Let's feel enthusiasm about this as an antidote to the Donald Trump news! For the time being, the Orange Jesus does not have real power. For how many more months, dear Lord?
I could refer to Caitlin as "America's sweetheart" but of course that would be sexist. She's really "America's hero." Such an exemplary person. The remainder of this blog post is on girls sports. CC is lifting all of that up.
The Wolverines
"Runner-up" has a nice ring to it, even though it's shy of the title. When it's state runner-up, it is totally impressive. Yes, the CGB Wolverines were defeated at the end of their memorable post-season adventure. But what a climb they had, highlighted by an incredible come-from-behind seventh inning rally against Red Lake Falls. The team might have felt it was living on borrowed time after that.
Never fazed, those Wolverines dispatched West Lutheran and then came up against New Ulm Cathedral. Happens so often in state: you'll come up against schools whose names make it clear they are private. People have long argued that the private schools can have advantages. Is it true that the Republican Party would like all schools to be private? Push public education aside? Just kick all the problematic kids to the curb? Kids who come from challenging circumstances or who have learning/behavior issues?
That's a subject for another time. But it sure crosses my mind as I note CGB's final two opponents in the 2024 state tournament. The games were played at Mankato's Caswell Park.
CGB capped its rise through Section 6A with games played right here in Morris. I wonder what the visiting fans thought about the almost complete lack of fan seating at our softball complex. This always strikes me as very strange. Bring your own chair or you'll almost certainly have to stand. And if you have your own chair, you might choose to sit out by the outfield fence. I can't help but pay pretty close attention because the complex is on my daily walking route.
I felt fooled: I was led to believe this complex was really going to be something special. That's how it was announced. It is barely utilitarian. The old UMM field was better than what is in that spot now. And for this the taxpayers forked over $? Republicans are very often right when they argue for fiscal restraint. Republicans at least believe in keeping an eye on public education spending. They can go too far sometimes and that is the problem with them.
Oh wait there's another big problem: Donald Trump. There is no point in yours truly writing any more about DJT. I have done all I can over basically eight years. That is a long time. And America now appears headed into the abyss of choosing the Orange Jesus again.
The conservative entertainment complex hammers away about how Biden is a hopelessly doddering old person. So here comes Trump again. End of the American empire? Trump will seize control of the Federal Reserve and we'll get hyper-inflation. That's the whole ballgame. Happened in Germany in the mid-20th Century, pilgrims. Hold on to your hats.
Softball showcase, 2024
Looks like the state tournament softball games are actually in "North Mankato." The CGB Wolverines took the field Friday to face New Ulm Cathedral. A Catholic school? After playing a Lutheran school? The Wolverines handled West Lutheran 8-2. They knew the challenge would be tough on Friday. At stake was the Class A championship.
CGB fell behind 4-2 in the second inning. Abbey Hillesheim hit a home rum. Ava Schmidt of the Greyhounds, a sophomore, connected for a two-RBI single to put her team up 6-2. Senior Alexa Hornick drove in three runs with a single, putting the Greyhounds truly in command with a 9-2 lead. Cathedral ended up winning 10-4.
I am pleased to discover on this sleepy Saturday morning that a stat review can be found online. Well, can't anything be put online? Of course these systems are advancing forward all the time. The "Minnesota Softball Hub" is a system that has potential. The "Hub" template is in place for many H.S. sports. What matters is that the coaches or their responsible people submit the info.
I hope to see more of this ongoing. We need not be dependent on our "community newspapers." That is so 20th Century. Ink on fingers. