There was a time, in the 2000s, when Houston softball was a powerhouse. Their last Austin trip and last SEC title were in 2013. Whether this year will buck those decades-long droughts is yet to be determined. A doubleheader with Southland May 16 will be a key decider in the first. But Houston is amidst their best season in years, courtesy of a five-win week. Josh Swenson’s … [Read more...]

Wabasha-Kellogg hosted an 18-hole golf tourney that featured nine teams: FC, Caledonia, Lanes-boro, R-P, W-K, L-A, La Crescent/Hokah, D-E, and PEM. The girls side, which had eight full teams, was dominated by FC. Aaron Mensink’s group (347) bested second place Caledonia (367) followed by W-K (430) and Lanesboro (434). R-P (500) took eighth. Caledonia senior Elly Milde had maybe … [Read more...]

Brandon Jahnke pitched a complete game, allowing no earned runs, as Spring Grove won, 4-1, at Houston on May 10. For the second straight game, the Lions won despite having the fewest hits. Out-hit 4-2, Spring Grove took advantage of nine free passes (eight walks, one hit batter). All four Hurricane hits came in different innings, and they needed an Lion error to score their … [Read more...]

One swing of the bat by Ezra Griffin seemed to change anything in Spring Grove’s 7-3 non-conference baseball win over visiting Wabasha-Kellogg on May 8. In last season’s section game, Falcon freshman Cole Scheel had tossed a one-hit shutout to end Spring Grove’s season. In this 2023 rematch, Scheel had retired the first nine Lion batters in order, including six strikeouts. That … [Read more...]

The Spring Grove girls broke into the win column in a big way with a May 5 home double-header sweep of Lyle/Pacelli, 6-4 and 6-2. Both games were scheduled for five innings; L/P was the home team (batted last) in the nightcap. Eighth grader Jada Strinmoen earned the pitching win in the first game, and eighth grader Brinley Middendorf was the pitcher of record in the late … [Read more...]

Isaac Nelsen tossed a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and only one walk as state-ranked No. 2 Lyle/Pacelli won, 7-0, at Blayne Onsgard Memorial Field on May 5. Caleb Griffin spoiled a potential no-hitter with a lead-off single in the final seventh inning. Griffin had been good on the mound as well with eight strikeouts and only one walk before hitting two batters before … [Read more...]

The Spring Grove boys received a stellar pitching performance by senior reliever Ty Cleven, who was also one of five Lions with multiple base hits in a 12-5 road win at Mabel-Canton on May 4. It was the second victory over the Cougars in three days with a more comfortable margin than the previous 7-6 walk-off decision. Cleven struck out 12, walked only three and gave up … [Read more...]

The Spring Grove girls had a season-high six hits during a 12-5 road loss to undefeated Houston on May 4. Lydia Solum batted 1 for 3 with two runs batted in while Addyson McHugh and Katelyn Kraus went 1 for 3 with an RBI. The five singles all came from five different Lions, including Maggie Lile and Sydney Holland. The only charity Spring Grove received was one Hurricane … [Read more...]

The Caledonia/Spring Grove boys swept the first five places in the 100-meter dash at the Cinco de Mayo Meet, hosted by La Crescent-Hokah on May 5. Josh Beardmore won two individual events and ran on the wining 4x100-meter relay. Tysen Grinde won two events along with a third place while Fischer Wait claimed one win and another runner-up finish. That made six winning efforts for … [Read more...]

Elijah Solum was Spring Grove’s first batter and also the last. He led off for the Lions in the first inning with a home run and then with his final swing, singled in the winning run for a come-from-behind walk-off 7-6 home win over Mabel-Canton on May 2. In between, Solum (3 for 5) ignited a two-out rally with a single that tied the score at 5-5. He had three of the Lions’ … [Read more...]