Now it's on to Section 3AA play in prep softball. The Lakers of 'Waska have struggled this spring. Their won-lost is 6-14. They are 2-3 in section, 4-10 in conference, 3-6 away from home and 3-8 at home. Can they perform a reversal for the post-season? I hope their fans are aware that the seating accommodations for fans here are almost non-existent. I suspect word gets around pretty well on that.
Fans including the grandmas and grandpas are advised to bring their own chairs. We'll probably see fans sitting out by the outfield fence.
You know a great place for organized softball? Big Cat Field right next door. I have seen the UMM Cougars play there. Accommodates super for fans.
Minnewaska has struggled, yes, but they took two vs. Benson on May 14 at Benson. Benson is home of the. . . Should I type the nickname? Why can't that whole issue just be over with? There's an update as of this week. Here's the headline from Willmar radio: "Benson schools get another year to change Braves nickname."
The Donald Trump strategy? Delay?
We might easily surmise that this is just a way for Benson to strong-arm the state into coming forward with the money. Because, it definitely costs money to change a nickname and mascot. If Benson thinks the $ will ultimately come from state coffers - and you can really bet on it - they'll try to get as much as they can! More than needed! This is America.
News articles on the subject are most often adorned with the graphic of the old unacceptable logo. We can objectively say it's unacceptable because that is what state law proclaims. We're talking "spirit of the law." My question is: Is Benson going to accept that? The spirit of the law? This might be done by advising P.A. announcers everywhere to avoid use of the name.
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| How much longer? Benson needs $ |
The Benson superintendent who is dealing with this is Dennis Laumeyer. The article reports that in January, Laumeyer said they were seeking help from the legislature before moving forward and changing their sports teams' name from the Benson Braves.
Well, "need help from the legislature." Naturally Benson could have seen this whole headache rumbling toward them many years ago.
Benson appears not willing to act on principle, wouldn't you say? So it comes down to money and I'm rather sure Benson will get it in the end. In the meantime it's delay, just like with the Trump legal matters.
Our state representative Paul Anderson commented about the one-year reprieve: "It's something that will help, although it just kicks the can down the road for a year."
We might wonder how much "teeth" a state law such as this has.
If Benson ends up simply refusing to comply - does nothing - well then my goodness what would happen? People get arrested and charged? Seriously?
'Waska beats Benson twice
The Lakers won by scores of 6-5 and 14-12 over Benson. Game 1 went into extra innings and saw 'Waska plate the game-winner in the ninth for the 6-5 triumph. The Lakers had to survive their eight errors! Their line score was 6-10-8. The Benson numbers were 5-5-4.
Norah VanZee pitched all nine innings for the Lakers. She struck out eight batters, walked two and gave up five hits and five runs. None of the five runs were earned. The losing pitcher was Presley Nygaard.
Jenna Drewes had two hits for 'Waska. She stole a base and drove in two runs. Ally Mogard walked, stole a base and scored a run. Ella Roering had a hit, a run scored and an RBI. Emma Poegel went two-for-three with one of her hits a double. She stole a base, walked and scored a run. Hallie Schulz went one-for-four.
Carly Jergenson went two-for-four with a pair of stolen bases, plus she drove in two runs and scored one. Eliana Marthaler had a hit, drew a walk and scored a run. Avery Lewison tripled and scored a run.
'Waska 14, Benson 12
'Waska came out with guns blazing for Game 2, as they scored six runs in each of the first two innings. The Lakers survived five errors this time. Their line score numbers: 14-11-5. And Benson's: 12-8-1.
'Waska employed two pitchers: Norah VanZee (the winner) and Mataya Mix (the save).
Many Lakers contributed offensively. Jenna Drewes had a hit, a walk and a run scored. Melanie Lara had a hit in her only at-bat. Ally Mogard had no hits but she walked twice and was hit by pitch. She drove in a run and scored two runs. Ella Roering was one-for-four with a run and an RBI. Emma Poegel had a hit, two runs scored, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base.
Hallie Schulz had a hit in her only at-bat. She got on base twice via walk. She stole a base, drove in a run and scored twice. Carly Jergenson went two-for-three with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Xi Li drew a walk and crossed home plate once. Eliana Marthaler doubled as part of a two-for-three showing. She walked, scored a run and drove in two runs.
VanZee had a hit and an RBI. Avery Lewison went one-for-three with a run scored and two RBIs. Amanda Lohre drew a walk and scored a run.
Presley Nygaard was the losing pitcher for Benson. For the "Braves?" I dunno about that.
Minnewaska grabs our AD
By now you all know that Minnewaska Area has "poached" our athletic director here in Morris. And everyone accepts as fact that our AD made his move to 'Waska because of money! Word is, he'll be making $40,000 a year more in 'Waska. I wish he had never come to Morris to begin with. We treated him as special for a short time. Now he's with a rival school. How can 'Waska pay so much more than Morris? I'll quote from an email from a friend last night:
Minnewaska does have a higher pay scale top to bottom because they have a higher tax base and thus more money to work with. Morris brags that they have the lowest tax base of all school districts in the area, but it also means that they pay staff less.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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