With the start of training camp hours away it was reported that Minnesota let assistant offensive coach Rick Dennison had been fired for his stance on the vaccine. Not long after a conflicting report came out that the organization was still trying to work to a solution. Not to pretend like I'm a lawyer, but considering that it may not be a legally permissible termination the Purple are smart to pump the brakes. It's the latest in another swirling controversy in the League as players (& at least one coach) push back against being forced to get the needle. How it will affect team chemistry - & fantasy football play this year - are major questions across the League which will need to be sorted out in rapid fashion!
The Purple are also rumored to be in pursuit of free agent receiver Dede Westbrook. He first confirmed that he was in Eagan on Saturday and then today it was announced that he would be in the Royal colors this season. Can give Rick Spielman this, they are not holding anything back in pursuit of postseason success! A couple months from now we will know if the gamble is going to payoff.
Recruiting news is typically reserved for the tentacle but the 🏈 team got some that had to hit the mothership. Chicago-based quarterback spurned a chance to play ⚾️ in the deep South for the competition at the position in Fargo over the next few years. The Southeast's work on the diamond stacks up with every other conference and their successes rival the many other great sports that they boast. Sincerely, may never see that again and that merits the mention.
Then came the ⚾️ team's chance to make some news. Head coach Tyler Oakes added a couple coaches to his staff with deep roots in the heartland: Tanner Neale & Brandon Hunt.
With the festivities underway in Japan several of Minnesota's players will have the chance to make memories & possibly leave with medals, but before the games begin the team blocked Juancho Hernangomez from playing due to a shoulder injury he sustained during training. It's caused some controversy but with their lack of power forward depth it's the right decision, hopefully he comes to see it that way soon. The other option being a trade but that is not the most desirable outcome for the overall structure of the roster.
Minnesota got back in the mix with their first trade of the year, sending Nelson Cruz to Tampa for a pair of pitchers who had not broken into the majors. As possible bullpen or backend of the rotation guys next season it's a solid return for the slugger, especially if they are able to re-sign Cruz for next year.
Then, last night, they came two outs from history. Anaheim very nearly managed the first no-hitter against them at the home ballpark until Brent Rooker - he of a sub .1 batting average coming into the game - managed to slash a double to stave it off.
Training camp can't begin fast enough!
The after party for the Bolts great season came this week when the National League held their draft. Defenseman Scott Morrow got the first call on Saturday, 40th by Carolina. About an hour later Minnesota also added to their defense with a local standout, Jack Peart. Four picks after that Forward Tristan Broz got the call from Pittsburgh. They aren't the first pros to pass through Fargo but that's the most talent in one group that they've yet put together, so Cary Eades has his work cutout for himself to top it!
Seven more games in the rearview and Fargo made no more progress in their pursuit of Milwaukee & Chicago in the standings. But with five wins they also didn't give any assistance to Winnipeg, Kane County or Gary in their pursuits of third & better. It's holding to form that when the pitching can limit the damage the bats are able to take Ws. When the opponents find success at the plate it typically isn't reciprocated. It kind of is that simple of a situation.
During the week outfielder Jordan George had his 43rd straight game getting on base today while earlier fellow OF John Silviano set an organization record with his 23rd straight game with a hit, a record previously held by the Olympian Zach Penprase.
But then Nick Novak had one of the highlights of the year! (It hasn't yet been uploaded on Youtube but is worth a look)
They'll get a well-deserved day off Monday before a trifecta against Lincoln at home.
On the verge of his beginning in Grand Forks Trey Feeney got a little more recognition for what he accomplished last Fall. He was selected the Offensive Player of the Year. It begs the question why the organizations wait so long to make these determinations but was a fully deserved honor.
With the future of high school sports about to begin, South's kicker Landon Docken got a national opportunity to begin his own journey toward college competition this weekend. It's too early to say he can be another Emmet Kenney but with two years to go he's off to a tremendous start!
Fargo's team took the field with an outside chance of moving into the top two in the league but in a defensive battle, St. Paul did not surrender their position. They held onto a 7 - 0 lead into the fourth quarter and Fargo finished behind by that margin despite scoring the final points of the afternoon. Beyond those numbers the major difference was two interceptions by St. Paul while Fargo had zero takeaways.
They'll close the schedule against winless Bismarck, Saturday evening in Moorhead.
As the team's made their final pushes for playoff positioning, Post 2 came from behind in the seventh inning to beat West Fargo 3 - 2 in game 1 of 2. The Pats fought back in the rematch with a no-doubt 10 - 2 decision.
And then came bracket play.
Oak Grove was on the wrong end of a 10 - 3 score against Thompson. May/Post/C/G beat Hillsboro/CV 13 - 3. OG rallied to take an 11 - 1 win over Hope/Finley. The Fargo Jets couldn't keep pace with Valley City, 14 - 4. The West Fargo Vets blanked Grand Forks, 12 - 0 thanks in large part to 2 multi-run homers by Griffin Stahl. Kindred kept it going with a 3 - 1 win over Devils Lake only to lose 1 - 0 to Wahpeton Thursday. Kindred's season came to an end 3 - 0 against the Fargo Bombers.
But there were still some pre-playoff games remaining. Post 400 edged West Fargo, 7 - 6 before WF went to Dickinson for a sweep to claim the #1 seed in the playoffs. P400 had a double against the Deuce, losing the first game 9 - 1 but earning the split with a 9 - 8 walk-off by Colten Alme. Post 2 then had a pair against Grand Forks. They handled the first 10 - 6 but then were held to three hits in a 3 - 0 defeat.
Moorhead's path to a sub-state championship began with an 18 - 1 thrashing of EGF to set up a final against Bemidji. An 8 - 1 defeat opened the door for a winner-take-all Sunday showdown. They had to weather a 4-run seventh inning but with five runs in hand they held on to win and will open the state tournament Thursday in St. Cloud!
Post 400 punched it's ticket to state with a play-in game victory over Dickinson, 11 - 4. It will be an all-Fargo opening round Tuesday morning in Mandan.
And last but certainly not least, Fargo's 12U team won their third state little league championship in a row! They played to third place at the regional tournament, so they won't be off to Williamsport but it's still a good way to end a 51-win season!
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