Softball gets into double-elimination for the post-season and that can be complicated to follow. People outside of the parents can find it difficult to follow. At least that's how I assess things.
The end came for coach Kirby Sayles' Tigers on the day after the Memorial Day holiday weekend. So we're talking Tuesday, May 28. We had the privilege of hosting the 3AA contest. We could not parlay home field into victory. So if there's no double-elimination, we're done for 2024.
Should we feel stunned the Tigers lost so suddenly? "MN Scores" shares background on our season and it's pretty impressive. The Tigers can take satisfaction in their 14-6 final record. Not so lustrous was the record against section-level foes. That's 1-6. But in conference the orange and black did fantastic: 10-3 W/L numbers. Away from home we were 5-0. And at home: an upbeat 9-6.
But in the end, we not only lost what appears to be our only post-season game, we scored zero runs in that game. Baseball is a sport where if you have your best pitcher on the mound and his arm is rested, you can really impress. And this is what the NL-Spicer Wildcats did in the Tuesday game. So it was a 7-0 outcome.
Baseball and softball are now done for 2024 - summer takes over! Friday is the last day of May. Then we're surely into summer with June having arrived. And you know what's different this year? It feels like basketball season is on! That disorient you a little? I find it interesting and refreshing.
Sure the WNBA has been around a long time. But you all know the difference for this season. The superstar from Iowa has come on the scene like no other rookie ever has. Sure, people feel guilty having to admit they never paid much attention to the WNBA in the past. They'll just hem and haw on that. Also they'll feel defensive, not wanting to admit that it took a certain type of player.
Let's all acknowledge the simple fact that women's pro basketball has really become a "thing" as of this year. A rising tide lifts all boats. It's not just that Caitlin Clark has an appealing personality and might be said to be rather good looking/cute. She has those qualities but what might be overlooked is that she's an entertainer. She has those instincts. And as I have observed several times, she has no tattoos! So amen!
So entering June we're talking serious pro basketball with the WNBA. In the men's sphere it appears the Timberwolves have faded. The women are just now hitting their stride. Basketball in summer! Why not? Of course the NBA playoffs have always seemed to go on forever.
I recently commented to a Yahoo! News article that we can expect the next college women's season to enjoy an uptick in interest. Alas, I cannot name one member of the U of Minnesota women's basketball team. Hopefully that will change. Lindsay Whalen was no savior, that's for sure.
Let's grade the press
Our MACA baseball team played New London-Spicer Tuesday which means we have to wait a full week to see a review of the action in the Morris newspaper. This is just totally unacceptable. Do you agree! Maybe you don't. I know the standards for judging timeliness could be very high when I was still with the Morris paper. I remember a Morris school administrator who could fly off the handle regarding this, to the extent that I thought the boundaries for taste were crossed.
We had a faction in town that was fanatical about sports coverage, and another faction composed of the "academics" who pooh-poohed sports to begin with. You might say I've seen it all.
Let's consider how the Morris newspaper is going to do covering section softball. How much of the section tournament has appeared thus far in the Morris paper? I mean, the games played in Marshall? Try the sports link on the Morris paper's website and what do you find there? Go ahead and check. Are you proud of what you see? The newspaper's priorities? Maybe you don't care.
I am personally happy to write about MACA Tiger sports any chance I get. Bless everyone who has landed on my two blog sites to check it out.
Well, who was the NL-Spicer pitcher who takes credit in this outcome? Fanfare for Grant Paffrath. My, he tossed a one-hitter gem against the Tigers. He's a senior right-hander. Jackson Hallman got to him for the one hit.
New London-Spicer has the fifth seed and now they'll face No. 1 Minnewaska today (Thursday) at Marthaler Park, Glenwood. Minnewaska has the very highly-paid new athletic director, you know!
The Wildcats are 15-6. They scored their seven runs vs. MACA on seven hits and committed one error. The MACA line score was 0-1-1. Hallman drew a walk in addition to getting his hit.
Carson McCain was the big offensive force for NL-Spicer. McCain went three-for-four with two stolen bases, a run scored and two RBIs.
Paffrath struck out five batters and walked just one. Drew Huebner took the loss for Motown. Drew did well with strikeouts as he achieved eight. He walked three and gave up four hits and five runs (four earned) in his five innings on the hill. Hallman pitched for two innings, fanned four batters, walked one and gave up three hits and two runs (one earned).
Image below: We're fired-up about the arts as well as athletics here at Morris Area! Wanda Dagen is boffo with her work in instrumental music. Your blog host is pleased to have contributed $2000 to support the band's New Orleans trip.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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