Two fairs indeed overlap!

Good grief! I did not realize it, as often I do things at a 100-mph clip, that the Pope County Fair and Stearns County Fair completely overlap one another next week. An eagle-eyed reader of my newspaper asked me about this early Friday morning, and I was basically flat-footed when thinking about it. This is how crazy the month has been. I never got around to actually looking up any information on the Stearns County Fair...I added the full fair schedule for Stearns County in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice and didn't have to lay an eye on it, as it was loaned graciously to me by the Sauk Centre Herald newspaper in what newspaper's call a "camera ready" format. This is a huge, huge thing in the newspaper world, as it means you essentially have no extra work to get it ready for press. You do a "click, click, click" of the mouse and bam!...it's ready for press.

I need to cut this post short and get out in the garden. I'd say within the last 24 hours, the family garden has gone to a moisture deficit and now will need consistent watering until our next rainfall from Mother Nature.

Friday night updates...
In addition to coaching a 3-on-3 team at Kerkhoven Town and Country Days on Saturday, part of this weekend will be dominated by the monumental task of uploading nearly 1,400 Bonanza Valley Days photos from two weeks ago. I got the kick-off event photos uploaded from the BVD Worship in the Park on Thursday, July 11. You can see that album by clicking here: https://shorturl.at/p8tyj.

I have added more summer sports albums to the Bonanza Valley Voice SmugMug online gallery. One just added is also from July 11, when the B-B-E Jaguars fastpitch team hosted Upsala to conclude their regular 17-U season. This is the link to use to find that album: https://shorturl.at/2suJ7. At the tail end of that album are pictures featuring Coach Funk getting doused by the water cooler by two players.

Youth basketball success! (VIDEOS)

While some games have been a real battle against deeper teams from Willmar and New London-Spicer, B-B-E youth girls' basketball teams have found success worth celebrating at the summer Pepsi League games this summer. In last night's games, the C-squad Jaguars (next year's 9th graders) defeated the NL-S Wildcats in a relatively high-scoring game by a 46-40 margin. What was most exciting to me about that win was that the Jaguars played the first half of play (20 minutes running time) with just six players. They added a seventh player in the second half when seventh grader Brielle Worms joined them. Worms had played the first half with her Class of 2029 Jaguars. (More on them next...)

In another Pepsi League game last night, the Class of 2029 seventh graders (next year's eighth grade team) defeated Paynesville Area 25-19 after holding a 13-6 lead at halftime. The Jaguars and Bulldogs engaged in a defensive battle in the opening minutes before the Jaguars opened up a 9-2 first half lead. In the second half, the Jaguars had a lead as wide as 21-10 at one point before the Bulldogs had a 7-0 run to make it interesting in the game's final 5 minutes. With just under a minute to play, a three-pointer by Tessa Radermacher sealed up the win for her team and their beloved coach, Tiyana Schwinghammer. I considered it a huge win, as Paynesville won the Central Minnesota Conference seventh grade tournament this past February. (The Jaguars took third place.)

Here's a view from NL-S high school as the 7th grade team closed out the win against Paynesville:


*Here's a video featuring the view at the Brooten city park softball field during Bonanza Valley Days when the LifeLink III helicopter landed during the Friday night Brooten Firemen's chicken BBQ supper:


Seen in the video are Joyce Schwinghammer (Tiyana's grandma) plus one of Tiyana's cousins, who is a son of Jeana Schwinghammer of Aitkin. Jeana was a 2000 graduate of B-B-E high school.

We now enter a short period where there's a distinct lull in high school sports action. In fact, I don't see anything taking place on the high school level until the opening week of fall preseason practices. It is crazy to imagine, but the first day of fall preseason practices is Monday, August 12! That day is coming fast! The first official fall varsity athletic event is on Friday, August 16 when the B-B-E Jaguars girls' tennis team travels to the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle triangular. They face LP-GE/Upsala-Swanville Area and Staples-Motley that day.

A note from Terrace, Minnesota...
RSVPs are due by July 28 for those attending the catered meal at Chippewa Falls Lutheran church for their 150th anniversary...**Click on the following link to get your RSVP entered in! https://forms.gle/4vFE4Eta515hyJkT8.

It took almost two months...(UPDATED)

It took almost two months to use the notes I recorded with former B-B-E science teacher Carl Williams. I'm so grateful I got the opportunity to interview him and put the notes to use in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. What Mr. Williams has done is shine a big, huge spotlight on changes that the state of Minnesota is pushing on K-12 education. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude for this. Too often, it's very easy and simple for parents to sit on the sidelines and fully accept what government is promoting in education. We sit back and take it. We go along, often, like sheep.

Williams will be sorely missed at B-B-E. He was often cited as a favorite teacher of B-B-E graduates. He coached multiple sports and held multiple roles in the activities department (score table worker, volleyball line judge, to name a few) and always - ALWAYS - had a kind, friendly demeanor for everyone he came into contact with. He was a true gentleman who teaches and lives his life in the same spirit as my high school science teachers did: Mr. Wayne Schoeppach, Mr. Keith Clementson and Mr. Cliff Gesellchen.

