022-2023 school year in Jaguar Country has concluded. Beyond some postseason awards reporting, that's all she wrote for spring sports at B-B-E......***I jump the gun there, literally, and forgot about the clay trap shooting state tournament which I'm going to on Friday in Alexandria. Uffda, not quite done yet.
This week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper features information on numerous upcoming events. One event on the horizon is in Elrosa on Sunday, June 29, and you can also read about that by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/6nx6kxs4.
This is all that I have to post as of Thursday, June 15...the day of Thursday will be chewed up as the Miss Brooten Royalty entourage prepares and participates in the Paynesville parade tonight. After that there's more gardening to get done!
After one inning, the scoreboard has zeroes on both sides. New Ulm Cathedral had one hit in the bottom of the first. Luke Illies is B-B-E's starting pitcher.
More to come later. I was unable to find a radio station that is carrying the game.
**Update: the game is tied 1 to 1.
**In the top of the fifth inning, the Jaguars trail 2-1.
Both teams scored one run each in the third inning, and NUC scored the game-winner in the top of the fifth.
Final score: New Ulm Cathedral 2, B-B-E 1. The game featured a total of 10 hits, and the Jaguars were held to four hits, all singles coming from Tanner Shelton, Ethan Mueller, Luke Illies and Brett DeRoo.
Illies pitched six innings, and Hayden Sobiech was the closer.
Today's Class 1A state semifinal baseball game against Fosston has a 1:30 p.m. start time at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. We are all rooting, cheering, hoping and praying for another state win! If the B-B-E Jaguars baseball teamwins, they will play on Friday in the state championship game at CHS Field in St. Paul at 10 a.m.
UPDATE: the game against Fosston should get started by 2 p.m. today. Stay tuned!
If Fosston wins today, the Jaguars will play at 4 p.m. at Joe Faber Field today in the third-place game. This game will be aired on Glenwood radio.
RADIO website link...
You can listen online at Smooth Magic 107 FM's website: https://www.kmgk1071.com.
More to come after the game gets rolling. Also, the boys' golf team is in action at the state meet in Becker. Updates coming later tonight.
State Semi GAME UPDATES to follow...
The game is underway before 2 p.m., and Talen Kampsen is the starting pitcher for the Jaguars. The game has not started well, as the Greyhounds scored on an RBI-single on one out. Fosston then loaded the bases with an error, but the second out was recorded on an infield fly.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Tate DeKok took the mound from right field, and Kaden DeRoo assumed the right fielder position. Our game time is now 2:10 p.m. Update: at 2:15 p.m., the Jaguars will finally get to bat as we enter the bottom of the first. The Greyhounds have a 4-0 lead.
UPDATE: the Jaguars have scored 3 runs on 2 outs in the bottom of the first inning! It's 2:30 p.m., and the inning just ended...they trail 4-3 after the Greyhounds ended the rally on a ground ball play to first. B-B-E left two stranded in scoring position after sending 8 batters to the plate.
**Going into the fourth inning, the Greyhounds have a 5 to 4 lead.
*Update: after 4 1/2 innings, the Greyhounds hold a 6-5 lead.
Final: Fosston 7, B-B-E 5. The Jaguars will play at 5 p.m. today for third place against New Ulm Cathedral.
A new blog post will feature updates from the third-place game. I'm hunting down the radio station from New Ulm that is carrying the game.
Jaguars are Final Four-bound! BELIEVE IT! And State Golf update (VIDEOS)
Three videos added! And important scheduling notes...
How do you like them oats? Wow! After a thrilling performance today in their state tournament opener, the B-B-E Jaguars baseball teamis heading to the Class 1A Final Four! They defeated top-seeded and heavily-favored South Ridge by a 2-1 score in regulation innings in today's state quarterfinals. The game started just before 4 p.m., and it ended just before 6 p.m. The Panthers were playing in their fifth straight state tournament and were determined to improve on an 0-2 record at state last year. Instead of a Final Four berth, South Ridge moves to the consolation bracket with a 22-5 record.
As they continue to make history at B-B-E, the Jaguars ruined the Panthers' hopes of a first-round win with a gritty defensive performance. It was one for the ages, including an incredible complete-game performance by starter Tanner Shelton. His stats line was outstanding: 7 innings pitched against a total of 30 batters, 9 hits scattered, no earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts on a total of 108 pitches. Shelton and his defense worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth inning when the one-run lead became quite tenous! That was amazing. The icing on the cake was when Shelton struck out the final batter faced on the day to end the game. BELIEVE IT!
B-B-E built the 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a two-RBI double by No. 9 batter Ryan Jensen. His knock deep to right-center field scored both courtesy runner Owen Paulson and then Casey Lenarz for the game-winner.
**Here's exciting video from the bottom of the seventh inning tonight!:
**Here's video from the bottom of the sixth inning...
**Here's video from the top of the first inning today:
NEXT: the Jaguars (14-11 overall) play in the Class 1A state semifinals tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. back at Joe Faber Field. B-B-E's opponent will be Fosston, champions of Section 8A. The Greyhounds, who battled back in the elimination bracket in their section playoffs while beating Sacred Heart 6-1 and 6-4 last Thursday, are 22-4 overall after defeating Legacy Christian 11-1 in six innings tonight in their quarterfinal game. The game will be carried on Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood. **UPDATE: if the Jaguars defeat Fosston, they play at 10 a.m. on Friday this week at CHS Field in St. Paul in the state championship game. If Fosston wins, the Jaguars will play immediately afterwards at Joe Faber Field (approximately 4 p.m.) tomorrow in the third-place game.
Noteworthy: Fosston was ranked No. 9 in the latest QRF rankings, while the Jaguars were ranked No. 11. At the top of the QRF list was South Ridge.
In a post-game interview, an elated head coach Ben Klaphake commented on the win, "Our guys played such a great game. They were making plays all afternoon. This was so much fun to be a part of."
About the challenge of the upcoming semifinal game, Klaphake said, "Fosston is a tremendous team. Everyone down here is great, and it's even more challenging when you get this deep in the tournament. Our coaching staff told the guys that this is no time to be satisfied. We want to grab the opportunity ahead of us."
About the Fosston Greyhounds...
Fosston, the tournament's No. 5 seed, earned their first-ever state baseball win today with a 13-hit attack to defeat No. 4-seeded Legacy Christian. The Greyhounds have 8 seniors on the roster. With the game tied 1-1, Fosston's bats came alive as they scored 5 runs in the fourth and 4 more in the fifth to pull away. Leading their offense was Hudson Boushee (3-for-3, 2B), Tommy Simonson (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Zach Theis (2-for-4, 3 runs). Cullen Norland had one single in four at bats and had 3 RBIs. Theis pitched a complete game.
In last year's Section 8A playoffs, Fosston finished 3-2. In 2021, the Greyhounds won the section title but went 0-1 at the state tournament. They had 4-2 records in the section playoffs with deep playoff runs in both 2018 and 2019. In 2017, the Greyhounds advanced to state and won the consolation title after losing 11-1 in six innings in their state opener.
Fosston's head coach, Ryan Hanlon, is in his 15th season leading their program and has a 225-85 career record. The team returned 5 starters from 2022, including 4 pitchers who logged at least 15 innings. Fosston lost 6 seniors to graduation, including two who were four-year starters.
STATE boys' golf update...
At the state boys' golf meet today in Becker, Brady Schwinghammer finished Day One in a three-way tie for second place with a 72. The current leader shot a 70. That's all I've got right now on that. Schwinghammer tees off at 1:35 p.m. tomorrow for the second 18 holes of state at Pebble Creek Golf Course. As a team, the Jaguars are tied for fifth place with a 339. The current first-place team, Lakeview of Cottonwood, shot a 322. In second is Walker-Hackensack-Akeley with a 324, while Fillmore Central shot a 331 to sit in third place. The top three teams receive team trophies.
More to come. Video is uploading. I also have to get out in the garden before I run out of day light!
Game updates to follow from Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud today...first pitch against South Ridge is set for 3:30 p.m., although it may be after that...we know it won't be before that time. The game will be on the Glenwood radio station.
*Here's a video from after the section championship game one week ago tonight...exciting times!
More to come.
In Class 3A, No. 2-seeded St. Thomas Academy lost in their quarterfinal game today.
**At state golf, Brady Schwinghammer finished day one 2 under par.
GAME UPDATES at State... After two innings, the score is tied 0 to 0.
After 2 1/2 innings, the score remains 0 to 0. The Jaguars left one stranded in the first inning, two stranded in the second and one in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Panthers took a 1-0 lead.
**This game is crazy, it's near the end and I'm so paranoid, I can't even post another update. The stakes are so high right now going into the seventh inning. Someone pass me the valium!
Final: the Jaguars won the game 2-1 in regulation innings! They scored both runs in the top of the fourth inning, with Casey Lenarz scoring the game winner. Tanner Shelton pitched a complete game win.
Now 14-11 overall, they play in the semifinals tomorrow at Joe Faber Field at 1:30 p.m.
Time to head home. **Hit refresh and get a new blog post to view...that was added just before 21:00 tonight.
The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team is excited to host their Elite 8 tournament this weekend. The tournament kicks off with Elrosa facing the Benson Plowboys at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. That game is followed by New London-Spicer vs. Urbank at approximately 8:30 p.m.
If Elrosa beats Benson on Friday, they will play at 8 p.m. on Saturday against the winner of the Fergus Falls vs. Brookings game that starts at noon that day.
Today is state baseball and state golf! Oh boy! Busy times.
The boys' golf team has left for the state tournament. They departed this morning from Belgrade just after the crack of dawn. Exciting times!
I also learned that the Padua Pub will close on Tuesday mid-afternoon for the rest of the day (tomorrow) so Dave and Clara and family can travel to St. Cloud to cheer on the baseball team at the state tournament. More exciting times!
I just read about the Class 1A state fastpitch tournament. The Section 3A champions, Edgerton-Southwest Christian, won the state title with a 10-5 win over Badger/Greenbush-Middle River in the finals. They edged Section 6A champion Upsala 2-1 in the semifinals.
The quarterfinal game on Tuesday, June 13 will get underway at 3:30 p.m. at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. That will be the site and time for the Class 1A state quarterfinal game for our B-B-E Jaguars baseball team, who is paired against top-seeded South Ridge in the first round. The game will be aired on Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood.
A win in the quarterfinals puts them in a 1:30 p.m. game on Wednesday back at Joe Faber Field for the semifinals.
If the Jaguars lose on Tuesday, they play again on Wednesday at either 10 a.m. or 12:15 p.m. at Bob Cross Fields in Sauk Rapids.
The South Ridge Panthers won the Section 7A title with Carter Anderson's walk-off RBI-single in the bottom of the eight inning against Cherry on Thursday night in an 8-7 win. This marks the fifth straight season that South Ridge has advanced to the state tournament (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and now 2023). On Tuesday in a winner's bracket game, Cherry beat South Ridge 6-4. On Thursday in the Section 7A championship series, South Ridge won 12-6 to force a winner-take-all game.
*Here's a video featuring the medals and trophy presentation for the Jaguars after they clinched the section title last Tuesday night:
Class 1A state baseball quarterfinal schedule on June 13:
10:30 a.m. - No. 2-seeded New Ulm Cathedral vs. Yellow Medicine East
1 p.m. - No. 3-seeded Lyle-Pacelli vs. Hinckley-Finlayson
3:30 p.m. - No. 1-seeded South Ridge vs. B-B-E
6 p.m. - No. 4-seeded Legacy Christian Academy vs. No. 5-seeded Fosston
That's all I've got now. Time to get back in the garden.
Those interested in participating in the Bonanza Valley Days 3-on-3 basketball tournaments in Brooten are encouraged to get their registrations mailed by June 28 (or a few days prior to that) in order to save $10. Once enough teams are signed up for the Men’s Adult tournament, it can get going at 6 p.m. sharp on Friday, July 7 at the B-B-E elementary school.
