FALL 13 - front page - Minnesota Sports Federation

Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall 2013
Official Publication of the Minnesota Sports Federation
Vol 6, No. 2
Sauk Rapids Softball Association
led by Dennis Kenning did a flawless job of hosting the second annual NSF North American Championships where 30 teams participated. Results are listed on page
11 in this issue of the Amateur
Sports Review.
Kudos to the Sauk Rapids Softball Association and Tournament Umpire-in-Chief Paul Goebel for their outstanding
work.
NSF♦MSF Softball has
another banner year
NSF♦MSF Softball experienced another exciting season
of men’s, women’s and co-rec softball postseason participation easily outdistancing other softball XYZ brands in
the state.
The girls fastpitch program also rallied with a 50% increase in postseason tournament participation and promises of an even bigger increase in 2014.
The NSF♦MSF Softball program offers teams “more bang
for their buck” in terms of games guaranteed, awards and
tournament administration.
With softball successfully completed for another year, the
MSF Board of Directors and staff now set their sights on
the many winter sports state tournaments including youth
and adult basketball, volleyball and adult broomball. Participants in these sports are every bit as avid as their softball counterparts.
A sincere thank you to all softball communities who affiliated their teams with the NSF♦MSF in 2013. We look forward to serving you again in 2014!
Gone, but not forgotten —
three Hall of Famers pass away
A big thank you to our conscientious state tournament
hosts who always do a great job. Many thanks as well to
our District Umpires-in-Chief for their work in training and
supervising umpires during the regular season and championship play. Good umpiring is a vital component of the
program.
IN THIS ISSUE...
2014 Adult Winter Schedule……….. 2
Adult Softball Champions…………... 4
North American Championships…… 11
Girls Fastpitch High School All-Star Series… 13
Girls Fastpitch Champions………..... 14
Statute offers new protection for coaches…. 15
Most softball injuries minor, but recent
deaths prompt look at safety measures…… 16
Little League’s big pain……………... 18
Angry parents take toll on HS coaching……. 20
We eat too much. Simple as that..…. 21
Hall of Famers gone, but not forgotten……… 23
Remembering Terry Luukonen…….. 25
Youth Baseball State Championships………. 27
Touch Football hits the comeback trail……… 31
Touch Football State Results………. 32
Youth Volleyball Preview……………. 33
Youth Volleyball State Entry Form…. 34
Youth Basketball Preview…………… 37
Youth Basketball State Entry Form… 39
Minnesota lost three of its Softball Hall of
Famers recently. LeRoy Jolstad of St.
James, Wayne “Nip” Knipschield of Rochester and Robert Kroll, Sr. of South St.
Paul passed away over the summer. See
page 23-24 to learn more about each one
and some of their career highlights.
NSF ♦ MSF SOFTBALL
MINNESOTA SPORTS FEDERATION
P.O. Box 368
Big Lake, MN 55309
(763) 263-9993
Fax: (763) 263-5657
www.msf1.org
Summer/Fall
BROOMBALL
Minnesota Amateur
VOLLEYBALL
Winter Broomball Classic
January 18-19
St. Paul
Class A/B/C Women’s
March 15-16
St. Cloud State
Class C/D Men’s State
February 28-March 2
Blaine Super Rink
Class A/B/C Men’s
March 15-16
St. Cloud State
Class A/B/C Co-Rec State
March 8-9
Blaine Super Rink
Women’s (32) & Men’s (35) Masters
March 29
Faribault
Armed Forces Reserve Center
Class A/B Men’s State
March 14-16
Augsburg College
2
BASKETBALL
Class B/C/D Men’s
March
Site TBA
Class A/B/C Co-Rec
April 12-13
Hutchinson Rec Center
Class A/B Women’s State
March 14-16
Augsburg College
USA Broomball Nationals
Women’s/Men’s & Co-Rec
March 28-30
Blaine Super Rink
2014 Fees
Team Membership - $15.00 per team
Tournament Entry Fees - Basketball - $190.00 Broomball - $360.00 Volleyball - $165.00
MSF offers the lowest entry fees based on the most generous tournament formats available anywhere!
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
DISCOVER
THE
GOOD
IN SPORT
EQUIPMENT. APPAREL. FOOTWEAR. ACCESSORIES. WE HAVE YOU COVERED.
WWW.SPORTSAUTHORITY.COM
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Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
4
NSF♦MSF Champions
NSF♦MSF Softball - Minnesota Sports Federation 2013 State Results
DIVISION
CHAMPION
FINALIST
THIRD PLACE
FOURTH PLACE
Men’s Church SP
Celebration Lutheran, St. Cloud
Calvary Lutheran, Dalbo
Crosse Pointe #1, Dalbo
North Isanti Baptist, Dalbo
Co-Rec B SP
Brenny’s, Brainerd
Minnehaha Liquors, St. Paul
Co-Rec C SP
R&K Electric, Owatonna
Games People Play, Owatonna
Co-Rec D SP
Paragon Stone, Princeton
Beer Belly’s Legends, Rochester Bone Collectors, Sauk Rapids
Men’s Masters B SP
Jimmy’s Pourhouse/Reuter
Auto, Sauk Rapids
C&L Excavating, Sartell
Kostecka Farms, Cambridge
Men’s Masters C SP
B2Sports.com, Cottage Grove
Dugout Bar, St. Paul
Fickle’s, Cambridge
East Central Transportation,
Cambridge
Men’s Masters (40) FP
MN Computers/Pioneer Seed,
Ruthton
Jordan Realty, West St. Paul
Outlaws, St. Charles
Key City Pubbers, Mankato
Men’s Masters (50) FP
Anytime Fitness, Mankato
MN Computers, Scandia
Waverly, Duluth
St. Paul Old Timers
Men’s FP B
Jordan Realty, West St. Paul
Odin, Mankato
Tin Cups, St. Paul
Morelli’s Fastpitch, St. Paul
Men’s FP C
St. Paul FP, West St. Paul
Premier Bank, Border League
Hennager Plumbing & Heating,
Mankato
PBI, West St. Paul
Men’s FP D
Charlie’s Café, Freeport
Millwood Transport, Freeport
Hardwick, Border League
Black Sox, St. Charles
Men’s SP C
Buzzkill, Brainerd
B-52’s/Dracs, South St. Paul
Tee Hive, Brainerd
CJ’s, Chisago County
Men’s SP DD North
Gampers, Northern Pine
Smoke Show, Pierz
Porky Pine Bar & Grill, Pierz
Coors Light, Detroit Lakes
Men’s SP DD South
Blue Steel/Matties/Allstate, Inver
Grove Heights
Rounders Sports Bar & Grill,
Mankato
Bashers, Faribault
BLVD, South St. Paul
Men’s SP D North
Patriot Lanes/Precision Auto,
Cambridge-Isanti
Hardtimes Softball, Bemidji
Stony Creek Dairy, Albany
American Legion/City Sanitary,
Little Falls
Men’s SP D South
MN Hitmen, Bloomington
Hugo’s Heroes, Albert Lea
Fountain Industries, Faribault
Jimmy’s/Miller Lite, Sauk Rapids
Men’s SP EE North
Doc’s, Northern Pine
Ringers, Northern Pine
Roberts Excavating, Northern
Pine
3rd Base Bar, Northern Pine
Men’s SP EE South
Spray Foam Insulation, Rogers
Airic’s/Johan’s, New Prague
Double Vision, Hutchinson
Bashers/Southside/Harley,
Faribault
Men’s SP E
Don Boone Agency/Erickson
Embroidery, Crookston
Sportsman North Star/Trap,
Clearbrook
St. Hilaire Bears/Krause
Builders, Thief River Falls
Shirly’s Gas & Grocery, Hewitt
Women’s SP C
Bessler Bros. Electric, Bemidji
Schroeder’s Explosion, Brainerd
Lenzen/Burky’s, Chaska
T.J. Potter Trucking, Wright
County
Women’s SP DD
Misfits, Cambridge-Isanti
Elfmann Plumbing, Wright
County
Jailbirds, Cambridge-Isanti
Angels, New Prague
Women’s SP D
Wholesale Tire, Faribault
Beavers, Cambridge-Isanti
Bubbas, Sauk Rapids
Brock’s Best, Anoka-Henn
Women’s SP EE
Benton Station, Sauk Rapids
Majestic Pine Realty, North Pine
Ringers, North Pine
MW Home IMP/1st Ave Auto,
Little Falls
Men’s Modified Tier I
Snap on Tools, Hollywood
Elite Waste Disposal, Hollywood
B’s on the River, Hollywood
CCC, Hollywood
Men’s Modified Tier II
Motzko Well, Hollywood
Cosmos Lions, Cosmos
Fall Co-Rec SP Tier I
Ultimate Tree Frogs, Sauk
Rapids
North Branch Chevrolet,
Cambridge
Blue Line, Sauk Rapids
Lizards, Cambridge
Fall Co-Rec SP Tier II
Bone Collectors, Sauk Rapids
ACC Midwest Transport,
Hollywood
(T-3) ROC, Cambridge
(T-3) Caron Installation,
Faribault
Fall Co-Rec SP Tier III
Watertown Fuel & Food,
Hollywood
Bloomers, Cambridge
(T-3) Misfits, Cambridge
(T-3) Mofatts Meats, Cambridge
Fall Men’s SP Tier I
Jimmy’s Top Choice,
Sauk Rapids
Kostecka Farms, Cambridge
Pearson Trucking, St. Michael
Relax & Recharge, Sauk Rapids
Fall Men’s SP Tier II
Snap Fitness, Willmar
Centra Sota, Sauk Rapids
(T-3) Allegiance Auto/DC
Drywall, Chisago County
(T-3) Stufffdoers, Cambridge
Fall Men’s SP Tier III
Harvest Bank, Willmar
Howie’s/Jimmy’s, Sauk Rapids
(T-3) All Elements, Sauk Rapids
(T-3) Big Game, Chisago
County
Corvuso Meats, Hollywood
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
5
NSF♦MSF Champions
Men’s Church Slow Pitch State Tournament
Co
Co--Rec B Slow Pitch State Tournament
CHAMPION: Celebration Lutheran, St. Cloud
CHAMPION: Brenny’s, Brainerd
2) Calvary
Lutheran, Dalbo
3) Crosse Pointe
#1, Dalbo
4) North Isanti
Baptist, Dalbo
2) Minnehaha Liquors, St. Paul
Co
Co--Rec C Slow Pitch State Tournament
Co
Co--Rec D Slow Pitch State Tournament
CHAMPION: R&K Electric, Owatonna
CHAMPION: Paragon Stone, Princeton
2) Games People Play, Owatonna
2) Beer Belly’s Legends, Rochester
3) Bone Collectors, Sauk Rapids
4) Corvuso
Meats, Hollywood
MASTERS (35) B Men’s Slow State Tournament
MASTERS (35) C Men’s Slow State Tournament
CHAMPION: Jimmy’s Pourhouse/Reuter Auto, Sauk Rapids
CHAMPION: B2Sports.com, Cottage Grove
2) C&L Excavating,
Sartell
3) Kostecka Farms,
Cambridge
2) Dugout Bar,
St. Paul
3) Fickle’s,
Cambridge
4) East Central Transportation, Cambridge
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
6
NSF♦MSF Champions
Masters (40) Men’s Fast Pitch State Tournament
Masters (50) Men’s Fast Pitch State Tournament
CHAMPION: MN Computers/Pioneer Seed, Ruthton
CHAMPION: Anytime Fitness, New Ulm
2) Jordan Realty, West St. Paul
2) MN Computers, Scandia
Men’s B Fast Pitch State Tournament
Men’s C Fast Pitch State Tournament
CHAMPION: Jordan Realty, West St. Paul
CHAMPION: St. Paul FP, West St. Paul
2) Odin,
Mankato
3) Tin Cups,
St. Paul
4) Morelli’s Fastpitch,
St. Paul
2) Premier Bank, 3) Hennager Plumbing
Border League
& Heating, Mankato
4) PBI, West
St. Paul
Men’s D Fast Pitch State Tournament
Men’s C Slow Pitch State Tournament
CHAMPION: Charlie’s Café, Freeport
CHAMPION: Buzzkill, Brainerd
2) Millwood Transport, Freeport
3) Hardwick,
Border League
4) Black Sox,
St. Charles
2) B-52’s/Dracs,
South St. Paul
3) Tee Hive,
Brainerd
4) CJ’s, Chisago
County
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
7
NSF♦MSF Champions
Men’s DD Slow Pitch North State Tournament
Men’s DD Slow Pitch South State Tournament
CHAMPION: Gampers, North Pine County