At some point I may get the Mr. Williams story online. For now, you can read it if you are a Voice subscriber or by buying a copy at RJ's Mini-Mart in Brooten or Coop's Corner in Belgrade. Tomorrow, Thursday, I hope to get the counters filled with July 25 issues at Bayer's Gas and Grocery in Elrosa plus the Belgrade Hardware store.

On Thursday night at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper's website, I posted a video from Mr. Williams' science classroom that was recorded on his final day of teaching here. You can see that by clicking here: https://shorturl.at/CSnXD.

It was a busy and exciting weekend (VIDEOS)

I've got another big newspaper to put out this week, but I also have a few things to reflect on from this past weekend. It was busy and exciting with no down time! I had two big amateur baseball division playoff games, the Bonanza Valley Royal Strutters Jake's Day along with church on Sunday morning plus an outdoor concert in Waite Park on Saturday evening.

Here's action from the bottom of the 5th in Spring Hill, as the Chargers put the pressure in Elrosa:


Remember! The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team opens the Region 15C tournament on Friday, August 2 in Watkins.

Here's the National Anthem and the start of the Spring Hill game on Sunday:


In this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper, I will finally start previewing the upcoming Belgrade August Fest celebration. This event runs from August 8 through August 10! Also in this week's paper, among many other things, you can read about the Stearns County Fair, which starts on Wednesday this week in Sauk Centre.

Here's a short preview web article on the Belgrade August Fest: https://shorturl.at/OM1N2.

Saints claim division playoff title (VIDEOS*)

Displaying terrific play in clutch situations for the second straight game, the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team emerged as Stearns County League North playoff champions after winning 6-4 against top-seeded Spring Hill this afternoon. It marks the 13th time that Elrosa has claimed a division playoff title; they've now been SCL-North champions in 2022, 2023 and now 2024.

With the game tied at 4-4 going into the 9th inning, Derek Wiener drilled a two-RBI home run on two outs past the left field fence. That two-run lead held up for the final score.

Elrosa took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on Peyton Winter's RBI-single to drive Gavin Kampsen home. Kampsen hit a one-out double to get into scoring position. The Chargers forged a 3-1 lead with an RBI on a hit batsman and then a two-RBI single by Jamie Terres.

Ashton Dingmann led off the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run to cut the deficit to 3-2.

In the top of the 8th, Ashton Dingmann walked and took third base when Gavin Kampsen advanced on an error at first base on a ground ball play. Luke Illies then delivered with an RBI-single to centerfield to make it a 3-3 tie. With Kevin Kuefler batting, a wild pitch got away from catcher Nate Terres, which allowed Kampsen to score a go-ahead run on two outs.

The Chargers tied it at 4-4 in the bottom of the 8th on Austin Schoenberg's RBI-single.

*Here's a video from the top of the 9th inning:


Here's action from the bottom of the 9th inning as the Saints shut the door on Spring Hill:


Payton VanBeck started and pitched 5 innings, and Ashton Dingmann closed while picking up the win.

The Saints (14-7 overall) take the top seed from the SCL-North into the Region 15C tournament. Their region opener is on Friday, August 2 in Watkins against the Central Valley League play-in game winner. First pitch is at 6 p.m. in the first of two region games that night.

Later today...
In the second game at Spring Hill today, New Munich faces Greenwald in a division playoffs elimination game. I'll get this blog post updated late tonight after I hear about draftees and the outcome of the elimination game...plus I need SCL-South playoff scores. The evening will be chewed up by gardening plus hashing out details on a 3-on-3 girls' basketball team for the Kerkhoven Town and Country Days! That is an exciting upcoming event. We have an all-fifth grade team created and registered for Saturday, July 27 at Pillsbury Park. They will compete in a grades 5-6 bracket starting at 9 a.m.

UPDATE! for the first time in...awhile! The Greenwald Cubs are heading to the Region 15C tournament. They won 4-1 today against New Munich to punch their ticket to Watkins.

Spring Hill enters the Region 15C tournament as the SCL-North's No. 2 seed, and they open their quest for the state tournament with a 3:30 p.m. game on Saturday, August 3 in Watkins against St. Martin, the SCL-South's No. 1 seed. The Martins edged Farming 7-6 this afternoon to claim the SCL-South division playoff title. In an elimination game, Lake Henry suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 loss in 11 innings to Richmond, who punches through to regions as the SCL-South's No. 3 seed.

Saints deliver a thriller, punch ticket to Region 15C! (VIDEOS)

It was not a game for the faint of heart!

Quite often, winning in sports comes down to keeping your composure in stressful situations. It's one reason why I am so passionate about sports, as the experiences and lessons learned in athletic contests can easily mirror what people face in their everyday lives.