The BVD 3-on-3 youth tournament will be Thursday, July 6with games starting at 9 a.m. at the elementary school. Please arrive by 8 a.m. if registering on site. The youth tournament is for all boys and girls entering grades 4 to 9 for the 2023-2024 school year.
Youth tournament
Levels will be determined by the oldest player on the roster; male and female divisions. Guarantee of three games, four players per team only, and the goal is to have at least 4 teams. Refunds will be given if a division is not filled.
Awards will be given to the top two finishers in each division.
High school basketball rules will apply, and rules will be handed out on the day of the tournament.
Men’s tournament
Guarantee of three games, four players per team only, and the goal is to have at least 4 teams. Refunds will be given if a division is not filled.
High school basketball rules will apply, and rules will be handed out on the day of the tournament.
Costs and Registration
Cost: $40 if pre-registered by June 28, and $50 for teams registering on site. Checks can be made payable to “BBE Boys Basketball”
Mail form and check to: Chris Anderson, PO Box 391, Brooten MN 56316.
Concessions will be available. Questions? Email Coach Anderson at canderson@bbejaguars.org. Team entry forms can be emailed out ahead of time.
LATE Friday news...
The Elrosa Saints defeated visiting Greenwald 10-1 tonight while using a six-hit attack at the plate combined with Ethan Vogt (IP-6) and Will VanBeck (IP-3) splitting pitching duties while earning a combined 14 strikeouts against just one walk. The lone run for the Cubs was unearned. Tomorrow the Saints travel to Avon for an exhibition game.
For the first time in school history, the B-B-E Jaguars baseball team will compete in the state tournament. The Jaguars defended their top seed in Sub-Section 6A-South by beating the No. 4 and No. 2 seeds before also knocking down the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in Sub-Section 6A-North to in the section title. Winners of six straight games, the Jaguars are 13-11 overall.
*Here's video from the Parkers Prairie game on Tuesday, during which the Jaguars scored the eventual winning run:
*Here's Tanner Shelton talking in a post-game interview on Tuesday:
The exact state tournament schedule will not be finalized until Saturday with seeding taking place. The tournament opens in St. Cloud on Tuesday, June 13 at Joe Faber Field. The game could take place at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. or 6 p.m.
This time, late game heroics were not needed...for the most part.
Facing a red hot Parkers Prairie team that had blazed its way through the elimination bracket of the Section 6A tournament, the B-B-E Jaguars baseball team broke a 1-1 tie with three runs scored in the bottom of the sixth inning. The first of those three runs was on a wild pitch that brought Hayden Sobiech home, while the latter two were driven home on Brett DeRoo's fielder's choice.
Defensively, relief pitcher Tate DeKok pitched a gem across the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In the top of the seventh, the Panthers drew back-to-back walks on one out before Luke Illies took the mound as the would-be closer. A quick fielder's choice grounder to second base and then an unassisted put out at third base by Casey Lenarz put the historic achievement in the bag: the Jaguars were state-bound! Final score:B-B-E 4, Parkers Prairie 2. The Jaguars have now won four straight postseason games by a total margin of just five runs.
**Here's a video that includes the exciting moment that the game's final out is recorded tonight!
The Jaguars improve to 13-11 overall as winners of seven of their last eight ball games. Parkers Prairie finishes 19-7.
The state tournament will be held next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, June 13-14 and 16. Other information is forthcoming. I know that the state quarterfinals will be hosted at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud on the 13th.
*Here's video from the top of the fifth inning with Tate DeKok pitching tonight:
What this means is that Jaguar Country will have TWO teams competing in the state tournament starting next Tuesday! This is wild!!!!
In an elimination game in Section 3AA today, Paynesville Area fell 6-3 to Fairmont to see their season end with a 19-4 overall record.
Parkers Prairie pulled off an impressive 3-2 win over state-ranked New York Mills this afternoon to upset the top seed and advance to the Section 6A baseball championship series. The Panthers face our B-B-E Jaguars today at Minnewaska Area high school. The game should begin shortly after 4:30 p.m. from Marthaler Field. Parkers Prairie has now won three elimination games in a span of just over 24 hours. Impressive!
