Three Spring Grove baseball players were named by conference coaches to the 2022 All-Southeast Conference Team – junior Caleb Griffin plus sophomores Jaxon Strinmoen and Elijah Solum. Receiving Honorable Mention was freshman Ezra Griffin. Strinmoen was one of the primary three-man pitching rotation while otherwise starting for the second season at first base, where he … [Read more...]
Golf (May 31 & June 1)
(B and G) 1AA Meet (Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa (628) bested Stewartville (635), Lourdes (645) and La Crescent/Hokah (645) for the boys team title. “Journal 11” teams Chatfield and Caledonia were incomplete. Lourdes’ Colton Rich (145) was medalist over PIZM’s Anders Larson (146) and LCH’s Ryan Nutter (146). Chatfield 7th grader Carson Harstad (166) tied for 15th overall. No … [Read more...]
Trojan Baseball Makes 1A Final Four
Rushford-Peterson baseball (5-seed, 10-11-1) took the field on Memorial Day having already made the Section 1A final six. The Trojans took on United South Central (6-seed, 10-7). The Rebels had won their first two playoff games, making the semis, where they lost to Lyle-Pacelli 10-6. Jordan Aug had the luxury of throwing out arguably R-P’s top pitcher, Justin Ruberg. The box … [Read more...]
Gopher Baseball Makes 1AA Final Four
Chatfield baseball dug itself a bit of a hole in losing to Plainview-Elgin-Millville in the 1AA-East semis. The Gophers followed that loss with back-to-back wins. They made it to section play in Rochester, the Final Four. Brian Baum’s group (1-seed, 18-2) first hooked up with Caledonia (3-seed, 13-9) in a “loser-out” game. The Warriors amassed three first inning singles. Hunter … [Read more...]
Trojans Grab 1A Boys Golf Title, Long Names Individually Qualify
While the girls 1A golf meet was a runaway for Fillmore Central, the boys meet was contested at the top. After Day 1, Hayfield (345) led R-P (359), Lanesboro (368), and FC (368). But the Vikings had a tough Day Two, shooting a 380. It opened the door for their nearest foe, the Trojans, to sneak past. Luke Rye’s group shot a Day Two 354 to pick up 26 strokes on the Vikings. R-P … [Read more...]
Improved Falcons Grab 1A Girls Golf Title, Schnebly Qualifies
The section only has three complete teams. Fillmore Central’s girls, the seven-time defending 1A golf champions, were the heavy favorites. A “heavy” amount of strokes is what Aaron Mensink’s Falcons won by to claim their 8th straight title. FC led Hayfield by 30 after an 18-hole Day One (373 to 403). In the end, the Falcons (747) defeated the Vikings (809) by 62 strokes. Third … [Read more...]
All Five “Journal 11” T/F Programs to Be Represented at State
Twenty-six total kids from the five “Journal 11” track and field programs, GMLOKS, LFCMC, RPH, Chatfield, and Caledonia/Spring Grove, clinched state berths at the 2022 1A Section Meet. GMLOKS Girls and Boys Finish One-Two, Send Nine to State When your teams finish first and second in the section, it’s only academic your program had many successful individuals. The … [Read more...]
Chatfield Softball Wins 1AA, Makes State
Austin hasn’t been the most pleasant place for Chatfield softball. The past decade, it has never been a stop on the way to state, despite multiple great teams. There have been multiple disappointments; the Sydney Irish ground ball that didn’t go thru in extra innings in 2014 versus K-W (which would’ve sent Chatfield to state), the 11-inning loss to FC/L in 2015, all the years … [Read more...]
Young baseball Lions progressed, challenged for league lead
The young Spring Grove baseball team, heading into the final Southeast Conference game, was one of four squads still in contention for the 2022 conference championship. After having once shared the league lead, the Lions lost that conference finale and finished third among eight SEC teams. The 11-8 season record followed last year’s 10-12 campaign and was the fourth consecutive … [Read more...]
Pieper returns to state, near miss for 4×200 relay boys
Caledonia/Spring Grove senior high jumper Chris Pieper has earned a second straight trip to the state track and field championships. This year on May 31 and June 2 at Triton High School in Dodge Center, he advances as the Section 1A champion after being the 2021 section runner-up. The top two in each section event qualify for state along with any others who achieve a … [Read more...]