Fascinating priest

I haven't blogged here since Sunday after spending considerable time reading about Father Wade Menezes of the Catholic Church. He provided the Homily at the Bonanza Valley Days Catholic Mass on Sunday. A biography of this priest can be found here: https://fathersofmercy.com/team-members/fr-wade-menezes.

Yes, I have video of the full Catholic Mass worship from St. Donatus on Sunday. It's uploaded, but I haven't broken out smaller video clips just yet.

From Friday's exciting day of baseball in Brooten...and Bonanza Valley Days news (VIDEOS)

The Grand Parade of Bonanza Valley Days starts at 1:30 p.m. in downtown Brooten!

A special night went down in Brooten on Saturday night with the street dance that featured an incredible turnout. To see the last song performed, click over to the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website: BVDSaturdayNight-Brady.

Brady Baker is a 2022 graduate of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa high school. And for a little sports coverage...

Here's a post-game video of the Jaguars after winning the BVD title on Friday:


And a second video...

Here's the end of the game in the 5th inning:


A total of 13 B-B-E Jaguars baseball 10-U players competed on the team. They defeated Litchfield 4-2 in the championship game. Their coaches are Josh Beier and Jake Rooney.

Saints win 10-inning thriller

The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team won a thriller on Friday night by a 5-4 score in 10 innings against visiting New Munich. The Stearns County League North win all but locks up at least a No. 2 seed for the upcoming division playoffs. Riley Meyer was the winning pitcher while throwing in the final inning. He gave up no hits with one walk and one strikeout.

In the top of the 10th, the Silverstreaks started off on the right foot with Brandon Holm earning a walk. He was left stranded, however, on a ground ball, a fly out and a strikeout. In the bottom of the 10th, Luke Illies drew a walk on one outs. He advanced on a walk earned by Aiden Mueller and later scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch.

Each team committed one defensive error, and the Saints were out-hit by an 8-to-5 margin. Aiden Mueller started and pitched 5 1/3 innings (4 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts). Ashton Dingmann relieved Mueller and went 3 2/3 innings (4 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts).

More to come.

On Wednesday night, the Saints lost 5-2 to Avon in Elrosa.

10-U baseball Jaguars are champions!

The B-B-E Jaguars 10-U baseball team earned the Bonanza Valley Days tournament title today with a 4-2 win in the championship against Litchfield. The Jaguars defeated New London-Spicer 9-U and then a team from Alexandria to earn a chance at first place.

Here's a video recorded tonight at the Brooten Firemen's Chicken BBQ:


Hundreds were served a wonderful chicken dinner at the Brooten city park tonight!

Much more Bonanza Valley Days coverage was published in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. You can also see coverage at Http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com.

17-U fastpitch Legion squad sweeps Glenwood-Lowry

The B-B-E Jaguars 17-U fastpitch team, sponsored by the Brooten American Legion, defeated Glenwood-Lowry at Minnewaska Area high school tonight by scores of 4-1 and 7-2. In game one, Lydia Primus had 2 hits and scored every time she got on base for a total of 3 runs. Lillian Thompson had 3 hits and earned 3 RBI. In game two, Claire Bromenshenkel put down two terrific bunts that turned into extra bases and RBIs, according to head coach Logan Funk. Lilly Radermacher hit an RBI-single plus a bunt single with an RBI.

Mya Worms and Brielle Worms split pitching duties in tonight's games, and they allowed only 4 total hits all night. The team plays at Upsala on Thursday, July 16 to conclude the regular season. The division playoffs will be held on July 22 at Minnewaska Area. Overall, the 17-U Jaguars are 6-3-1.

Here's a video featuring the Bonanza Valley Days Worship in the Park:


The BVD Worship in the Park serves as the official kick-off event to the big four-day celebration in Brooten.

Time to get some rest!

Cleaning up

Here's a section of the newspaper that got "botched" at the printing press this week.

Click on the image to enlarge it.

For some Brooten PO box holders, this page was severely damaged at the printing press. However, not all newspapers (over 2,800 were printed) had a damaged page 11.

Let's gear up for Bonanza Valley Days

Before I get to Bonanza Valley Days, let's enjoy a stunning performance of the National Anthem last Thursday in Willmar. Unfortunately, I did not have the presence of mind to start recording right away for the song. First, watch the video...

On Thursday, July 2 in Willmar:


The West Central Singers is the group who performed the song.

The Willmar Stingers baseball organization is a fantastic asset for this region. They do a fabulous job of creating a family-friendly atmosphere.

Bonanza Valley Days coverage is in both the newspaper and at the newspaper website: Http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com. The BVD 2026 Medallion Hunt began yesterday, but the official kick-off of BVD takes place Thursday night at 7 p.m. with a non-denominational Worship in the Park service (by the Pavilion).

I hope you can make it to Brooten at least once this weekend!

How about some Lee Greenwood! (VIDEO)

Staff of the Belgrade Co-op put on a thoroughly impressive American Flag display on Highway 71 in Belgrade over the Fourth of July weekend. You can see this by clicking here: https://youtube.com/shorts/d7AqdgnOdLo?si=v6rqIHuzEAwHI2kS. Thank you to Todd Trustheim for sending this video over to me on Saturday! I am finally getting it posted.

On Monday night...
At about 10:45 p.m., a torrential rainfall moved across the Bonanza Valley area. Almost an hour later, my rain gauge showed almost 1.5 inches of rain. Goodness!