Fastpitch Jaguars win season opener (VIDEOS)

Note: this blog post was updated again on Saturday night with additional statistics and game notes.

Rome wasn't built in a day! While they badly wanted to pick up a win in the night cap to start the season 2-0, the B-B-E Jaguars fastpitch team settled for a split in today's games to start the 2024 season. Earning a win in the season opener was a feat they last earned 8 years ago, when the Jaguars beat visiting Upsala 15-12 on April 12, 2016. Prior to that, the Jaguars won the season opener in 2008 during what ultimately has been B-B-E's best softball season in school history. They started 3-0 and 5-1, and in the playoffs they earned the Sub-Section 5A-West championship.

B-B-E won the season opener in 18 years ago by an 18-5 score at Swanville on April 4, 2006. They had a 2-0 start that year before going on to claim a winning record at 11-10 overall (1-1 playoffs). Tiffany Breitbach, who has recently coached junior high fastpitch at B-B-E before beginning cancer treatments last summer, was a senior on that 2006 squad.

Here's B-B-E recording the final out of the game in the season opener today in Swanville:


Today's action in Swanville...
In game one, the Jaguars defeated Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 10-5 after both teams scored 4 runs in the first inning. B-B-E scored twice in the second, once in the fourth and then three in the top of the seventh on a three-RBI triple by Kacey Fischer. Faith Radermacher and Brooklyn Fischer each had two hits, with Radermacher earning a single and a double plus two RBI. B-B-E's bats were strong, as all 10 runs were earned. Freshman Mya Worms pitched 6 1/3 innings of relief to earn the win with seven strikeouts, no walks and five hits.

The Jaguars had 8 hits compared to 7 by the Thunder, but LP-GE aided the Jaguars with four errors. This win snapped a losing streak that dated back to May 4 of last season, when the Jaguars swept Royalton in Waite Park in a conference doubleheader.

In game two, the Jaguars led 2-0 through 2 1/2 innings but ultimately lost 7-2 to Swanville. The Bulldogs gained the lead with three runs scored in the bottom of the second. They scored two more runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. The Jaguars had 8 hits in the game, but overall they left 12 runners stranded. Mya Worms and Mariah Koenig split pitching duties.. Taylor Shelton, Kacey Fischer and Kenna Lieser each had two hits, and Brooklyn Fischer doubled and Worms singled.

Swanville had defeated Ogilvie in their season opener that same day. Last year, Swanville had a great season with a 12-9 final record.

Here's a video featuring the bottom of the sixth inning against Swanville:


That's all I've got for now. It's time to get my Seinfield on and get some rest! I've got a mountain's worth of work to do tomorrow. Also, please don't forget about the Belgrade V.F.W. pork chop and steak fry tomorrow night. They serve from 5 to 7:30 p.m. We need to support our small town organizations!

Saturday morning...a busy day ahead
Last night in Swanville, at one point the softball complex had no fewer than three former head coaches in the house. Two were former highly successful boys' basketball coaches: B-B-E's Hall of Fame Coach Dave Montbriand and Melrose Area's Hall of Fame Coach Daryl Oja. Oja was head coach of the Dutchmen for 28 seasons, while Montbriand was head coach of the Jaguars for 19 seasons. The other former head coach was Sauk Centre's Bryan Olson, who led their football program in the 2000s.

I spent about an hour this morning finally getting the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website updated...here's a link to see additional Easter Sunday coverage, including a video clip from Pastor Lisa's sermon at Grace Lutheran church plus another link leading you to a video of the full sermon provided by Pastor Rick Krasky that morning at the Brooten Community Church. Link: https://rb.gy/yvyjpt.

Today, a really interesting event is coming to Goat Ridge Brewing in New London, where they are celebrating the unveiling of another craft beer and also the grand opening of the New London Food Co-op. Goat Ridge Brewing is owned by Josh Reed and his wife, Christa Otteson. Reed is a 1991 graduate of B-B-E high school who played for Coach Montbriand in his first year as head coach of the Jaguars. This event runs from 1 to 3 p.m., and you can read more about it in next week's issue of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.

But wait! There's more! Goat Ridge Brewing is hosting a live music event tonight (Saturday) at 7:30 p.m...from their website: "And the festivities don't stop there! Stick around for Merle Haggard Day, featuring live music starting at 7:30 pm. Join us as Trevor McSpaddin and Dan Lowinger perform a repertoire of hits and deep cuts, paying homage to the legendary artist."

Finally...do not forget! Tonight (Saturday) is the Belgrade V.F.W. pork chop and steak fry fundraiser from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

I had more time to put thoughts and some research material together in a hybrid column/news article that outlines what's taking place in Litchfield and Hutchinson...you can find that by clicking here: https://rb.gy/2ed0ja.