It's only right that this begins as the week began, with the tragic news of Jeff Gladney's death from a car crash. Everything else pales in comparison to it.
The Purple then proceeded to make some tweaks to the roster. Following a workout alongside Dede Westbrook, Albert Wilson was signed as a replacement for AJ Rose. He was an even longer-shot to make the practice squad again after the team drafted Ty Chandler while Wilson will provide another option as a returner during the preseason. They next moved on DL Jonathan Bullard while waiving the injured Kenny Willekes. These moves won't factor into the upcoming fantasy season much, if at all, but continue the process of learning what the next brain trust want.
The week also included the seventh signing from the ten-person draft class as Brian Asamoah put pen to paper.
There are a few days remaining before the nationals but men's 🏀 broke through with the hiring of an alum who is well-known at the SHAC - Alvin Nyangau.
After finally introducing the new boss Tuesday afternoon the team moved on Orlando exec Matt Lloyd to be the senior VP of 🏀 operations. Lloyd is said to have been a key overseer of the drafts. Orlando hasn't achieved much since Dwight Howard left but they've managed to find talent so the current triumvirate in Minnesota could strike gold on on the 23rd, after which Sachin Gupta could likely be moving on.
After inexplicably dropping four of five in Detroit a mandate-reduced outfit went into Canada and took two of three off the second best team in the AL East! Hopeless optimism might try to sell that the Motor City Meltdown was just a fluke. Heck, the remaining months might (probably will) even bear that out because of how bad the rest of the division is. But it's troublesome nonetheless that they could have extended their 4.5 game lead yet were so impotent - two runs over the final three games. Now they're back on the home field for six against the other top teams from that coast. We'll see if they can keep hacking it!
The process of forming the next roster were underway this week and Cole Knuble provided something for all those younger skaters to strive for as he was named to the All-Rookie Team. One of the voices that he and his future teammates will hear from is Chad Demers, as he makes his return to the organization after a year with Air Force.
The red-hot Hawks hit a snag to start the week, coming up a run short of Kane County. They then forced a rubber-match, winning 5 - 2 ~ their 13th already. The band snapped Thursday and they spiraled further in Milwaukee, 10 - 1. Just as quickly they were able to hit reverse, winning 12 - 2. The second series-deciding game of the week was also a bust as the Milkers got the goods 8 - 5. The outcomes came after they signed Rymer Liriano, he of 1440 games of experience.
Reminder that scores are added daily plus there's a new home for recruiting news, so check back often!
The travails of this Spring culminated in the past week, here are the highlights!
Moorhead softball got the first crack, advancing in the 8AAAA section tournament thanks to a sweep of Elk River & Rogers, 8 - 5 & 8 - 7. That earned them a Thursday date with St. Michael/Albertville. They limited the Knights to two runs but could not eliminate the zero from their column. Just down the road Barnesville was thrashed 16 - 3 by D/G/F, who did the same to Breckenridge (14 - 1) & Hawley (9 - 4) with a 13 - 10 victory over Thief River Falls in-between and 4 - 3 final against the Nuggest. With the wins the Rebels advanced to the State tournament, they will face LeSueur/Henderson in the opening round.
On the other diamond Moorhead edged Bemidji 13 - 11 and also got SM/A, who were victorious 8 - 3. The Big Orange can keep their season going in Cold Spring against Elk River Tuesday afternoon. Further to the East, D/G/F kept their season going with a 10 - 0 win over Hawley & then squeaked out an 8 - 7 vs. Pelican Rapids. They will try to keep it going opposite EGF Tuesday afternoon, as will Ada/Borup who took three of their four section games, scoring at least six runs in all the wins - they get West Marshall at the same time. Ulen/Hitterdal wasn't as fortunate despite starting with 10 - 0 (Northome/K) & 9 - 2 (Lake of the Woods) wins, they fell 2 - 1 to Fosston & 5 - 2 to West Marshall. Back in the NoDak, Shanley & Sheyenne both advanced to the Class A championship again, with the Mustangs pulling off the title win again as junior Casey Clemenson threw a complete game with eight strikeouts! Thompson also was able to raise the trophy with an 11 - 7 final vs. L/L/M! The East had a tough time on the softball field as all four were beat in the first round which lead to West Fargo winning the consolation side of the bracket. Class B more than made up for it as Kindred & Central Cass both advanced to the championship, CC won their semi-final by way of a walk-off home run from Peyton Nelson. It was Squirrels all the way in the final, 11 - 1! Shanley also advanced to the championship while Sheyenne went for third place. Minot's magic touch got them a 6 - 0 win in the ship while Mandan's one score was the difference in that match. That came after the All-Conference was announced, all but one of whom are from town.
The Mustang's 🎾 phenom Mimi Gu won her second state title while barely breaking a sweat! That came on the heels of Davies taking the doubles title 4 - 1 over Minot & Sheyenne coming in third, 3 - 2 over Legacy.
The ⛳️ course was also hopping as the best in the East descended on Rose Creek. Davies took the team title by one stroke over Red River, lead by Jayce Johnson's 72. Six of the top seven hail from the Fargos. The state meet will be Tuesday/Wednesday back at the Creek. Class B wrapped their season Wednesday as Kindred finished 43 shots better than Central Cass & Oak Grove! In the wake of the tournament Cody Card was named Senior Athlete of the year. Moorhead also has a pair moving onto State as Joe Kortan & Easton Lammers qualified for the AAA meet with top-5 finishes.
That proved to be something of a trend for the Taters as girls lacrosse got by Monticello 8 - 7, they will face #1 Elk River Tuesday evening. The boys did not let it get that close after their first score, beating St. Cloud 12 - 1. They will host ER at the same time Tuesday.
Their track team also had four make it to state: Katryna Hansen & Alexis Olderbak (long jump), Isaac Martel (3200m) & Ellineus Davis (Shot put). ED re-wrote his own school record with a 58-10 throw. Altogether the efforts got the boys to first place in the team standings while the girls made the podium in third. Hawley also managed to turn the section championship into their own personal gold mine! Here are their qualifiers - Sam Senske (high jump); Faith Rustad (800m); Bree Nelson (400m); Lily Peterson, Lily Olson, Ingrid Rustad, Faith Rustad & Piper Myran (4x800m relay) and Bree Nelson, Anna Steer, Katie Vetter, Faith Rustad & Ingrid Rustad (4x400m ralay).
Along with the championships came player & coach recognitions. For Class A softball Sheyenne HC Mark Woodbury was named Coach of the Year. Adding to her long & distinguished list, Adie Wagner is the Player of the Year. Central Cass's Peyton Nelson was named PotY for Class B softball. For girls ⚽️ Davies Nick Christianson received the coaches honor. On the ⛳️ course Oak Grove's Cody Card is the Athlete of the Year while Kindred's Perry Piatz is the Coach. Local girls 🎾 also brought distinction as Sheyenne's Mimi Gu & Davies Paul Kolesar were named.
The adventures of the 400 continued at a weekend tournament in Rapid City. They started slowing, beating Brookings 6 - 4 but then found some heat with a 10 - 0 win over Miles City as Jake Jaroszewski limited them to two hits with nine strikeouts. Bellevue (NE) East then got the bats 14 - 2 as Drew Rerick got a tenth K while limiting BE to three hits. Things took a turn Saturday as Cheyenne & Pierre beat them 8 - 0 & 9 - 5.
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