CHAMPION: Blue Steel/Matties/Allstate, Inver Grove Heights
2) Smoke Show,
Pierz
3) Porky Pine Bar
& Grill, Pierz
4) Coors Light,
Detroit Lakes
2) Rounders Sports
Bar & Grill, Mankato
3) Bashers,
Faribault
4) BLVD, South
St. Paul
Men’s D Slow Pitch North State Tournament
Men’s D Slow Pitch South State Tournament
CHAMPION: Patriot Lanes/Precision Audio, Cambridge-Isanti
CHAMPION: MN Hitmen, Bloomington
2) Hardtimes
3) Stony Creek
Softball, Bemidji Dairy, Albany
4) American Legion/City
Sanitary, Little Falls
2) Hugo’s Heroes, Albert Lea
T-3) Fountain Industries, Faribault
T-3) Jimmy’s/Miller
Lite, Sauk Rapids
Men’s EE Slow Pitch North State Tournament
Men’s EE Slow Pitch South State Tournament
CHAMPION: Doc’s, Northern Pine
CHAMPION: Spray Foam Insulation, Rogers
2) Ringers,
Northern Pine
3) Roberts Excavating,
Northern Pine
4) 3rd Base Bar,
Northern Pine
2) Airic’s/Johan’s,
New Prague
3) Double Vision,
Hutchinson
4) Bashers/
Southside/Harley,
Faribault
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
8
NSF♦MSF Champions
Men’s E Slow Pitch State Tournament
Women’s C Slow Pitch State Tournament
CHAMPION: Don Boone Agency/Erickson Embroidery, Crookston
CHAMPION: Bessler Bros. Electric, Bemidji
2) Sportsman
North Star/Trap,
Crookston
3) St. Hilaire Bears/
4) Shirly’s Gas
Krause Builders, Thief
& Grocery,
River Falls
Hewitt
2) Shroeder’s
3) Lenzen/
4) T.J. Potter TruckExplosion, Brainerd Burky’s, Chaska ing, Wright County
Women’s DD Slow Pitch State Tournament
Women’s D Slow Pitch State Tournament
CHAMPION: Misfits, Cambridge-Isanti
CHAMPION: Wholesale Tire, Faribault
2) Elfmann Plumbing,
Wright County
3) Jailbirds,
Cambridge-Isanti
4) Angels,
New Prague
2) Beavers,
Cambridge-Isanti
Women’s EE Slow Pitch State Tournament
CHAMPION: Benton Station, Sauk Rapids
2) Majestic Pine
Realty, North Pine
3) Ringers,
North Pine
4) MW Home IMP/1st
Ave Auto, Little Falls
3) Bubba’s,
Sauk Rapids
4) Brock’s Best,
Anoka-Henn
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
9
NSF♦MSF Champions
Men’s Modified Pitch Tier I State Tournament
Men’s Modified Pitch Tier II State Tournament
CHAMPION: Snap on Tools, Hollywood
CHAMPION: Motzko Well, Hollywood
2) Elite Waste Disposal,
3) B’s on the
Hollywood
River, Hollywood
4) CCC,
Hollywood
2) Cosmos Lions, Cosmos
Ed Oliver Memorial Class D Champion
Ed Oliver Memorial Class EE Champion
CHAMPION: Allegiance Auto/DC Drywall, Chisago County
CHAMPION: Whistling Pickle, Zimmerman
2) BLVD Bar & Grill, South St. Paul
2) BCG, Albertville
WE TREAT THE
SM
AMATEUR LIKE A PRO
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
10
NSF♦MSF Champions
Fall Co
Co--Rec Slow Tier I State Tournament
Fall Co
Co--Rec Slow Tier II State Tournament
CHAMPION: Ultimate Tree Frogs, Sauk Rapids
CHAMPION: Bone Collectors, Sauk Rapids
2) North Branch
Chevrolet, Cambridge
3) Blue Line,
Sauk Rapids
Lizards,
Cambridge
2) ACC Midwest
Transport, Hollywood
T-3) ROC,
Cambridge
T-3) Caron Installation, Faribault
Fall Co
Co--Rec Slow Tier III State Tournament
Fall Men’s Slow Tier I State Tournament
CHAMPION: Watertown Fuel & Food, Hollywood
CHAMPION: Jimmy’s Top Choice, Sauk Rapids
2) Bloomers,
Cambridge
T-3) Misfits,
Cambridge
T-3) Mofatts Meats,
Cambridge
2) Kostecka Farms, 3) Pearson Truck4) Relax & ReCambridge
ing, St. Michael charge, Sauk Rapids
Fall Men’s Slow Tier II State Tournament
Fall Men’s Slow Tier III State Tournament
CHAMPION: Snap Fitness, Willmar
CHAMPION: Harvest Bank, Willar
2) Centra Sota, T-3) Allegiance Auto/DC T-3) Stuffdoers,
Sauk Rapids Drywall, Chisago County
Cambridge
2) Howie’s/Jimmy’s, T-3) All Elements,
Sauk Rapids
Sauk Rapids
T-3) Bug Game,
Chisago County
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
11
NSF North American Championships
Results are in, champs are crowned!
The Second Annual NSF North American Championship results are in. The tournament took place at Bob Cross Park in Sauk Rapids over Labor Day Weekend. Sauk
Rapids Softball Association President and longtime softball supporter Dennis Kenning
kicked off the tournament with the ceremonial first pitch during Friday evening's Opening Ceremonies.
In the DD/D Bracket, a few early round upsets turned some heads. It appeared no
matter the matchup, anyone was capable of winning any given game. Some of the
most exciting games on the sun-soaked Saturday included Fountain Industries
(Faribault, MN) edging Gampers (North Pine County, MN) 15-14, MN-Kota (Detroit
Lakes, MN) outlasting Rison Homes/Ellingson Companies (Owatonna, MN) 23-22 and
Young & Reckless (Pine River, MN) had a pair of three-run victories out of the gate.
Perhaps no game on Saturday had fans more on the edge of their seats than the winners' bracket pairing between Stony Creek Dairy (Albany, MN) and Allegiance Auto/
DC Drywall (Chisago County, MN). Facing a 5-1 deficit, Allegiance put up 15 runs in
the 4th inning to take a commanding lead. With no thoughts of quitting, Stony Creek
fought back with 14 unanswered runs of their own and wound up winning the game
19-17. The loss put Allegiance Auto/DC Drywall in the precarious position of having to
win 7 straight games in order to win the DD Championship. Turns out that is exactly
what they did. The streak was due in large part to their hot offense that averaged an
impressive 20 runs per game. The championship games were a rematch with Stony
Creek Dairy. Stony Creek just couldn't keep up as Allegiance put 27 runs in both
games. Brian Morris, Jarret Sachs and Jake ReMine were named to the AllTournament Team for Allegiance Auto/DC Drywall. Joel Middendorf, Nick Primus and
Theo Jacobs were All-Tournament honorees for Stony Creek. Christian Builders/HercU-Lift/Xtreme Detail (Elk River, MN) took the D bracket. They walked off a 10-9 victory
over Young & Reckless in the championship game. The game featured four AllTournament players: Travis Kreuter and Alex Halverson from Christian Builders -- and
Russell Burgoyne, Sr. and Ben Kepner from Young and Reckless.
The opening round in the EE Bracket featured a
number of close matchups, most notably a back
and forth game between Whistling Pickle and
Third Base Bar from the North Pine County
league. Whistling Pickle outlasted Third Base
Bar and won the game in thrilling walk-off fashion 12-11 in nine innings. Whistling Pickle ran
into their only hiccup of the tournament in their
second game when they were edged 9-8 by the
local representative Benton Station. After defeating MCO (Brainerd, MN) 8-4, Whistling
Whistling Pickle
Pickle went on to score 20+ runs in the next four
Class EE Men’s Slow Pitch Champions
games en route to claiming the championship.
Whistling Pickle was led by All-Tournament honorees Casey McEachern, Chayse Barrett and Jeff Pegues. They defeated Budweiser/
Anderson Beverage (Crookston, MN) in the final by a score of 23-12. Kyle Swenson
and Casey Sannes were named to the All-Tournament Team from Budweiser/
Anderson Beverage.
Sauk Rapids Softball Association hosted the 2nd Annual National Softball Federation’s
North American Championships on Labor Day Weekend. 30 teams participated. Worth
Sports Company helped sponsor the balls for the tournament.
Allegiance Auto/DC Drywall
Class DD Men’s Slow Pitch Champions
Christian Builders/Herc-U-Lift/Xtreme Detail
Class D Men’s Slow Pitch Champions
All‐Tournament Team
North American Softball Championships
Class DD/D Men’s Slow Pitch
PLAYER
Brian Morris
Jarrett Sachs
Jake ReMine
Joel Middendorf
Nick Primus
Theo Jacobs
Chris Benning
Austin Host
Jeremy Doroff
Ricky Drew
Matt Balsimo
Ron Opine
Derek Shipman
Brian Heden
Travis Kreuter
Alex Halverson
Russell Burgoyne, Sr.
Ben Kepner
TEAM
Allegiance Auto/DC Drywall
Allegiance Auto/DC Drywall
Allegiance Auto/DC Drywall
Stony Creek Dairy
Stony Creek Dairy
Stony Creek Dairy
Impact Technology
Impact Technology
Smoke Show
Smoke Show
Blvd Bar & Grill
Blvd Bar & Grill
MN‐Kota
MN‐Kota
Christian Builders/Herc‐U‐Lift/XD
Christian Builders/Herc‐U‐Lift/XD
Young & Reckless
Young & Reckless
All‐Tournament Team
North American Softball Championships
Class EE Men’s Slow Pitch
PLAYER
Casey McEachern
Chayse Barrett
Jeff Pegues
Kyle Swenson
Casey Cannes
Justin Boike
Nate Frederickson
Pat Osterman
Matt Beilke
Steve Perpich
Kyler Decent
Jason Apel
Travis Hawkinson
TEAM
Whistling Pickle
Whistling Pickle
Whistling Pickle
Budweiser/Anderson Beverage
Budweiser/Anderson Beverage
Benton Station
Benton Station
Double Vision
Double Vision
MCO
MCO
Spray Foam Insulation/Mich Golden
Spray Foam Insulation/Mich Golden
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
13
Girls Fastpitch High School All-Star Series
Blizzard vs. Breeze
Blizzard Roster: Erin Haglund, Sophie Pratt, Katie Gatzlaff,
DeAnn Bjerkle, Vanessa Lee, Morgan Williamson, Maddie
McCargar, Angel Dahl, Paige Pautzke, Courtney Struss, Lauren Silbernick, Krista Lange, Danielle Chisholm, Coaches
Darrell Bjerkle and Scott Sauter
Breeze Roster: Shelbi Swanson, Rachel Heuer, Lexi Vaplon,
Kate McLaughlin, Morgan Roush, Alexis Tappe, Janessa
Peters, Samantha Dunn, Nicole Johnson, Haylie Helms,
Courtney Olson, Taylor Schreier, Coaches Alison Mach and
Wendy Schultz
Ice vs. Thunder
Thunder Roster: Katie Thun, Brooke Klontz, Marita Rasche,
Paige Petersen, Tiffany Woelber, Kristen Huck, Sydney Knudsen, Megan Boser, Jamie Jenks, Ashley Bunting, Ashley Dick,
Emily Bauer, Coaches Mary Holmberg and Ron Tondryk
Ice Roster: Makayla Rahn, Sydney Schuck, Anne Debertin,
Katie Emmer, Brooke Wuertz, Lexie Erickson, Brittany Hoffmann, Lydia Wagner, Courtney Lemke, Brook Willemsen,
Samantha Macken, Janae Myers, Coaches Kristi Andersen
Loose and Danielle Andersen
Lightning vs. Heat
Lightning Roster: Heather Heacox, Samantha Hartmann,
Jennifer Zidar, Mackenzie Franke, Elizabeth Bade, Mary
Turitto, Dana Mogren, Sara Nelson, Abby Bunnell, Taylor
Bratten, Jessica Goerger, Samantha Buhmann, Coaches Bob
Beedle and Roger Stippel
Heat Roster: Hannah Evavold, Sarah Hendrickson, Sam
Heskin, Jenna Stein, Savannah Quandt, Abby Brinkmeier,
Alexis Lund, Ashley Clapp, Melissa Seldon, Abbie Voas,
Kaley DeCou, Austyn Beese, Coaches Kathi Opsahl and Mike
Carter
The 25th Anniversary Girls Fastpitch AllStar Series was conducted at Caswell
Park in North Mankato this past June.
72 of the state’s top seniors participated
in the event conducted by the Minnesota High School Coaches Association
and MSF. Dudley and Sports Authority
helped sponsor the prestigious event.
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
14
Girls Fastpitch NSF ♦ MSF Champions
Class C 12
12--Under Girls Fastpitch
Class C 14
14--Under Girls Fastpitch
CHAMPION: Austin Blue
CHAMPION: Austin
2) Fairmont Red
2) Fairmont
3) Austin White
3) Rochester Xtreme
Class REC 14
14--Under Girls Fastpitch
Class C 16
16--Under Girls Fastpitch
CHAMPION: BGMR Gators
CHAMPION: Winona Winstars Orange
2) Alex Cardinals
3) Tracy
2) Rochester Mirage
Class C 18
18--Under Girls Fastpitch
CHAMPION: BGMR
2) Worthington SW Storm
3) Watertown Royals
3) Rochester Dynamite
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
15
Minnesota Statute Offers New Protection for Coaches
Under Fire from Parents
July 2013  By Michael Popke
The day after Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill in late May
adding a new layer of protection for high school coaches besieged by
upset parents, John Erickson had three simple words: "We got it."
The executive director of the nonprofit Minnesota State High School
Coaches Association had just overseen a 10-month process that resulted in a first-of-its-kind sentence added to the existing coaching
contract renewal statute. That sentence, included in a 2013 omnibus
education bill and made effective July 1, reads: "The existence of parent complaints must not be the sole reason for a board to not renew a
coaching contract."
Introduced in the Legislature as a bipartisan effort by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) and Rep. Paul Marquart (D-Dilworth) — former
high school cross country and wrestling coaches, respectively — Minnesota's statute reflects a new wrinkle in interscholastic sports.
"We had people in the Legislature who understood the background
and some of the changes that are happening in coaching," Erickson
says. "They want to take some of the pressure off not only coaches
but also athletic directors, who are having to put up with an almost
equal amount of abuse from parents wanting to get rid of coaches.
This will protect superintendents, too. We don't look at it as something that is usurping the power of a school board or a school administration. It's aligning things into proper channels. We're hoping that
we can go back to the days when parents and coaches could talk,
when there was agreement, disagreement and the ability to reach a
consensus. That's gone away."
FACTORS AT PLAY
How did Minnesota get to this point? Why did coaches feel they
needed a shield stronger than the statute that had been in place for
the past decade — one that gave coaches whose contracts were not
renewed the right to know why in writing and granted them a school
board hearing?
Mike MacMillan, executive director of the Minnesota Hockey Coaches
Association, told reporters that of the 110 boys' hockey coaches
whose contracts had not been renewed over the past five years, at
least 38 of the departures were precipitated by parental complaints.
Gary Stefano, boys' hockey coach at Maple Grove Senior High
School, was let go "after public outcry stemming from an off-ice incident at a private home for which 13 players were suspended," according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. And two other boys' hockey
coaches (Roseville High's Jeff Pauletti and Elk River High's Tony
Sarsland) resigned in spring 2012 after facing highly publicized, longrunning opposition from parents.
Regardless of whether specific incidents or festering discontent warrant the backlash, Erickson — who estimates that his association receives an average of 10 to 15 calls each academic year from
coaches claiming abuse by parents — argues the previous statute
intended to protect coaches didn't work. "It became a token hearing,"
he says. "In not one case that a hearing took place did we see a
change in the vote."
Sports most susceptible to volatile parental interference include
hockey, basketball, soccer and volleyball — all of which boast significant parental involvement at the youth, club and travel levels. Sometimes parents have trouble adjusting to the hierarchy of high school
sports and the reduced role moms and dads play in the day-to-day
operations of those teams, Erickson says. "A lot of it stems from what
has happened prior to the high school level," he explains. "Basically,
what had been created at that level was a hostile work environment.
What other sector of people have to put up with that?"
"Parents feel entitled. 'I
spent $10,000, my son or
daughter should be better
than the person who's
only spent maybe $1,000
or nothing,' " Pauletti told
the Star Tribune. "And
that's not always the
case."
A second and just as sig- TROUBLED TIMES Public outcry over an off-ice
nificant factor is the preva- incident led to Maple Grove (Minn.) High School
lence of social media. boys’ hockey coach Gary Stefano’s dismissal. (Carlos
Gone are the days when Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/zumapress.com)
parents had a cup of coffee to discuss their concerns before appointing one of their own to
have a meeting with the coach in question. Today, parents communicate via Twitter, Facebook and text message, which enables them to
form an alliance and send anonymous emails to the coach, athletic
director and/or superintendent.
"The coaches want some sort of protection," Northfield High School
activities director Tom Graupmann told the Northfield News. "I think
they deserve that. It makes sense. I hope that by doing this, we [will]
be gaining allies, and not putting up walls or shutting people out. We
want the best possible situation for our kids. This legislation speaks to
that."
"This is not an attack on parents in any way, shape or form," Erickson
adds. "I think a vast majority of parents are so supportive of their high
school athletic programs. They understand the situation and they're
doing all the right things. There are just a few rogue parents who
somehow have mistakenly thought they can run a high school program. The sad news is that they are so vocal, we felt we needed to
have some way to address that very small group."
SOME OPPOSITION
The effort to provide a greater shield for coaches was met with support from various organizations, including the Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators' Association, but some newspaper polls
suggested slight opposition. The Minnesota School Boards Association officially opposed the statute, citing concern that the added sentence would leave schools open to greater litigation.
"These coaches do not need this protection; rather, frustrated parents
need some avenue so that unworthy coaches are taken off the playing field," wrote Don Heinzman, an editorial board member for ECM
Publishers Inc., a series of newspapers in Minnesota and western
Wisconsin. "School boards do not need a law that would essentially
make it harder for parents to be heard and to remove coaches who
have no business teaching and coaching students. There's a reason
no state has a law like this."
But now that Minnesota does have such a law, Erickson says he
hopes other states will follow suit. The MIAAA is expected this summer to help spread the word to coaches, who will in turn share details
about the revised law with parents during preseason meetings. "We
hope we never hear about the impact of the law," Erickson concludes,
"because that means it worked."
Reprinted from AthleticBusiness.com
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
16
Michiana doctors: Most softball injuries minor
But recent deaths prompt look at safety precautions
April 25, 2009  By ALICIA GALLEGOS Tribune Staff Writer
MISHAWAKA -- During any given summer day in Michiana, hundreds of amateur softball players suit up and
take the field across local baseball diamonds. Some of
the adult leagues are competitive while others are merely
a chance for players to enjoy the warm weather and
spend time with friends. But two recent softball deaths
have raised alarm about the popular summer pastime
and sparked questions about proper precautions when it
comes to the sport. On April 18, 24-year-old Alberto Naranjo was reportedly sliding into home plate during a
game at Rose Park in Mishawaka when a throw hit him
below his left ear. He lost consciousness and was rushed
to Memorial Hospital, where a neurosurgeon pronounced
him brain-dead early Sunday. A 14-year-old Chicago boy
died Wednesday after falling on the softball he caught
during a school league game, according to national reports. The teen fell on the ball, chest first, asked for water, then reportedly collapsed. Results of an autopsy have
so far been inconclusive. Doctors and softball experts say
that life-threatening injuries related to the sport are extremely rare. Much more common are the sprained ankles, pulled muscles, dehydration and dislocated shoulders. "Those happen all summer and spring long," says
Dr. Mark Lavallee, director of sports medicine at Memorial Hospital. Still, the recent tragedies have led to local
parks and recreation leaders to re-evaluate their safety
policies. Naranjo was not wearing a helmet, which is not
required for slow-pitch softball. "Something like this happens," says Lavallee, "and you ask yourself, how safe is
this sport?"
Most injuries minor
In Mishawaka, 49 teams make their way through the
Mishawaka Parks and Recreation softball season, says
parks superintendent Mike Faulkner. In South Bend, 204
teams are in the various leagues run by South Bend
Parks and Recreation, according to commissioner John
Walczewski. This doesn't include countless other
leagues, church teams, and other summer softball
groups. Faulkner, formally the commissioner of the
Mishawaka softball leagues and who played softball himself for eight years called the Rose Park incident a "freak
accident." "That's the first time I've ever seen it happen,"
he said. The majority of softball injuries came from "road
rash," or "strawberries," he said, softball slang for sliding
scrapes and bruising. Both Mishawaka and South Bend
leagues do have strict regulations on certain bats that can
be used during games. "Double wall," bats, which have
stronger springing actions are not allowed.
Walczewski, who has played softball for 31 years, agreed
that he has never seen a life-threatening injury happen on
the field, and that the most common injuries are sprained
ankles and jammed fingers. "I've been hit ten times in the
head and you just get up and walk away, I've never had
to get treatment," he said. Like some other sports, concussions are the most common form of head trauma,
says Dr. David Cockerill, a neurosurgeon at Memorial
Hospital. Many concussions do not require treatment, he
says, and initial symptoms of dizziness and a headache
pass within a few minutes. More serious head injuries
such as fractures to the neck or spine, can happen, Cockerill says, but they're much more rare. In Naranjo's case,
the ball hit just behind his ear, causing a traumatic injury
to an artery that impacts his respiratory area, Cockerill
says. "Damage to that area is pretty unforgiving," he said.
Head protection?
Serious head injuries are much more common in motor
vehicle accidents than in sporting events adds Dr. Steven
Gable, vice president of quality initiatives at Saint Joseph
Regional Medical Center, and a neurologist for 30 years.
Like others, Gable says the recent Mishawaka death is
the first of its kind Gable has seen in a softball setting locally. The doctor added that in all the years of Major
League baseball only one player was ever killed by a
baseball -- Ray Chapman, who was hit by a pitch in 1920.
"Sports are fun," he said. "They're thrilling, but there's an
inherent danger to these things." Every year, Lavallee
says he primarily sees "minor to moderate injuries" during
softball season. Pulled hamstrings and groins are some
of the most frequent. Lavallee is an advocate for helmets
in softball, both fast and slow-pitch. The rule is something
that others are now considering, too. Susan O'Connor,
director of recreation for South Bend Parks and Recreation, mentioned at a recent parks board meeting that officials looked at their softball policies in light of the recent
incident. Softball players are not required to wear helmets
as in accordance with Amateur Softball Association
guidelines. Faulkner said the issue is also something his
leagues may revisit. "Anything that will enhance player
safety is great," he said. "(But) I don't know what the players will say," he added. Faulkner again stressed the
Mishawaka death was an extreme rarity. "The accident
was tragic and freak," he said. "But one's too many."