If you can't attend in person, you can listen online or on the radio at Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood: https://www.kmgk1071.com.
Section Final updates:
Through three innings, the Jaguars hold a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers tied the game in the top of the fourth inning.
Final: BBE 4, Parkers Prairie 2!! More in a new blog post.
In perhaps their finest performance of the season to date, the B-B-E Jaguars baseball team defeated the three-time defending champion and No. 8-ranked New York Mills Eagles by a 5-4 score tonight in the Section 6A winner's bracket final. Trailing 4-1 through four innings, the Jaguars proceeded to hold the Eagles off of the scoreboard across their final 9 outs while scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. NYM falls to 19-6 overall and heads to the tournament's elimination bracket.
Senior Tanner Shelton pitched one for the ages with a seven-inning bout on the mound. His numbers were incredible: 93 pitches, three hits, two earned runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. All that against the Park Region Conference co-champions who average over eight runs per game and who took third place at state last year. Their lone loss at state was to Randolph, who finished 25-1 and won the Class 1A state title. The Jaguars collected 5 hits while taking advantage of 5 walks in the game and 3 Eagles errors to overcome the three-run deficit at the game's midway point.
NEXT: now winners of three straight one-run playoff games, the Jaguars (12-11) advance to the Section 6A championship series for the second time in school history. They play at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) back at Marthaler Field at Minnewaska Area high school. If they win that game, they advance to state for the first time ever. Other information is forthcoming. B-B-E last played in a section championship in 2019, when New York Mills defeated them 7-2 to advance to state.
Let's go back to the regular season finale, when the Jaguars defeated Upsala/Swanville Area in Elrosa...
The Jaguars later met U/SA in the playoffs and overcame a 7-1 deficit in the second round to win by an 8-7 score.
Tomorrow, New York Mills faces Parkers Prairie at 2:30 p.m. at Marthaler Field in the elimination bracket final. The winner of that game moves on to the championship series to face our Jaguars. Parkers Prairie (18-6) beat K-M-S earlier today by a 10-4 score and then squeezed past Upsala/Swanville Area by a 9-8 score in the elimination bracket.
In Section 6AA today, Eden Valley-Watkins defeated St. Cloud Cathedral 3-0 in the winner's bracket final. They await to see who comes back to the championship series and play for state on Thursday this week at Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud.
The baseball playoff game in the Section 6A winner's bracket semifinals will be aired on Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood. You can listen at 107.1 FM on the FM dial and also online at: https://www.kmgk1071.com.
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg and Browerville were both bounced with losses today in the elimination bracket.
The B-B-E Jaguars baseball team (11-11 overall) faces New York Mills (19-5) at Minnewaska with first pitch starting between 4:30 and 5 p.m., and updates will be posted here. The winner of this game will land a spot in tomorrow's Section 6A championship series.
UPDATE: through four innings, the Jaguars trail the Eagles 4-1. Further updates in a new blog post.
In an exhibition game under the lights at Gumby Bauer Stadium tonight, the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team defeated their neighbors to the southeast, Regal, by a 7-1 score. They led 4-0 after three innings, and the Eagles picked up their lone run in the top of the fifth.
Riley Meyer picked up the win for Elrosa in 6 1/3 innings (H-2 R-1 ER-0 BB-4 K-3), and Wyatt Steffensen was the closer (H-2 R-0 BB-2 K-2). Jackson Peter doubled and tripled for the Saints with two RBI and three runs scored. The Saints piled up 10 hits to just 4 by Regal.
NEXT: the Saints (3-2 overall) travel to Greenwald on Sunday afternoon to face their neighbors to the east in a Stearns County League North division game.
I finally got the video posted from the Brooten American Legion Memorial Day program at the Pavilion last Monday morning. You can find that by clicking over to the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website: https://tinyurl.com/579ma9um. I sure wish more local citizens would attend our Memorial Day programs. It is especially important that families with children attend them. Every day it seems that the citizenry of the United States becomes less and less patriotic. This is a rotten SHAME.
