Spring Grove junior Elijah Solum was tabbed as the top basketball junior, “The Junior of the Year” in Section 1A by Ryan James, the leading resource for basketball recruiting in Minnesota. James also named a “Junior All-State Team,” honoring 25 Minnesota juniors from all classes (including three from southeast Minnesota). Solum was a Fifth Team selection. For the fifth … [Read more...]
Lion boys coast past Hurricanes in home opener, 10-2
Caleb Griffin pitched a four-hitter while striking out 10 Houston batters and walking only one as Spring Grove won its baseball home opener, 10-2, in front of a large crowd on April 14. Ty Cleven fanned three in one inning of relief. Elijah Solum (double, 2 steals) and Brandon Jahnke each drove in two runs while batting 2 for 3. Ezra Griffin went 2 for 4 with a triple, … [Read more...]
Lion girls cannot maintain lead against FC/L
Spring Grove led twice but managed only one base hit in a 17-7 loss to Fillmore Central/Lanesboro on April 13 at Preston. Katelyn Kraus singled into right field to drive in two runs during the Lions’ big six-run second inning, which took advantage of two walks, two hit batters and two FC/L errors. Kraus would score on a wild pitch for a 7-4 Spring Grove lead. But FC/L plated … [Read more...]
New era of Spring Grove softball begins with road loss at P-E-M
A new era of softball in Spring Grove began with a 2-0 lead before home team Plainview-Elgin-Millville replied with four runs in the bottom of the inning. The Bulldogs would prevail by the run rule, 18-3, during the fourth inning. It was the first game for a stand-alone Spring Grove team in 39 years (1984). The shared program with Caledonia began in 1985. Senior Maggie … [Read more...]
Lion boys stunned by last-inning loss at Southland
It was a gut-wrenching baseball loss for Spring Grove, which never trailed until the final play. Southland used three unearned runs in the final half inning to rally past the Lions, 5-4, on April 18 at Adams. Spring Grove, after only one previous error, committed back-to-back errors to spark the last-inning Rebel rally. The Lions still led 4-2, and needed only one out to secure … [Read more...]
Spring Grove baseball opens with 15-4 road rout at Spring Valley
A few base hits, many walks and several enemy errors resulted in Spring Grove’s 15-4 season-opening baseball win against Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Kingsland in a run-rule, five-inning affair at Spring Valley on April 13. Spring Grove scored 15 runs on only six hits, but there were not all that many good pitches to hit. So, the Lions took advantage of a dozen free … [Read more...]
Cal/SG sprinters, jumpers enjoy strong start
Some veteran performers and a newcomer to track and field competition had stellar starts for Caledonia/Spring Grove at the first meets of 2023. Junior Josh Beardmore won the 100-meter dash at both Stewartville on April 11 (11.48 seconds) and at the Winged Foot Invite at Plainview-Elgin-Millville on April 14 (11.07). The Warriors dominated the 100M event with sophomores Fischer … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Performances, Bible verses, a lot of singing and ice cream
By Lee Epps Part two of a series Throughout the first century of settlement by those of European heritage in southeast Minnesota, the church was a site for community activity, both religious and secular. This was certainly true for rural residents, some distance from villages where there might be larger buildings, such as hotels. Area historian David Beckman reflects on … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Church memories: Love Boat, bad-language basketball and a wedding mouse
Part one of a series The youth played table tennis without incident, but basketball was once curtailed because of cursing. It was the 1940s at the South Ridge Evangelical United Brethren Church (E. U. B.). Since 1968, when that denomination merged with the Methodist Church, the Houston County congregation has been known as South Ridge United Methodist Church. In those early … [Read more...]
Record-breaking Spring Grove season merits state tournament trophy
It was a record-setting basketball season for the Spring Grove boys, but the records will likely not be the most lingering memory for these Lions who experienced the never-to-be-forgotten thrill of winning the Section 1A Tournament in Rochester before playing in the 2023 Class A State tournament at such venues as venerable Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota and then … [Read more...]