Reprinted from the SouthBendTribune.com
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
Intensely vocal parents can ruin
kids’ baseball for everyone
July 28, 2013  By John Dickerson Slate
17
Little League’s
big pain
For most of my son's baseball game, the man in the red folding chair sitting behind me had been just a voice on the hill. Now, he was my enemy.
His son was pitching. Mine was batting. When my son fouled off the first
pitch, the father was gleeful. When the second pitch was called a ball, he
questioned the umpire. After a called strike, he roared: "He can't hit you."
Impressive -- he was trying to intimidate a 10-year-old batter. I wanted
my son to get a hit to shut him up, or maybe a line drive foul to do so
more directly. In the end, my son lined out to the shortstop.
In the heat of competition, I was ready to make that guy's folding chair
into a bow tie for him. He was an ass. But on the drive to 7-Eleven for the
traditional post-game Slurpee, I had a creeping revelation. What if I was
that guy?
After all, I was pretty invested in my own son's game. If I hadn't been,
red-chair dad wouldn't have irritated me so.
I started to catalog my own sins. I had cheered hard when my son threw a
key strike; the dad of the kid at the plate probably thought I was a jerk.
When my son was at bat, sometimes I yelled, "Good eye!" to compliment
him for not swinging at an obvious ball. But sometimes I did this for the
benefit of the umpire, who had called a ball bouncing off the plate a
strike.
When an umpire called a boy safe at second who was out by a distance
that could be seen from space, I yelled "What?" so loudly that everyone
stopped to look at me.
Was I becoming the dreaded Baseball Dad?
INVADING ARMY
Surely not. I know the type. They lurk behind the backstop spitting instructions between each pitch. I don't do that. They yell coaching tips to
kids who aren't their own. They appear in the dugout between innings
with advice. Or they sanction their kids.
"Move your ass," yelled one dad when his youngster walked out to center
field. At another game, a mother berated her son for blowing a play at
third. Then, after the exfoliation, she yelled, "Now shake it off."
You can see these parents coming. There is a loose correlation between
the quality of swag and the behavior. When the visiting 10-year-old travel
team rolls their matching bags on to the field and their uniforms have their
names on the back, that's the first sign things are going to get intense. The
five-person coaching staff barking like drill sergeants is another tipoff.
The parents backing this operation are so invested that no subpar play is
going to be tolerated.
They are there to administer rebukes. At one game, the parents arrived in
unison like an invading army. They established a perimeter around the
backstop and deployed their folding chairs, sunshades, coolers and playpen for the siblings. All had shirts and hats emblazoned with the team
logos. Some wore their child's number. On our team, the parents had only
matching copies of the Sunday New York Times.
So, yes, I'm not that bad, but there is something in the nature of baseball
itself that can help drive parents to madness.
As reader Jon Berry put it nicely: "The ratio of potential conflict/dispute
to action/movement in baseball is extremely high. Each pitch is potentially disputable; as are throws to first base, stolen bases, tag-outs, fair
ball/foul balls. And everyone in the stands is focused on that one potentially disputable action."
The Catholic Church has no papal decree so complicated and misapplied
as the infield fly rule.
It's also a game that encourages you to yell at the umpires. That's part of
the fun of being a spectator. We do it at the major-league parks, so why
not at the local diamond as well?
It's hard not to chatter as an adult the way you did as a kid -- the constant
talk that kept you from being bored during the game's pauses when you
were a player. This means you're running your mouth in a way that can be
dangerous. (Also, it's a fact: Many umpires need eyewear and should be
encouraged to learn the benefits of routine ophthalmologist visits.)
Most of all, though, baseball draws parents to emotional excess because it
lets you do what normal parenting doesn't: Cheer out loud for your kids
when they are under pressure and something's on the line.
The great lesson of baseball is that even the great players strike out. The
key to the game, as in life, is to endure failure and adapt.
Continued on next page ►
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
18
Intensely vocal parents can ruin kids’ baseball for everyone (continued)
It is a joy to be able to participate in this concentrated sneak instillation of
the lessons of life, because most of the time you won't be there. You can't
show up at the SAT to root for your child. After they strike out with a girl
or a boy, you can't appear and show them in front of everyone that you
support them no matter what happens.
ON THE SIDELINES
Excessive behavior is embarrassing to your child, it's embarrassing
to yourself, and it teaches your child all the wrong lessons about
sportsmanship, character and grace.
But even if you're not risking those outcomes, there is a challenge
to finding the line between unconditional love and intensity. Even
if you stop short of acting like the horrible parent, there's a finer
line to walk. You don't want to smother the experience for them
with too much engagement.
It's their game -- just as it's their life. Know when to butt out.
Jason Larocque, a baseball coach who runs the Win Within program in Washington, D.C., tells the story of his dad, who was
there for his every game but never encroached.
"He did it right," says Larocque. "He was a former high school and
college baseball coach who never once made a comment during
my games, spoke to my coaches, or forced me to practice -- despite his wealth of knowledge."
Now, I don't know if I can never make a comment during games,
but I can dial it back a bit. And I have picked up some great pieces
of advice from other parents. Don't quiz kids about the game immediately after it's over. It puts too much on them when they're
still processing the experience or finally taking a break from the
pressure of it. Let them bring it up.
And if you do talk about the game, put a limit to it. One parent
never talks about the game after he and his daughter have left the
field. I can't handle that, so I try to squeeze it in between 7-Eleven
and home. Once we're out of the car, I'm done talking. It's up to
the kids to bring up their sports after that.
My favorite advice is from a piece published on thepostgame.com
about horrible Little League parents. Great college athletes were
asked what their parents said that made them feel great and that
amplified their joy during and after a game. The overwhelming
response: "I love to watch you play."
It's true: I do love to watch him play. Perhaps that's the best brake
on overdoing it. I wouldn't want to send any message that gets in
the way of that one.
RULES OF THE GAME
This sign was posted in front of stands at the Little League park in
Maryland where my son played a tournament recently. If only I
had seen it before I wrote about cretinous baseball parents. The
sign is like a Dante's "Inferno" for Little League parental sins, perfectly capturing the loutish behavior in order of severity:
These are kids: When parents yell and pout, they turn a sport
where kids can learn good qualities -- grit and skill and good
sportsmanship -- into an indelible lesson in the worst quality: losing your cool over small things.
This is a game: Your public outbursts turn something that should
be fun into the opposite. This isn't just a sin against baseball, it ruins the experience for kids. The great joy of the game comes when
you are encased in it completely. It is your world. Boo to the parent who punctures that bubble because he can't control himself.
Coaches are volunteers: Coaches are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, so give them a break, they're not professionals.
Also, they have sacrificed to create something; don't arrive at the
last minute and ruin it with your selfishness.
Umpires are human: They're fallible, like the rest of us. They're
also almost certainly not getting paid very much.
You do not play for the Orioles: This is a warning against general blowhardism. Just be quiet with your thousands of opinions.
Not only does this sign keep people from misbehaving, but it also
gives everyone a structure to shun the fellow who steps out of line.
And step out of line he will.
The laws of the sign notwithstanding, the head umpire had to admonish two different parents during one of my son's games -- one
for yelling at the coach, and one for an outburst after a pitch a father thought was a strike was called the other way. "Do that again
and you'll be enjoying the rest of the game from your car," the umpire said to one of the fathers, who fortunately was not me.
Reprinted from the Pioneer Press
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
20
Angry Parents Take a Toll on HS Coaching Ranks
Not all fun and games; Resignations sting east Idaho coaching ranks
August 27, 2013  By MICHAEL LYCKLYMA, Idaho Falls Post Register
There's the organizing, the fundraising, the psychology. And then,
there are the parents.
A parent started a shouting match with Blackfoot girls basketball
coach Merle Smith in February, after the last game of the season.
Another parent started a thread on an online message board, 315
posts and counting, to oust Firth girls basketball coach Sharla Cook.
And DeVere Hunt - parent of a player and former member of the Bonneville Joint School District 93 school board - campaigned against
former Bonneville football coach Mitch Buck, now at Madison.
They represent only a few examples of unruly parents running
coaches out of their high school programs the past few years. Eleven
of the 44 boys and girls basketball coaches in eastern Idaho resigned
this spring. Some stepped down voluntarily. Many didn't.
Coaches throughout eastern Idaho say the majority of parents support them. But no matter their experience or success level, they all tell
stories of parents gone wild. And it takes only one or two to turn the
whole batch sour.
Former Idaho Falls football coach Chuck Johnson learned that lesson
this year.
A group of upset parents waged a campaign beginning in August
2012 to remove Johnson as the Tigers' head coach after 13 years
and what turned into back-to-back 2-7 seasons.
Disgruntled parents complained to Idaho Falls Principal Randy Hurley. They wrote letters to the school board. They threatened District
91's $6.8 million supplemental levy election, all searching for a way to
oust Johnson.
"Do we need to start a petition to have him step down? Do we put
pressure on the athletic director or superintendent?" Frank Egbert
wrote in an email to District 91 trustee Deidre Warden on Aug. 25, the
day after Idaho Falls' first loss of the season. "Some changes need to
occur."
"I think we as a community need to stand up and voice our opinion,"
KC Thompson wrote in an email to all District 91 trustees Feb. 5.
"And you, as a publicly-voted board, need to listen to our voice.""
When progress to oust Johnson didn't move fast enough, those parents started an online petition Nov. 18 that garnered 84 signatures,
eight of which were anonymous.
"Chuck has failed to capitalize on the talent we have in the IF school
district," Phillip Gary wrote, days before the Idaho Falls boys basketball team started an 0-22 season.
The campaign led to a counter effort to support Johnson. An online
petition supporting Johnson garnered 373 signatures and a Facebook
page racked up 518 likes.
The ordeal caused so much stress in the Johnson household that
Johnson said it sent his wife, Jaculin, to the hospital. But, for Johnson's critics, it also led to its desired effect.
The District 91 board of trustees held a meeting with Johnson, a 1978
Idaho Falls High graduate who led the Tigers to a 58-66 record, six
playoff appearances and two state semifinal appearances in 13
years, to address a submitted letter. Johnson didn't realize he was
interviewing for his job.
Two weeks later, the board opted to fire Johnson without firing him. It
declined Hurley's recommendation to renew Johnson's supplemental
contract to coach the football team. Instead, it opted to publicly post
the position for applicants and telling Johnson he was welcome to
apply.
That set off a firestorm. Detractors and supporters of Johnson lobbed
accusations at each other. And threats to the district's levy election
came from both sides, Warden said.
"I told them at that point the whole conversation became moot because the supplemental levy is 14 percent of our budget," Warden
said. "If it doesn't pass, who knows what extracurricular activities are
left."
Johnson remains the most high-profile coach to exit in the 2012-13
school year. But he's hardly the only one.
The most surprising resignation came from Sugar-Salem boys basketball coach Clyde Nelson. The former Ricks College men's basketball coach led the Diggers to a 42-12 record in two years and reached
the state tournament twice. But to a select group of parents, who
called him a "bully," his success didn't matter. And looking back, Nelson believes neither did his sideline behavior nor his so-called bullying.
"I didn't play the right person," Nelson said. "Without naming anybody, that's what happened."
After the dust settled, Johnson declined to reapply for his job, instead
accepting a teaching position in Boise, where he will serve as the athletic director at Boise's East Junior High School.
