Saints walk off Twins

With Brody Hadley closing and earning the win on the mound, the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team earned a 10-9 walk-off win against New London-Spicer in a home exhibition today. In the 9th inning, Payton VanBeck and Aiden Mueller had back-to-back singles. Blaine Fischer hit a fielder's choice to get on base while the Twins got Mueller at second base. Jacob Walz earned a two-out walk, and Wyatt Steffensen then hit the game-winning RBI-single to score Fischer.

Next: the Saints play in Hinckley next weekend in a Friday-Saturday-Sunday tournament.

A 38-inning week (VIDEO)

...38 innings, give or take. I'll explain more on that figure later.

So this was part of my week...here's a video recorded yesterday in Swanville.

The playing of the National Anthem on Friday morning:


The Swanville softball complex features 3 diamonds and a nice concession stand/park shelter facility. That was the site of a 12-U fastpitch softball tournament that B-B-E's youth program had a team entered in. We worked very hard to put together the opportunity of getting B-B-E athletes into the Swanville tournament. Young athletes need reps. It is all about reps!!! Reps, reps and more reps! The Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper was thrilled to be able to sponsor the Swanville tournament fee. It's up to the adults to provide and make for youth sports opportunities. It requires a great effort - but it is always worth it.

In amateur baseball news...
Today...in Raymond...the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team defeated the Rockets by a 5-4 score in 10 innings. Payton VanBeck started for the Saints, and Wyatt Steffensen and Luke Illies pitched in relief. They continue exhibition play this weekend with a home game tomorrow (1:30 p.m.) against New London-Spicer.

Terrace Mill, Curdfest, so much to promote

I'll start with sports.

On Thursday this week, the B-B-E Jaguars Babe Ruth 16-U baseball team earned a doubleheader sweep against Eden Valley-Watkins in Belgrade. The team consists of a large portion of this spring's Section 6A runner-up varsity baseball squad.

SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE:
The Terrace Mill is one place you want to be this weekend! Both Saturday and Sunday, they have many events taking place. The newspaper's advertising has it all spelled out, and the June 4 issue included a feature article by Julie Lloyd spelled out all the fun.

Bonanza Valley Days, State Clay Trap, etc.

ANNOUNCING! The BVD Men's 3-on-3 tournament in Brooten is on Friday, July 10.

Men’s 3-on-3 registration info can be e-mailed back if you request it by contacting Chris Anderson: canderson@bbejaguars.org. Please be signed up by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 10 so the tournament can begin at 6 p.m. that evening. Location: B-B-E elementary gyms, Brooten (they are air-conditioned!)

Other updates to follow here.

At Cenex Glenwood, E-85 fuel is $2.75/gallon! Outrageous. Such raw greed, or ignorance, or both. At Coop's Corner in Belgrade, E-85 fuel is $1.40/gallon.

On Tuesday this week...
The B-B-E Clay Trapshooting team concluded their season at the state meet in Alexandria. B-B-E sophomore Dylan Koob finished the regular season as the individual conference champion. Other coverage of the team was published in this week's newspaper, and more ink comes their way next week.

Youth fastpitch softball has been dominating my week. Eventually I will write about it. 

LOTS of travel and softball is coming Friday and Saturday.  No rest until Sunday!!

The Keg stays in Elrosa (*UPDATES)

The Spring Hill Chargers will have to wait until the division playoffs for a chance to regain possession of The Keg. In today's 2026 Battle for the Keg Part II, the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team traveled to Chargers Stadium and picked up a 2-1 win. They led 2-0 after the first inning after runs were scored by Jackson Peter and Ethan Mueller. Peter drew a leadoff walk and then scored on Mueller's RBI-double. Mueller then scored on a base knock RBI by Luke Dingmann.

More to come after further review of the box score.

Elrosa's Ashton Dingmann started and pitched 5 2/3 innings with 4 hits, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Ethan Mueller was closer, and he gave up just 1 hit with no walks and 8 strikeouts.

Spring Hill starter Ethan Meyer pitched a strong game with a line of 8 2/3 innings, 6 hits, 7 walks and 9 strikeouts. Austin Schoenberg doubled and then scored on Reagan Nelson's RBI-fly in the 6th inning for Spring Hill's lone run.

Next: the Saints travel to Raymond for an exhibition game at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. They host New London-Spicer the next day for a Father's Day contest to complete the non-league weekend.

Updates for Monday:
The newspaper office will be closed until 1 p.m. on Monday, June 15. I will be at the University of Minnesota-Morris with Willow for a West Central Wildcats AAU shooting clinic.

Tuesday morning...the B-B-E Clay Trapshooting team is heading to Alexandria for the state meet. They start at 10 a.m. In other news: E-85 fuel has dropped to $1.39 a gallon at Coop's Corner. For 87 octane E-10 fuel, the price dropped from $3.89/gallon to $3.69/gallon at Coop's this morning. Just yesterday, E-85 at Cenex in Morris was $2.09 a gallon.

Saints play twice this weekend

The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team hosts Norway Lake-Sunburg tonight in an exhibition game at 8 p.m. They host a golf tournament at Prairie View Community in Brooten tomorrow. On Sunday, the Saints travel to Spring Hill for Part II of the Battle for the Keg series of 2026. First pitch at Chargers Stadium is at 1:30 p.m.

UPDATE: in a rain-shortened game, the Saints defeated the Lakers of the south by a 4-0 score in 5 innings. It was an odd night where scattered thunderstorms and rain showers passed over the area. It was hit-or-miss but enough to wreck a nice night for baseball!

In other news...
The Redhead Creamery's 8th annual Curd Fest is coming soon! It's just one week away. Click over to the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website to learn more and to find out how to get advanced tickets: RedheadCurdFest2026.

Also, at the newspaper's website, you can watch the senior farewell address given by Class of 2026 members Bree Radermacher and Josie Bucketine during the graduation ceremony on May 22.

At the state baseball tournament...
In the Class 1A state quarterfinals on Thursday, Brandon-Evansville fell 7-0 to South Ridge in an afternoon game played at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. The Chargers rebounded nicely with a 13-6 consolation bracket semifinal win on Friday at Cold Spring over Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton. In the state consolation title game, Brandon-Evansville won 6-0 against Ogilvie.

Sports of All Sorts

I'm always the curious type, and a crowd of vehicles grabs my attention any time of the day. I noticed a bunch of vehicles at the elementary parking lot today and noticed who was there based on the vehicles, and I got curious! As it turns out, today is Day Two of the Community Education's "Sports of All Sorts" activities. This is explained from the Summer Community Ed brochure:
"Sports of All Sorts" is a "sampler" series designed for young beginning athletes. Students 4 years old to just completed 1st grade are invited to learn basic skills in multiple sports. These programs focus on fun, cooperative play to build motor skills, social skills, and an interest in physical activity. We’ll sample fundamentals of various sports such as soccer, flag football, basketball, tee-ball and other team building games and activities.

I rate this is a wonderful summer activity sponsored by B-B-E Community Ed. I also like looking at the bigger picture: how does this unique activity for kids in the 4 to 7 year old range reflect against the larger picture of worsening mental and physical health (on a nationwide level) of our youth? Kudos to the staff for organizing this for some of our community's youngest children!

As for other sports, I have not been able to catch up on American Legion baseball. Tonight, the B-B-E 17-U fastpitch team hosts a league game at 6 p.m. at the elementary diamond.