In Elrosa tonight, the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team edged division rival New Munich 8-7 to qualify for the Region 15C tournament that takes place in August in Watkins. The Saints trailed 7-5 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, when they scored three runs to regain the lead. Closer Payton VanBeck took the mound in the top of the ninth and shut the door on the Silverstreaks while preserving the one-run lead by firing three strikeouts.

New Munich took an initial 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but the Saints pushed five runs across in the bottom of the frame. The 5-2 lead later became a 7-5 deficit before the Saints regained the lead in the eighth. Elrosa's Derek Wiener hit a two-RBI single to tie it up, and Jackson Peter then scored the game winner via an error.

The Saints won through perseverance and gritty play in clutch situations. They overcame a big disparity in extra-base hits: five such hits were recorded by New Munich tonight to just one by Elrosa (a double by Gavin Kampsen in the seventh inning). Kampsen had the hot bat for Elrosa tonight as he earned two singles, one double with one RBI and one run scored. Overall, Elrosa out-hit New Munich 12 to 10. New Munich's Ty Reller pitched a stellar game but took the loss in a fine complete-game effort (8 earned runs, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts).

Here's a lengthy video from the top of the 6th inning with Will VanBeck pitching for Elrosa:


And here's a long video featuring the bottom of the 8th inning when Elrosa regained the lead:


Next: the Saints head to Spring Hill on Sunday for a region seeding contest, which is also the Stearns County League North division championship. That game is set for 2:30 p.m. at Chargers Stadium against either Spring Hill or Greenwald. More details to come.

On Saturday, the Spring Hill Chargers host Greenwald with a 1:30 p.m. game featuring a 1-vs-4 match up in the SCL-North playoffs.

Don't forget about the Bonanza Valley Royal Strutters Jake's Day at the Belgrade Sportsmen's Club! Here's all the details: https://shorturl.at/p3sxf. This was advertised in multiple issues of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.

Legion baseball advances in Sub-State playoffs (VIDEO)

In the Sub-State Division II playoffs, Brooten Post No. 288 won in walk-off fashion by a 2-1 score over visiting Sauk Centre to keep their season alive. The game was played at the B-B-E high school JV diamond due to Elrosa being the site of amateur baseball playoffs tonight. Post 288 trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the seventh inning and scored both runs on two outs to raise their postseason record to 2-1. The tying run was scored by Walker Winter, and the game-winner was scored by Aiden Mueller on a wild pitch that glanced off of the Sauk Centre catcher's helmet. Next: the Brooten American Legion team travels west to Marthaler Field at Minnewaska Area high school tomorrow, Saturday, for a 5:30 p.m. game against top-seeded Glenwood-Lowry. To win the Sub-State title and advance to the next round of playoffs, Post 288 will have to beat Glenwood-Lowry twice.

Here's the video featuring the end of Post 288's win over Sauk Centre:


A new blog post will feature notes for the Elrosa Saints.

Two losses, one team still alive AND Jake's Day is tomorrow!

In a West Central 17-U American Legion playoff game last night, the B-B-E Jaguars fastpitch team lost 4-0 to Upsala. The Jaguars fell in spite of earning 8 hits to just 3 by the Cardinals. Mya Worms pitched and fired 10 strikeouts in the season-ending loss.

In their side of the West Central American Legion playoffs last night, the Brooten Legion Post No. 288 was limited to just 2 hits in a 6-0 loss to Glenwood-Lowry in a winner's bracket game of Sub-State Northeast. Post 288 stays alive and hosts an elimination bracket game in Belgrade (High School JV field) at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Friday) against either Osakis or Sauk Centre.

*Here's a video featuring a glimpse of the Bonanza Valley Days Car and Truck and Tractor show:


Also this weekend! Saturday...tomorrow, July 20...we have Jake's Day at the Belgrade shooting range and sportsmen's club. This event is advertised with a list of all 69 business sponsors in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Last year's turnout was poor, so let's not repeat that this year! The Bonanza Valley Royal Strutters is sponsoring this event in conjunction with the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Click on this link to see more about Jake's Day, including a video from last year's event: https://shorturl.at/p3sxf.

Today is PLAYOFF day! Baseball and fastpitch

The Brooten Legion Post 288 baseball team continues the Division II American Legion playoffs tonight with a game at Minnewaska Area, where Post 288 will face Glenwood/Lowry with first pitch set for 6 p.m. at Marthaler Field.

In the West Central 17U American Legion fastpitch playoffs, the B-B-E Jaguars compete in the playoffs with their opening round in Melrose. The Jaguars face Upsala in a play-in round game at 4 p.m. at their varsity field north of the school complex (elementary). If they win, they advance to the double-elimination part of the tournament and face top-seeded Melrose at 6 p.m. at the same location tonight. The next day of playoffs is Saturday, July 20...but we will worry about that after tonight's games are completed!