Reimers double puts MACA boys in driver's seat

Tuesday was sure a positive day for MACA baseball and softball. Let's take a look at Tiger baseball where Riley Reimers delivered a most timely blast. It was a double with the bases loaded in the fourth. 

Fans at our Chizek Field cheered as MACA seized the decisive momentum. We went on to win the game 9-4 over the BOLD Warriors. 

The Reimers two-bagger resulted in MACA owning a 7-2 lead. We were on our way to our ninth win of the season against five losses. BOLD is having a comparable season and came out of Tuesday 9-4. 

Reimers had two hits and drove in four runs. Brandon Jergenson wielded a mighty effective bat as he posted a three-for-four line. He crossed home plate twice. Sam Kleinwolterink smacked two hits, scored a run and drove in two. Zach Bruns had a hit, a stolen base and run scored. Durgin Decker had a hit and two RBIs. Tristan Raths connected for a double, plus he scored two runs and drove in one. Ross Marty scored two runs and Jacob Boots scored one. 

Bruns and Brett Hanson shared the pitching work with Bruns getting the win. Bruns pitched five innings, struck out six batters and walked two. Hanson hurled for two frames, striking out four batters and walking one. The MACA line score was nine runs, ten hits and two errors, while BOLD had a 4-9-0 line. Three BOLD players had multiple hits: Avery Herdina, Aidan Elfering and Ryan King. Herdina took the loss on the mound. Braeden Tersteeg also pitched. 

 

Softball victory 14-3

The MACA softball world has sure been making the news this spring. Much of the attention comes from the new home field. The gala dedication is now past. So now fans can wonder just how much of an asset this new field will be. What happens the first time we have a big game and the opponent brings a substantial number of fans? Will the fan turnout be accommodated well enough with viewing opportunities that are good enough for all? I present this as a rhetorical question because I have doubts. We'll have to see of course. 

What is the timetable for getting a parking lot? I have a theory that if the organizing group lacks sufficient funds for this, our local government will proclaim that it simply must be done immediately, therefore government will have to pay for it. And so, could the project turn into a sinkhole, in effect? Such things do happen. Sometimes dreams turn out empty like "Humanities Phase III." Maybe I shouldn't bring that up. 

For the time being, we can certainly all be happy with the Tigers' Tuesday softball success: a 14-3 win over 'Waska at 'Waska. We exploded out of the starting gate! Seven runs came home for the orange and black in the first inning. Makenna Hufford connected for a grand slam homer! Emma Bowman had a three-run homer in the first. Still more power was to come: Brianna Marty hit a two-run homer in the third. 

Hufford was perfect on the day with a three-for-three line. LaRae Kram had a multiple-hit game and scored two runs. Pitching-wise, fans saw Yasmine Westerman handle 4 1/3 innings to get the win. One of the runs she allowed was unearned. The host Lakers were hurt by seven errors. Makenna Panitzke took the pitching loss. The Lakers are 3-10. 

We learn that the Tigers' win was No. 599 for coach Holmberg. She has reached milestones for so long, I personally wrote at least one feature article for the Morris newspaper on this. I suppose there will be another big feature when she reaches 1000. Maybe a statue of her will be put out by the new field. 

For the time being, I think she has gotten enough recognition. 

Well, the Tigers will play their second game at Holmberg Field tomorrow (Friday) against Montevideo. Action starts at 5 p.m. We'll see how fans take to the place. 

I have told friends that I would have made a financial contribution if I had been hit-up early-on. I'd love to have my name be on the same sign with Fred Switzer. We represent a particular generation of people served by the school. I was in the unforgettable "boomer" generation. Switzer and other administrators might have a different description of us. Remember Wally Behm? One of the more unforgettable characters from Morris history. Intelligent, capable, but maybe with trouble adjusting to changing times. Happens a lot in education. I thought he had a heart of gold regardless of whatever issues arose.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com