He tries to leave Idaho Falls without hard feelings. He tries to take the
high road. He tries to remember the fond memories in his 22 years
coaching at Idaho Falls, 13 as the head coach.
But surveying the coaching landscape in eastern Idaho, he leaves
with another lesson learned.
"Coach sucks," Brent Hall signed.
Petition-signers cited Johnson's lack of involvement with the Grid Kid
program that feeds athletes into the school's teams. They blamed him
for only eight seniors turning out for football. They said he was a nice
guy. But he couldn't coach.
"Nobody is safe is what I've taken out of this," Johnson said. "I hope
that no one who is my friend, or enemy, would ever have to go
through this."
Reprinted from AthleticBusiness.com
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
21
We eat too much. Simple as that.
All these other explanations for obesity give the real problem a generously wide berth.
September 16, 2013  By FRANK BRUNI New York Times
I was steering my cart through Costco the
other day, wondering whether to waddle to the
aisle where they sell cashews by the quarterton or to the one with thousand-piece packs of
chicken thighs, when an epiphany pierced the
fog of my gluttony.
The examination of how and why we overeat
is like some full-employment scheme for physicians, nutritionists, scientists and professors,
who have looked at the roles of alcohol, of additives, of peer pressure, of bribes. One book
that landed on my desk recently posits that
pollution is making us fat and traces the parallel rise in air-conditioning and obesity.
Actually, two epiphanies. The first? I needed to
have kids, four or five or better yet a baker’s
dozen. Only then could I take full advantage of
the savings around me.
The second? Costco as much as anything else
is why the land of the free and the home of the
brave is also the trough of the tub o’ lard, our
exceptionalism measurable by not only our G.
D.P. but also our B.M.I. That’s body mass index, and our bodies are indeed massive.
But these experts haven’t brought us clarity.
We’ve been told that snacking is good and
that it’s not; that fruits and veggies will save
the day and that they won’t; that more exercise means fewer pounds and that it makes
no difference.
SUSAN BALLENGER ▪ Sacramento Bee/MCT
I don’t blame Costco per se. I blame what it represents: an
American obsession with size, with quantity, that manifests
itself as surely in supermarkets and restaurants as it does on
our highways. We drive minivans and sport utility vehicles; we
rip into veritable feed bags of potato chips and wedge our
steroidal Thanksgiving turkeys into refrigerators more capacious than some European cars. This doesn’t redound to our
benefit.
And while the notion that we weigh too much because we
buy, order and eat too much may be obvious, it’s increasingly
obscured. Study after study and report upon report looks at
more particular reasons for obesity and excess pounds, focusing on the edges and the aggravators of the problem instead of the flabby core. And the number and variety of these
investigations, not to mention the prominent showcase we in
the news media give them, create the impression that alchemy, not appetite, is our enemy, and that if we could just
fine-tune our daily schedules, rejigger our protein-tocarbohydrate ratios or wallow sufficiently in fiber, all would be
well.
It’s as if we’re micro-focusing on less daunting and less
damning culprits to distract ourselves from the one that’s
most fearsome and difficult to change, which is the sheer volume of food that many Americans are accustomed to consuming.
In The Times alone over the last six weeks, I’ve read stories
or blog posts about research that explored the effect of a
proper breakfast on weight loss; the implications of gut bacteria on a person’s tendency to be fat or thin; the impact that
sleep deprivation can have on dietary cravings; the possible
utility of strenuous exercise as an appetite suppressant; and
the unhealthy food choices that a favorite sports team’s defeat can cause.
What I’ve seen with my own eyes and can intuit with common sense is more consistent and persuasive.
For a few years I lived in Italy, where people are generally
thinner than in America, and I learned that it’s not because
they walk all that much more (one popular theory) or smoke
away their hunger (another). It’s because they don’t celebrate
huge servings the way that Americans do, and don’t pig out
as much as a result.
The McDonald’s near my office in Rome didn’t supersize anything. I saw no roadside signs for all-you-can-eat buffets. I
never encountered a “never-ending pasta bowl,” à la the Olive
Garden, nor a Denny’s-style “grand slam.” Italians are content
with a base hit.
Such prompts and cues make a difference. In a famous experiment eight years ago, a Cornell University professor
named Brian Wansink put stale (and presumably awfultasting) popcorn in large buckets and in really large ones.
Moviegoers who got the really large ones ate much more.
The vessels goaded them to.
America is lousy with such vessels: the Big Gulp, the economy pack, the party size, two-for-one pizza deals, the Whopper, the Double Whopper, the Triple Whopper, Costco in all
its bloated grandeur. They’ve taught us that volume equals
value and established a dangerous baseline for what we consider a sane amount of food.
And that’s a bedrock truism that mustn’t get lost amid a smorgasbord of other, wonkier insights, many helpful to a point,
none erasing the importance of portion size. Yes, there are
probably better and worse rhythms for daily eating; there are
bad calories and good calories. The ones going into you may
be sublime. Won’t matter, if you rack up enough of them.
Reprinted from nytimes.com
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
23
Gone, but not forgotten — three Hall of Famers pass away
Robert “Bobby” Kroll
Beloved Husband, Father, Grandpa, GreatGrandpa & Great-Great Grandpa On July 6,
2013, age 92, of South St. Paul. Survived by
wife Lois; children Mary Goers (Robert
Halverson), Susan Kachmarzinski, Janice
(Michael) Weir, Robert, Jr. (Carol). Also survived by many grand, great-grand & greatgreat grandchildren.
HALL OF FAME BIOGRAGHY
Bob played fastpitch in St. Paul and the Twin Cities for 24 years.
He was a top defensive first baseman who also patrolled the outfield on occasion. Bob was a good hitter, great hustler and excellent team player who often produced a key hit in clutch situations.
Starting in 1937 and continuing through 1960, Bob played with
such St. Paul teams as Nelson’s Bar, Payne Avenue Rec, Polish
American Club, Musician Union, Mohawk Bar, Schwietz Bar,
John’s Bar, Clover Club and Market House Bar.
Through the years he played on over 30 teams which won more
than 40 city, state and national tournaments.
His Payne Avenue Rec team won the league title eight of out ten
years. His VFW tea,s won five consecutive league titles. In 1946,
Bob’s VFW team finished third in the Nationals at Topeka, Kansas.
That same team won 40 consecutive games and lost only two
games in five years.
Always a proficient hitter, Bob led his teams in slugging throughout
his career. His best season came in 1948 when he posted a .370
average while playing with the Mohawk Bar team in the St. Paul
City League. One highlight from that same year was Bob’s hit in a
game that ended Hall of Fame Pitcher John Vollmer’s 30-game
winning streak.
In his career, Bob played in five VFW State Tournaments, winning
four; three national tournaments; seven Mankato Invitational Tournaments, winning two; and countless St. Paul City Championships.
For 15 years Bob was also known as a playing coach in the Payne
Avenue Home League and Catholic Athletic Association, where his
teams won eight league and six city titles. After his playing days,
Bob continued his commitment to softball, serving as President of
the St. Paul Old Timers Fast Pitch Association. In recognition of his
years of dedication, he was inducted into the St. Paul City Softball
Hall of Fame.
Editor’s Note: Robert W. Kroll, Sr. of South St. Paul passed away
on July 6, 2013 at the age of 92. Bob was an outstanding first
baseman who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.
Wayne “Nip” Knipschield
Wayne Knipschield was born in Madison, Wis., July 13, 1925. He
moved to Rochester after his marriage to Willie (Gleesing)
Knipschield on June 26, 1948, to assume a teaching and coaching
position at Lourdes High School. He coached there until 1957,
when he accepted another coaching position at John Marshall High
School in 1958, as well as teaching driver's education. He remained there until 1987. "Nip" was not only a good coach, but also
an outstanding athlete. He was inducted into his high school hall of
fame (Edgewood High School, Madison, Wis.) in 2000 for achievements in basketball and football. He attended Loras College in
Dubuque and was inducted into their hall of
fame in 1988, for outstanding performance in
football, basketball, track and baseball. In
1945, he set a college record for the longest
rushing play for a touchdown (97 yards),
which still stands to this day.
He was also an outstanding pitcher in softball
and baseball, and was inducted into the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame in 1988. He was
inducted into the Rochester Quarterbacks
Club Hall of fame in 2005 for athletic contributions to Rochester Sports, and was a member of the Minnesota
Coaches 25-year club.
Wayne is survived by his children, Terry (Mary) Knipschield and
Bonnie (Larry) Smith; three grandchildren, Scott (Jennie) Biers,
Matthew Knipschield, and Sarah Knipschield; three great- grandchildren, Amya, Alex and Amelia Biers, and a nephew, Robert
Strander of Arizona.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Juanita
Knipschield, and his wife, Willie (Gleesing) Knipschield.
HALL OF FAME BIOGRAGHY
In August 1948, Wayne Knipschield moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Rochester, Minnesota to take over as head basketball coach
at Lourdes High School. It was then that “Knipper” was recruited by
Johnson Standard Service, a softball team that most certainly
needed his help at the time. That year, he pitched them to the
Rochester “A” City League Championship over a tough field of opposition which included Hall of Fame members Carl Miller, Ray
Sibley, Stan Mount, Tom Connolly and Vince Beyer.
During the following two decades, Knipper played on some of the
very best fastpitch teams in Rochester including North Star Bar,
Eagles Club, and Louie’s Bar — winning eight city championships
and participating in twelve Minnesota Class “AA” State Tournaments.
In the Annual Labor Day Outings featuring the best from all over
the state, Knipper often pitched his team to the finals only to lock
horns with the likes of Hall of Famer Jonny Vollmer who was everyone’s nemesis! To this list must be added a number of classic softball tournaments that Knip pitched in. Like the wide open Eagles
Annual Invitational in Faribault and the numerous exhibition games
against top teams in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Knipper was also a member of a potent gang of tournament wreckers known as “Turbie’s Hill Toppers” organized by Hall of Fame
Pitcher Morrey Turbenson. This team, with its deceiving small town
name, had a field day in the late 1950’s by devastating the elite and
front running teams in Southern Minnesota, Northern Iowa and
Western Wisconsin. Knipper’s fireballing style caused fits for opposing teams.
Other teams Knipper pitched with included Edgerton, Wisconsin
and the Mayo Clinic of Rochester. He has over 30 no-hit games to
his credit. During a weekend tournament with Mayo Clinic, Knip
pitched 26 consecutive scoreless innings to win the tournament.
Editor’s Note: Wayne “Nip” Knipschield passed away on August 6,
2013 after a long illness. Wayne was an outstanding all-around athlete excelling as a fastpitch and baseball pitcher. He was inducted
into the Hall of Fame in 1988.
Continued on next page ►
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
24
Gone, but not forgotten — three Hall of Famers pass away (continued)
LeRoy Jolstad
Minnesota loses fastpitch legend
Written by Bob Otto
Minnesota has a celebrated history of producing great men’s fastpitch softball pitchers. There’s Al DeWall and Dutch Elbers; Johnny
Vollmer and Dale Root; Ron “BoBo” Johnson and Don Olson.
But perhaps the greatest of all was
Leroy Jolstad.
Jolstad stood tall on the rubber, an
imposing figure at 6-foot-5. He threw
hard and his explosive drop ball –
his signature pitch – was among the
best in the sport.
Leroy Jolstad shown in a mid-1990s
photo, was one of Minnesota’s greatest fastpitch softball pitchers, spanning a career that lasted five decades. Jolstad passed away on Sunday, Aug. 25 at the age of 64. Happy
Chef media guide contributed photo
“Leroy never had a great change up
or even a great rise ball,” said Dan
Nessler, a teammate of Jolstad’s on
Mankato Happy Chef for several
years in the 1980s and ‘90s. “He did
however have a great drop ball and
could spot it where he wanted. People knew what they were getting
most of the time and he still got
them out. I didn’t see all of
(Minnesota’s best pitchers) throw,
but from what I saw, Leroy is at the
top of the list locally.”
