So
much for the assumption that MACA spring sports would be put on hold.
Our hardy student-athletes sprang into action on Thursday. The
temperature was flirting with 40 degrees, maybe a touch higher, but my
it felt cold. My own senses sent me that message.
How
we look forward to milder conditions and a dose of inspiring sunshine.
But on Thursday? "Baby It's Cold Outside," to quote the song theme. Our
softball team played Minnewaska Area at home.
"Home"
was not the muddy new field at the "softball complex," with the
"complex" term seeming rather like exaggeration. Technically there are
multiple diamonds there, yes. But the place is far from "wowing"
observers as they might walk by. It was judged no-go for the Thursday
prep softball action.
I
got the heads-up earlier in the day that Tiger softball would be at
Wells Park. Some quite nice facilities are there, even regular
bathrooms. I can't imagine anything wrong with the place, frankly. The
Tigers gamely took the field and used a big sixth inning rally to turn
back the Lakers of Minnewaska. The final score: 13-9.
So, a nice debut for the Morris nine under nearly winter-like conditions. Brrr.
Our
rally in the sixth inning was to the tune of seven runs. 'Waska got the
early 1-0 lead. Then the orange and black went to work to plate three
runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and seven in the sixth.
The
Lakers tried to fight back with an impressive six-run outburst in the
sixth and two more runs in the seventh. But the Tigers had too much
firepower on this day.
Katelyn
Wehking was a force at the plate with three hits in four at-bats. She
drove in two runs and scored three. Sydney Dietz's bat made noise with
two hits, and her ribbie total was three. Dietz wore the mask behind the
plate with great proficiency. She gunned down three 'Waska baserunners.
Shannon Dougherty rapped a pair of hits and crossed home plate three
times. Makenna Hufford drove in two in the winning effort.
Let's
look at the pitching: here Yasmine Westerman - first time I've typed
that name - worked just over four innings and fanned six but she was not
involved in the decision. Brianna Dybdahl pitched in relief and got the
'W'. The losing pitcher was Rylee Metz who relieved MaKenna Panitzke.
The Morris line score was 13 runs, 13 hits and two errors. The 'Waska
numbers were 9-7-4.
A
bunch of Lakers each had one hit. Here's the list: Olivia Richards,
MaKenna Panitzke, Maddy Meulebroeck, Brooklyn Larson, Britta Nelson,
Brecklyn Beyer and Leah Hagen.
No
one called in the Morris softball info to the West Central Tribune,
based on what I see on their website. Considering the big fundraising
push for the softball "complex," the program really ought to avail
itself of all the press/promo opportunities that are available. Wouldn't
you say? This was a home win in which we scored 13 runs: no shortage of
highlights to be sure.
Let's know our softball history
We
should correct an error from an October 20, 2020, article from the
Stevens County Times, a paper veritably drooling to support the softball
complex. I verified that this was not a quoted item from someone
involved in the project. Such a statement might be excused from someone
all consumed with spreading promotional rhetoric. No, this statement was
in the reporter's words.
Here
it is: "Tiger softball, which has seen more success in the recent past
as far as wins and losses and conference championships, will now have a
comparable complex to Tiger baseball, which sees upgrades to Chizek
Field almost every summer."
It
is not true that Tiger softball success has been comparatively better
than in previous chapters of the program's history. There have been many
chapters marked by considerable success. As a newspaper
writer/photographer I covered the Tigers in the state tournament more
than once in St. Cloud, also at Mankato and Fridley.
The
program made noise with success continually through its early years and
henceforth. Why are some trying to downplay that now? Remember Tammy
Kukla pitching? Remember Lisa Schock, Sue Kaye?
I
do question Sharon Martin's insistence on fans gathering at a "dive"
bar of a place in St. Cloud following a state game there! To each their
own but it's not my cup of tea. "McRudy's?"
I
remember when Sharon's late father, the unforgettable Willie Martin,
picked up the tab for fans who gathered at the Ground Round in St. Cloud
during state. The Ground Round once was a trendy place in St. Cloud but
I think it fell on hard times. Too many franchises moved in? I'm old
enough to remember when the Historic Corner Bar went disco!
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com 
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