On Sunday in Greenwald, the Saints won 7-2 thanks to a five-run seventh inning to run their winning streak to four games. Payton VanBeck struck out 12 batters. Elrosa (5-2 overall, 4-2 Stearns County League North) is two games out of first place behind division unbeaten New Munich (6-0).
NEXT:the Saints host Greenwald this Friday night and then step out of the SCL with an exhibition game in Avon against the Lakers.
In the first round of the double-elimination portion of the Section 6A tournament, the B-B-E Jaguars baseball team won a thrilling 8-7 walk-off game against Upsala/Swanville Area. They improve to 10-11 overall and face Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg in the winner's bracket quarterfinal tonight at Chizek Field in Morris.
Trailing 7-1 through five innings, the Jaguars made the absolute most out of their last 6 outs. They scored 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth and 3 more in the bottom of the seventh. Trailing 7-5 in the seventh, Ryan Jensen hit a two-RBI double to tie the game on one out. Hayden Sobiech then reached on an error at third base. The game ended when Tate DeKok's hit trailed to right field to bring Jensen home for the 8-7 final score.
DeKok also got the pitching win in three-and-two-thirds innings with no runs, three hits, three walks and five strikeouts.
Here's video from the post-game huddle after the Jaguars won their playoff opener on Tuesday:
The Jaguars now take on K-M-S, and the winner of tonight's game advances to the Section 6A semifinals. The Fighting Saints (19-2) beat Border West by a 7-4 score in the other game this afternoon in Morris.
GAME TWO updates...
In the top of the fourth inning against K-M-S, the Jaguars hold a 4-1 lead.
More to come.
**Final score: B-B-E wins 6-5 over the Fighting Saints! Luke Illies had the game-winning hit as the Jaguars win in walk-off fashion with pinch runner Braeden Michels scoring the sixth run on two outs.
Now 11-11 overall, they play on Monday at Minnewaska Area high school at 4:30 p.m. in the winner's bracket semifinals. Standing in their way to a trip to the Section 6A championship will be the top seed out of the north half, New York Mills. The Eagles (19-4) beat Brandon-Evansville 13-3 this afternoon before beating Browerville 10-0 to move to the section semis.
In the elimination game tonight in Morris, U/SA upset No. 3-seeded Border West with a 5-1 win to improve to 13-9 overall. They face Browerville on Monday in another elimination game. Border West finishes 14-6 overall.
K-M-S (19-3) faces Parkers Prairie in another elimination game on Monday at 2:30 p.m. at Minnewaska Area.
Out of the Central Minnesota Conference, I see that Holdingford, Paynesville Area and Eden Valley-Watkins are all still alive in the Class 2A playoffs.
Jaguar baseball continues in the playoffs (UPDATES)
The postseason continues today for the B-B-E Jaguars baseball team, as they are set for a 2:30 p.m. game in Morris this afternoon. They look to defend their No. 1 seed in Sub-Section 6A-South with a semifinal-round game against No. 4-seeded Upsala/Swanville Area. Win or lose, the Jaguars play again at 5 p.m. today.
If you can't make it to Morris, you can tune in to Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood to listen to the games. They stream online if you can't get 107.1 FM on your radio dial...website: https://www.kmgk1071.com.
Here's a video from the conclusion of the regular season last Thursday in Elrosa:
A U/SA player popped up an infield fly, and I trained the camera on shortstop Brett DeRoo, but there was just one problem: the pop up was headed to third baseman Luke Dingmann, who is seen coming away with the ball after he recorded the game's final out in the top of the seventh inning. The Jaguars defeated the Patriots 7-2 to finish 8-11 in the regular season.
New web articles have been posted at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website (link: https://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com) featuring coverage from Sunburg's Syttende Mai parade (video), the boys' golf team and also the Belgrade Centennial Museum.
Game updates for the first game today will be posted on this blog post. Stay tuned!
GAME ONE updates:
The Jaguars have fallen into an early 3-0 deficit with one inning complete after the Patriots got on the board with a three-run home run. The starting U/SA pitcher threw just four pitches in the bottom of the first.
**Through 4 innings, the Patriots have a 7-1 lead. More updates will follow in a new blog post. The second game tonight is not on the radio.