HAPPY CHEF’S TOP HURLER
Jolstad retired thousands of the world’s best hitters in a career that
spanned five decades, starting as a 15 year old in 1964 playing for
the Cottonwood Knights. He quickly rose to the top of the sport,
eventually landing in Mankato and pitching from 1977 to 1995 for
some of Mankato’s greatest teams – including Happy Chef.
A ball club that enjoyed its share of success against Minnesota’s
best.
“We always had great local battles against All-American Bar (St.
Paul), Band Box and the James Gang (St. James), Stewart Taylor
(Duluth), Junker’s Bar & Grill (North Mankato),” Nessler said, “and
Leroy won most of those battles.”
WORLD TOURNAMENT SUCCESS
In the International Softball Congress (ISC) World Tournament, Jolstad ranks with some of the ISC’s best pitchers, winning 20 games
from 1977 to 1999 (20-14 overall), according to ISC statistics. That
places him in the top 50 pitchers with 20 wins or more in the 67-year
history of the organization.
Johlstad was selected an
American pitcher for
Happy Chef to seventh
the 33 team ASA Major
Championship.
ASA Allleading
place in
National
But arguably his greatest success
came later in his pitching career.
When Jolstad turned 40, he began
pitching in masters’ national tournaments. He played with seven
national championship teams, including Super Sound Tapes of St.
James, Minn., and the Pomen of
Memphis, Tenn., among others.
“Winning those seven national
championships has been a nice
highlight,” Jolstad said in an earlier story. “But it’s been being able
to compete against the best in the
country, or in the world.”
Noted for his drop ball, the 6-foot-5
Jolstad won many games at the
state, regional and national level.
Happy Chef media guide contributed photo
HALL OF FAMER
Jolstad helped Happy Chef win 10 consecutive Minnesota ASA
state championships, said Lloyd. And for his outstanding career,
Jolstad was inducted into the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame in
2008.
“I know a lot of people who I have played with or played against who
are very good,” Jolstad reportedly said. “To be inducted with them is
nice.”
But Jolstad, who set down some of the sport’s best hitters in his remarkable career, will pitch no more. Jolstad passed away on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Avera-Mckinnon Hospital in Sioux Falls. S.D. at the
age of 64.
When the news of Jolstad’s passing reached the fastpitch community, words of praise for his pitching prowess and for his equally admirable character poured in from those who played with him and
against him:
FONDLY REMEMBERED
“Leroy was one of the good guys…He was always a class act when
I played against him, and it felt like he was pitching forever…Leroy
was a great pitcher, but even a greater person…It was an honor to
watch him compete…I faced him in our first ISC tourney (1982-’83)
and got to play with him 25 years later, and it was a joy…Leroy was
a great guy and a great pitcher…
… Enjoyed watching him pitch in several ASA Nationals I attended…He was one of a kind as well as a gentleman…”
For Nessler, he will remember Jolstad as a wonderful teammate,
friend and a warrior when toeing the rubber.
“He came very close to winning the ISC World Tournament in 1978
in Kimberly (Wisc.) and in Tempe (Ariz.) in 1980,” said Marley Lloyd,
who was Happy Chef’s general manager and centerfielder from
1977 to 1990. “I would put him in the same class as Dale Root and
Al DeWall. They were fierce competitors and cool under pressure.”
“Leroy was always so low key, but there was a fire burning in there
that was very intense,” Nessler said. “(He) never got too worked up,
but he also had you walk away a loser most of the time. He was a
great competitor!”
LOTS OF WINS
Editors’s note: LeRoy Jolstad passed away August 25, 2013 after
a three year battle with cancer. LeRoy easily ranks in the top three
fastpitch pitchers to ever pitch in Minnesota. He was inducted into
the Hall of Fame in 2008 after an illustrious 50 year career.
Jolstad’s fastpitch resume includes over 25 years playing at the
Open level with a record of over 750 wins and less than 300 losses,
including innumerable Most Valuable Pitcher awards. And in 1988
Reprinted from OttoinFocus.com, August 27, 2013
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
Remembering Terry Luukonen
Terence Rodney Luukkonen, 46, of Duluth, passed away untimely
on May 23, 2013. He was born on July 26, 1966, in Duluth to Rodney and Paula (Fish) Luukkonen.
Terry was the guy that everybody loved. He was kind-hearted, generous and fun to be around. Terry loved to laugh with family and
friends. He was active in many sports including softball, volleyball
and broomball, which he was the team captain of “The Machine.”
Terry also had a love for fishing.
He is preceded in death by his father and grandparents.
Terry is survived by his mother Paula (Bob) Saxin, siblings Shana
(Tom) Vesel and Mike (Missy) Luukkonen, nieces and nephews
who he adored Ashlee, Abbie and AJ Vesel, Austin Ernest, Nicholas
and Zachary Luukkonen and other relatives.
Reprinted from Duluth News
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Terry Luukkonen has been instrumental in the sport of broomball at both a state and national level.
His accomplishments are great, and the footprint he leaves behind, especially in the Duluth/Superior
area, will be long lasting. Terry preserved and revitalized the Duluth broomball league which produced
several teams that could compete at state, major tournaments and national championships. Terry was
also instrumental in bringing a major tournament, the USA Broomball National Championships to the
Duluth area in 2011. The tournament was hosted in the brand new AMSOIL Arena, giving all participants around the country a premier venue to compete. In 2011, Terry received the prestigious USA
Broomball Ambassador Award for his commitment and excellence in the growth of the sport of broomball.
From a competitive standpoint Terry led a very successful broomball team. He took his Superior Machine team from Class D to the highest level you can achieve in the sport, Class A. He has won several major tournament championships in both men’s and co-rec divisions. Superior Machine won Minnesota Sports Federation state titles in 2011 in the co-rec division and 2013 in the Men's Class B division. At a national level Terry and Superior Machine won the Men's Class B USA Broomball National
Championships in 2011. In 2009 his team won the USA Broomball Midwestern Championships. He
also lead the team to second place finishes in the Men's Class B Division in 2013 and Co-Rec divisions in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
The sport of broomball will miss Terry from both an administrative and team perspective. Administratively, Terry volunteered countless hours of time to continue to grow the sport in the Duluth area and
at a national level. Competitively, Terry not only ran a very successful team but demonstrated good
sportsmanship and leadership both on and off the ice.
25
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
27
Youth Baseball State Championships
2013 MSF STATE CHAMPIONS
Youth Baseball Wrap-up
By Steve Ketter, Program Administrator
2013 marked the 25th Anniversary MSF Youth Baseball State Championships
and it was another successful year. It all took place over the weekend of July
26-28.
Age/Class
Team
10 AAA
Cottage Grove
10 AA
Glen Lake
11 AAA
Burnsville
Thousands of participants from teams across the state were able to see how
they measured up against a competitive field. Congratulations and thank you to
all players, coaches, and parents.
11 AA
Alexandria
12 AAA
St. Cloud
A special thanks to the tournament hosts who made it all possible. State Tournament hosts included: Rosemount Traveling Baseball, Buffalo Baseball Association, Mankato Area Youth Baseball Association, Owatonna Huskies Bullpen
Club, St. Cloud Travel Baseball, Marshall Youth Baseball Association, Austin
Youth Baseball, and Farmington Travel Baseball. Another thanks to our umpires
in chief who provided our tournaments with qualified umpires: Tom Lattery, Steve
Wolle, Mark Arjes, Justin Finneman, Jeff Moberg, Dan Feigum, Josh Kunze, and
Gary Gibson.
12 AA
Caledonia
13 AAA
Shakopee
13 AA
Cold Spring
14 AAA
Chanhassen
14 AA
Hutchinson
15 AAA
Shakopee
15 AA
Minnetonka
Enjoy your fall and winter seasons and we will see you next year! Check the
web site this December for qualifier and state tournament host applications.
10
10--UNDER DIVISION AAA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Cottage Grove
Eden Prairie
Farmington
Prior Lake
Joe Palodichuk
Josh Hatano
Tucker Novotny
Ethan Latzer
Cam Quinlan
Brady Strand
Weber Neels
Matt Thompson
Owen Quast
Nick Lemire
Jack Weidner
3
5
10
11
14
21
22
24
25
33
34
Cottage Grove wins 10AAA title
ROSEMOUNT — The Cottage Grove Fighting
Wolfpack played Eden Prairie for the MSF state
Championship. Eden Prairie was able to get on
the board in the bottom of the 1st inning to take
a 1-0 lead. In the top of the 4th, Owen Quast
Championship
Coach
Record
led off the inning and smacked an inside-theCottage Grove
4
Dave
4-1
park home run over the centerfielder’s head to even the score. The
Eden Prairie
Weidner
2
game remain tied until the top of the 6th when Cottage Grove
plated another run to go up 2-1. However, Eden Prairie came back
with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to push the game into extra innings where it would stay tied
until the top of the 11th. Weber Neels lef off with a triple for the Wolfpack. 3 walks and one error later, the Wolfpack had a 4-2 lead. Eden Prairie was able to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 11th, but the game ended in a ground out to third for the final out to give the
State Championship to the Cottage Grove Fighting Wolfpack. Four Wolfpack pitchers (Neels, Joe Palodichuk, Jack Weidner and Ethan
Latzer) combined for 1 earned run on 5 hits, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts. Weidner had two hits, including a double. Neels (triple), Quast (HR),
Matt Thompson and Ethan Latzer each had hits. The Fighting Wolfpack turned two double plays in the field and committed only two errors.
10
10--UNDER DIVISION AA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Glen Lake
Woodbury
Eastview Black
Highland Park Gold
Glen Lake wins championship
Championship
Glen Lake
Woodbury
9
6
Coach
Record
Dan McGie
18-3
ROSEMOUNT — Glen Lake’s MSF State Championship was the result of exceptional pitching and an
offense that was consistently strong. The pitching
racked up 57 strikeouts over the tournament weekend which was key to getting out of many jams. The
Glen Lake lineup produced many big innings. In the semi-final
again Eastview, Glen Lake scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 3rd
that led to a 11-8 Glen Lake win. The championship game against
Woodbury saw Glen Lake plate 7 runs in the bottom of the 2nd en
route to a 9-6 victory. Each Glen Lake player had at least 6 hits
making the championship a total team effort.
Brett Eliason
Zach Hayes
Sean Hilson
Jake Jacobsen
Ryder Lane
Ryan McGie
Jake Perry
Henry O’Neil
Brenden Radtke
Tim Sandford
Niko Schmanski
AJ Torfin
Dominic Valentini
Jackson View
Michael Gretsch
1
2
28
4
17
24
9
5
10
6
18
25
20
26
15
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
28
Youth Baseball State Championships
11
11--UNDER DIVISION AAA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Burnsville
Black
Minnetonka
Big Willow
Shakopee
Eastview
Grant Ahcan
Joe Anderson
Keegan Baldwin
Max Carlson
Mitchell Drews
Jett Heinen
Toby Jacobson
Dylan Kiratli
Konnor Kirchoffner
Casey Myers
Mitchell Remarcik
Tim Urlaub
3
19
32
33
2
20
16
12
10
13
25
7
Burnsville caps off magical season
MANKATO — By winning the MSF
State Tournament in Mankato, the
Burnsville Black 11AAA team won
every tournament they played in for
the 2013 season. It capped off a
magical season. The team went an
astounding 50-2 on the season. Congratulations to
the team one an amazing year!
Championship
Burnsville Black
Big Willow
3
1
Coach
Record
Jim Heinen
50-2
11
11--UNDER DIVISION AA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Alexandria
Burnsville Gold
Shakopee
Eastview
Alexandria completes undefeated season
Championship
Alexandria
Burnsville Gold
4
1
Coach
Record
Bill
Inganger
25-0
MANKATO — The Alexandria Storm
baseball team rolled through pool and
positioned themselves well for bracket
play where their pitching and defense
was superb. The Storm allowed only
three runs in four bracket games. Hunter Infanger
tossed three scoreless innings in the championship
game, while Matthew Carlsen allowed just one run in
the final three innings. The Storm defeated Burnsville
Gold to win the title game by a score of 4-1.
Hunter Infanger
Shay Endres
Wyatt Snitker
Riley Simonson
Luke Imdieke
Carter Rost
Matthew Zick
Daniel Savageau
Kade Blankenship
Andrew Revering
Matthew Carlsen
12
12--UNDER DIVISION AAA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
St. Cloud
Prior Lake
Austin
Burnsville Black
Jackson Baustian-Jangula
Evan Gertken
Easton Maselter
Nick Schaefer
Eric Faust
Jack Hennemann
Grady Posoh
Drew Gustafson
Adam Olson
Cole Fuecker
Maddux Hagy
1
3
10
11
12
14
19
20
21
22
13
Blue Sox walk off in dramatic fashion
OWATONNA — In the first round of
bracket play, the Blue Sox were
down 7-0 to Albert Lea after three
innings, but battled back to score
nine runs in the 5th and won 13-9.
In the championship game against Prior Lake, the
Blue Sox were down to their last strike and trailing
4-1, but found a way to score three runs and force
extra innings. After allowing one run in the top of
the 7th, the Blue Sox scored two in the bottom of
the inning to win it all!
Championship
Blue Sox
Prior Lake
6
5
Coach
Record
Dan Schaefer
35-12-3
1
7
4
17
2
8
11
15
9
10
5
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
29
Youth Baseball State Championships
12
12--UNDER DIVISION AA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Caledonia
Chanhassen Gold
Owatonna
Hutchinson
Caledonia wins state championship
Championship
Caledonia
Chanhassen Gold
5
2
Coach
Record
Brad
Augedahl
29-13
Kyle Cavanaugh
Eric Augedahl
Tate Meiners
Andrew Goergen
Tyler Wiebke
Noah King
Evan Denstad
Riley Gavin
Cole Folsom
Dylan Felten
Brent Roble
Arick Bauer
OWATONNA — After dropping
a close game in their opening 63 to Farmington, Caledonia
came back strong as they won
their next five games in a row.
They defeated BOLD 3-1 to earn their way into the
championship bracket. Caledonia won the championship game over Chanhassen Gold by a final score of
5-2.
2
33
7
22
16
23
10
18
24
12
17
44
13
13--UNDER DIVISION AAA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Shakopee
Eden Prairie
Red Wing Aces
Albert Lea
Josh Meyer
Nick Salinas
Sam Meyer
Chris Thedinga
Jack Sievers
Sam Fischer
Noah Stoerzinger
Maxx Malone
Jacob Tetzloff
Dawson Hensley
Luke Budin
13
7
3
23
12
55
1
2
4
24
8
Shakopee comes out on top
ST. CLOUD — Shakopee got off to a
big start at the 13AAA State Tournament with a resounding 19-2 victory
in their opening game. The games
got much tighter after that including a
4-3 victory over Coon Rapids in the quarterfinals and
ultimately a 5-3 win the championship game over Eden
Prairie.
Championship
Shakopee
Eden Prairie
5
3
Coach
Record
Chet Meyer
5-0
13
13--UNDER DIVISION AA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Cold Spring
Minnetonka Blue
Annandale
Baxter
Cold Spring rallies to championship
Championship
Cold Spring
Minnetonka Blue
9
6
Coach
Record
Marc
Ruegemer
19-12-1
MARSHALL — After losing their first
game of the MSF State Tournament, the
Cold Spring Red Sox rallied to win their
next five games in a row to take the title.
Solid defense, teamwork and a great respect for the game made it all possible.
Cold Spring hit .331 scoring 52 runs on 57 hits in their
six games. Six pitchers combined for a team ERA of
1.26 with 41 strikeouts to only 13 walks.
Reed Ruegemer
Eli Emerson
Matt Waletzko
Dylan TeBrake
Chase Botten
Jake Kooiman
Keaton Ficker
Nick Schramel
Zach Swanson
Drew Richter
Brandon Gill
Devin Braegelmann
1
3
5
7
8
10
11
18
21
31
33
34
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
30
Youth Baseball State Championships
14
14--UNDER DIVISION AAA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Chanhassen
Burnsville Black
Waite Park
St. Paul Storm
Henry Weisman
Drake Weisman
Josh Peterson
Tom Loeffler
Brock Hansen
Ryan Och
Brady Knotts
Jack Mahr
Trey Frina
Jordan Bank
Nick Kindschuh
Garrett Solie
6
9
5
1
2
7
8
3
4
12
11
Chanhassen powers their way to title
BIG LAKE — Chanhassen put on an impressive display of offense on their way to winning
the 14AAA MSF State Championship. They
won all five of their games and averaged
nearly 10 runs per contest. Chanhassen defeated Burnsville Black in the championship game when they
pushed the winning run across the plate in extra innings.
Championship
Chanhassen
Burnsville Black
6
5
Coach
Record
Bill
Weisman
5-0
14
14--UNDER DIVISION AA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Hutchinson
Runner-Up
Third Place
Burnsville Gold Burnsville White
Championship
6
3
Coach
Record
Mark Marquardt/
John Arlt
27-3
Albert Lea
Jacob Mraz
Cody Arlt
Matthew Jenum
Travis Trettin
Jeremiah VanDeSteeg
Mitchell Reiner
Andrew Rannow
Logan Wadsworth
Caleb Marquardt
Kirby Anderson
Tyler Lenz
Chandler Kurth
Patrick Kuseske
Hutchinson caps off terrific season
Hutchinson
Burnsville Gold
Fourth Place
AUSTIN — Hutchinson added an exclamation
point to what was already a great season for
the Tigers. Hutchinson defeated Burnsville
Gold 6-3 to win the 14AA State Championship.
The victory marked the first state title for a
Hutchinson Tiger baseball team in MSF State
Tournament history.
1
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
12
13
14
15
18
15
15--UNDER DIVISION AAA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Shakopee
Wayzata
WYAL Panthers
Sartell
Booker Coplin
John Fox
Peter Hagstrom
Andrew Hanbury
Matthew Heiling
Travis Larsen
Samuel Loraas
Eric Nicholas
Jacob Poppitz
Matthew Theis
Taylor Triplett
10
38
36
24
13
3
20
46
26
8
43
Shakopee claims title
FARMINGTON — The Shakopee 15AAA team
won the state championship in a classic pitchers’ duel against Wayzata. Shakopee pushed
across one run and it held up as they shutout
the Trojans. Shakopee also had a one run victory in the semi-final defeating the WYAL Panthers 6-5.
Championship
Shakopee
Wayzata
1
0
Coach
Record
Tac Coplin
4-1
15
15--UNDER DIVISION AA STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place
Fourth Place
Minnetonka
Wayzata Blue
Woodbury
Roseville
Minnetonka prevails at state tournament
Championship
Minnetonka
Wayzata Blue
6
4
Coach
Record
Kent Wipf
5-0
FARMINGTON — Minnetonka ran the table at
the 15AA MSF State Tournament going a perfect 5-0. The Skippers averaged an impressive 9 1/2 runs per game. They defeated
Wayzata Blue in the championship game by a
score of 6-4.
Jake Barnum
Wally Estenson
Dan Griep
Jack Hannafin
Henry Montminy
Joey Niopon
Pierson Pass
David Rupp
Joe Schwartz
Harry Smith
Ben Sosin
William Troyak
Kyle Wipf
2
9
4
22
10
7
27
17
14
44
11
8
3
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
Touch Football
Men’s touch football hits the comeback trail
Rule changes place emphasis on skills
by JOHN SHERMAN
Sun CURRENT Newspapers
Men’s touch football is making a comeback in the Twin Cities area, thanks to rule changes that have placed more emphasis on skills and less emphasis on physical play. That is
the opinion of Minnesota Sports Federation executive director Perry Coonce, who organizes state tournaments in three
classes each fall.
“A few years ago, the game got to a point where there was
too much contact,” Coonce said in a recent interview. “We
want the participants to be able to play on the weekend and
still be able to go to work on Monday morning.”
This year’s tourney, scheduled for Oct. 12-13 at Dred Scott
Playfield in Bloomington, will feature the return of all three
state champions from last year, including Innovative Graphics and Bad Newz Kennels from the Bloomington City
League. Jake Dammann, the player-coach for Bad Newz
Kennels, said his team includes five coaches from the Jefferson High School football staff, who are also former Jaguar
players. In addition to Dammann, they are Adam Heisman,
Adam Roberson, Brian Saaf and Aaron Swartout.
“Most of the guys on our team played in high school and
some played in college,” said Dammann. “This is a way for
us to keep playing, without the bumps and bruises. It’s an
aggressive game, but there are good rules in place to limit
the physical play.”
MSF touch football is a seven-on-seven game with two 20minute halves.
“If you score 20-30 points in a game, you’re in pretty good
shape,” said Dammann. Bad Newz Kennels won the Class C
state championship in 2012, and that earned them a promotion to Class B for this year’s MSF State Tournament.
Innovative Graphics won the state Class A championship
last fall, while St. Paul Threat took the title in Class B.
New teams are welcome this year in all divisions.
For more information on MSF touch football, contact program director Steve Ketter at [email protected].
Contact John Sherman at [email protected]
Reprinted from the Sun Current
31
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
32
Touch Football State Tournament
MSF TOUCH FOOTBALL CLASS A STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Innovative Graphics,
Bloomington
SMS,
Minneapolis
Third Place
Fourth Place
St. Paul Threat Third Base Bar/Team
Blackout, Duluth
Jason Cordes
Josh Otto
Jared Lazer
Gary Schleper
Curt Hartfield
Sean Geisen
Don West
Tim Kasper
Pat Fandecker
Brent Rieck
Drew Sinke
Championship Game
Innovative Graphics, Bloomington
SMS, Minneapolis
27
25
MSF TOUCH FOOTBALL CLASS C STATE TOURNAMENT
Champion
Runner-Up
Third Place Fourth Place
Parkway Pizza Mudd- Bohnsack Excavating, Players/Miller
jets, Minneapolis
Bloomington
Lite, Duluth
Triple Crown,
Minneapolis
Chad Frederickson
Henry Polsfuss
Tom Piersma
Patrick Anderson
Sterling Brewer
Matt Stickney
Stephen Cloke
CJ Schertzer
Joe Beckman
Ross Forman
Nick Fox
Jeff Allen
Championship Game
Parkway Pizza’s Muddjets
Bohnsack Excavating
19/19
12/0
2013 Minnesota Sports Federation
Touch Football State Championships
Bloomington Park and Recreation Department hosted the 2013 MSF Touch
Football State Tournament on October 12-13 at Dred Scott Playfields.
Champions were crowned in two classes. Sports Authority helped sponsor
the event.
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
33
2014 Youth Volleyball State Championships Preview
Get Ready For the 26th Annual Season of MSF Youth Volleyball!
The 2014 season is almost here and the Minnesota Sports Federation continues to
provide quality tournaments at a reasonable price. Austin, Becker, Hutchinson,
Hutchinson, Monticello, and Rochester will host events at their volleyball facilities.
For a complete list of dates and sites please see below. Deadlines to join are 10
days prior to the tournament date.
The 2014 Youth Volleyball guidebook will be available in December and all roster
forms, entry forms, tournament information, and tournament maps are and will be
available online at www.msf1.org under volleyball/youth. Last year many tournament age groups filled up quickly so enter early to ensure your place at state! Over
150 teams competed in five tournaments throughout the Winter/Spring season and
we are excited to host another fun season of youth volleyball. Please note that all
USAV teams are welcome to participate! For further information please contact
Tami Morrison at [email protected] or 763-263-9993.
Get ready for some Pass, Set, Spike Fun this season!
Event
Date
Site
Entry Deadline
MSF Austin 12, 13 & 14-U
March 15
Austin
March 5
MSF Austin 15, 16, 17 & 18-U
March 16
Austin
March 5
MSF Becker 12, 13 & 14-U
April 5
Becker
March 26
MSF Becker 15, 16, 17 & 18-U
April 6
Becker
March 26
MSF Hutchinson 12, 13U
April 26
Hutchinson
April 16
MSF Hutchinson 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18-U
April 27
Hutchinson
April 16
MSF Monticello 12, 13 & 14U
May 10
Monticello
April 30
MSF Monticello 15, 16, 17 & 18U
May 11
Monticello
April 30
MSF Rochester 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18-U
May 17
Rochester
May 7
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
34
Minnesota Sports Federation
2014 Youth Volleyball State Championships
COMPETE WITH TEAMS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE
The Lower Cost, Less Hassle, Quality Alternative!
ALL USAV TEAMS ARE WELCOME AND ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN MSF SANCTIONED EVENTS
AND MAY NOT BE PENALIZED FOR DOING SO.
DIVISIONS OFFERED:
ENTRY FEE:
TOURNEY SCHEDULES:
12’s-18’s-Under
(12’s-14’s typically play on
Saturday and 15’s-18’s play
on Sunday). If insufficient
numbers exist to conduct a
specific age division we
reserve the right to combine
two age divisions for pool
play and then reseparate for
bracket play (Note: This is
rarely necessary).
$160.00 per tournament, discount available if more than
two tournaments are entered
(see reverse for details).
THERE ARE NO COSLTY
INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS,
COACH OR CLUB FEES.
Game referees are provided.
Coaches and players DO
NOT keep score or line judge
or officiate. You spend all
your time just having fun
coaching/playing volleyball or
just plain relaxing!
Pre-Tournament info will be
emailed and mailed upon request once entry is received.
Schedules will be posted at
www.msf1.org under youth
volleyball by Wednesday
noon preceding the event.
STRUCTURE:
MSF Sanctioned eight game
minimum guarantee. Teams
advance to upper or lower
levels after pool play. Pools
of four, five, six, or seven
teams.
ENTRY DEADLINE:
Entry Deadline is
Wednesday 10 days
prior to the
tournament — 5:00pm
AWARDS:
Awards presented are based
on the number of pools and
are more generous and more
distinctive than the average
weekend tournament. A
championship banner will also
be awarded to the first place
team in each age division.
GAME OFFICIALS:
USAV or MSHSL referees
will be provided. Players/
coaches do not officiate,
line judge, or keep score.
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
35
2014
Minnesota Sports Federation
26th Annual Youth Volleyball Sanctioned Tournament Schedule
Event
Date
Site
Entry Deadline
MSF Austin 12-, 13- & 14U
MSF Austin 15-, 16-, 17- & 18U
March 15
March 16
Austin
Austin
March 5
March 5
MSF Becker 12-, 13- & 14U
MSF Becker 15-, 16-, 17- & 18U
April 5
April 6
Becker
Becker
March 26
March 26
MSF Hutchinson 12-, 13U
April 26
MSF Hutchinson 14/15/16/17/18U
April 27
NOTE: 14’s are Sunday in Hutchinson
Hutchinson
Hutchinson
April 16
April 16
MSF Monticello 12-, 13- & 14U
MSF Monticello 15-, 16-, 17- & 18U
May 10
May 11
Monticello
Monticello
April 30
April 30
MSF Rochester
12-, 13-, 14-, 15-, 16-, 17- & 18U
May 17
Rochester
May 7
“I wanted to thank you for
a great season of volleyball. We played in the 14
and under group and we
truly enjoyed our experience. We definitely improved from the first tournament. The competition
was great and the tournaments were run smoothly. I
truly appreciate your guidance in getting us going so
we could participate this
past season”.—Parent of
St. Peter Saints player.
Visit us at
www.msf1.org
for more
tournament
information
Directions/Motel Accommodations: Directions to the playing site, parking options,
motel options, rules and roster form will be emailed to you upon receipt of entry.
Forms can be mailed upon request by emailing [email protected].
2014 Youth Volleyball State Tournament Entry Form (ONE FORM PER TEAM)
Team Name
Community/Club
Team Coach
Address of Coach
City
State
Zip Code
Day of Tournament Contact Phone
Work Phone
Email Address (IMPORTANT)
Circle the age group you are entering:
12U
13U
16U
14U
17U
15U
18U
Please circle which tournament(s) you are entering:
Austin
Becker
Hutchinson
Monticello
State Championship Series Entry Fees:
$160 per team per tournament (MSHSL or USAV referees are provided)
If the same team enters 3 tournaments the total fee is $450 (A SAVINGS OF $30)
If the same team enters 4 tournaments the total fee is $600 (A SAVINGS OF $40)
If the same team enters 5 tournaments the total fee is $750 (A SAVINGS OF $50)
Circle:
VISA
Credit Card Number
Name as it appears on card
CREDIT CARD PAYMENT
MASTERCARD
DISCOVER
Expiration Date
Signature
Please fill out the above and return to MSF at:
Tami Morrison, P.O. Box 368, Big Lake, MN 55309 or Fax to 763-263-5657
Rochester
8 GAMES GUARANTEED
The Official Team Hotels of the
Minnesota Sports Federation
Our hotels feature.....
•
Toll-Free Reservation Number - 866.586.8326
Free deluxe continental breakfast
•
(excludes Hospitality Inn & Suites)
•
•
Indoor pool and spa
Queen or King-Size beds in all rooms
•
•
Non-smoking rooms
Friendly, professional service
For great rooms at great rates, call
866.586.8326
or email us at [email protected]
Fairfield Inn Locations
Bloomington • Burnsville • Coon Rapids • Roseville • Eden Prairie
Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport • Mankato • St. Cloud
Hampton Inn Locations
Minneapolis/Burnsville • Minneapolis/Woodbury
Comfort Inn Locations
Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center • Mankato
Hospitality Inn & Suites Locations
Bloomington
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
37
2014 Boys Basketball State Championships Preview
The Minnesota Sports Federation Boys Basketball program is preparing for another exciting season. The effort and teamwork put into a full season will once again culminate with the MSF Boys
State Tournaments held on February 28-March 2, 2014. MSF Grade Basketball State Tournaments feature a more liberal format featuring a higher number of games played than other state
tournaments for a lesser entry fee.
To see the results from last year, visit our web site at www.msf1.org and click on the youth basketball section.
Click ahead two pages and print out the state tournament entry form. Entry deadline is February
5th. Roster forms, maps to sites, and tournament information will also be available on the web
site.
Grade
Site
4th
Buffalo
5th
Hastings
6th
Buffalo
7th
Monticello
8th
Roseville
9th
Roseville
If you have any questions about boys basketball, feel free to
contact Steve at [email protected] or 952-405-6936.
Thank you and we are looking forward to the 2014 Boys State Championships!
Summer/Fall
Minnesota Amateur
38
2014 Girls Basketball State Championships Preview
The 26th Championship Season of MSF Girls Basketball is Almost Here!!
Basketball regular season play is here! Coaches, for many of you practice
has started and that means you are getting your team ready for the state
championships! Mark your calendars for February 15-16 and sign up today
to ensure your team’s spot at the 2014 championships! Deadline for entry is
January 24th.
This past year the Minnesota Sports Federation provided thousands of players an opportunity to show what they have worked all year to perfect. Each
age group will have their own host community. The 4th-6th grade tournament
sites will be Columbia Heights. The 7th-8th grade tournaments will be held in
Rogers. For further information and entry form please see this review and
also visit the Minnesota Sports Federation website at www.msf1.org under
basketball/youth. MSF Grade Basketball State Tournaments feature a more
liberal format featuring a higher number of games played than other state
tournaments for a lesser entry fee. We look forward to hosting your team in
2014! Good luck with the season!
If you have any questions about boys basketball, feel free to
contact Steve at [email protected] or 952-405-6936.
Minnesota Amateur
Summer/Fall
39
2014 Youth Basketball State Flyer/Entry Form
26th Annual MINNESOTA YOUTH BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION State Basketball Championships
Administered by the Minnesota Sports Federation
Girls State
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
Dates
February 15-16
February 15-16
February 15-16
February 15-16
February 15-16
Site
Columbia Heights
Columbia Heights
Columbia Heights
Rogers
Rogers
Boys State
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
9th Grade
Dates
March 1-2
Feb 28-Mar 2
Feb 28-Mar 2
Feb 28-Mar 2
Feb 28-Mar 2
March 1-2
Site
Buffalo
Hastings
Buffalo
Monticello
Roseville
Roseville
Division Offered
Tournament Schedules
Boys and Girls, 4th-9th Grade, ABC and as needed
Tournament schedules will be posted on our web site 7-9
days prior to the tournament at www.msf1.org.
Format
Directions/Hotel Accommodations
Pool play into brackets, 3 games guaranteed
Directions/addresses to the playing sites and hotel options
will be posted at www.msf1.org.
Seeding Meeting
Seeding meetings are held to make sure that the MYB
tournaments have the best competition within a division and
24 teams or less. To have a voice in the process, you must
attend the meeting. Dates and times will be posted at
www.msf1.org website and noted in your confirmation letter.
Declination Policy
The right is reserved to decline entry to any team that has not
exhibited good conduct throughout the season. This includes,
but not limited to: tournaments, league play and the 2013
Minnesota Youth Basketball State Championships.
Game Officials
Awards
MSHSL Certified Referees, Trained scorekeepers
8+ teams in division, top 4; 4-7 teams, top 2
Serving Minnesota’s Youth Through Sportssm
2014 MINNESOTA YOUTH BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION State Championship Entry Form
(Important - one team per form)
Team Name___________________________________ Association_____________________________
Head Coach_______________________________ Address____________________________________
City_____________________________________ State_________ Zip Code______________________
Cell Phone (______)_____________________ Alternate Phone H/W (______)_____________________
Email Address _______________________________________________________________________
Circle Boys or Girls: Boys
Girls
Circle Grade:
Please circle the division you are applying for:
A
4
5
B
C
6
7
8
9
2013-2014 Record (THIS SECTION MUST BE COMPLETED)
Record vs. A teams_______ Record vs. B teams_______ Record vs. C teams_______
TEAMS MAY ALSO ENTER USING PAYPAL OR CREDIT CARD AT MSF1.ORG
TOURNAMENT CONTACT
Steve Ketter  [email protected]  952-405-6936
ENTRY DEADLINES
Girls - Friday, January 24, 2014
Boys - Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Register online or return entry form and $255 to:
Minnesota Youth Basketball ● PO Box 368 ● Big Lake, MN 55309
The Minnesota Sports Federation invites your
community to join the leading and fastest
growing sports organization in Minnesota.
Membership Benefits Include
Lowest team and tournament entry fees available
Amateur Sports Review
Highest quality tournament administration and game officiating
Voting rights for all sports directors
Assurance that all fees are used solely to provide
amateur sports activities
Largest and fastest growing sports organization in
Minnesota
The Minnesota Sports Federation (MSF) is a non-profit, non-discriminatory organization dedicated to providing wholesome community based amateur/recreational sports opportunities that
promote fitness, personal growth, sportsmanship and the development of lifetime leisure skills.
Serving Minnesota Through Sports SM
Minnesota Sports Federation
PO Box 368 • Big Lake, MN 55309
(763) 263-9993 • Fax (763) 263-5657
www.msf1.org
The Minnesota Sports Federation serves as the local association of
the National Softball Federation of America and
administers the local National Youth Basketball Council.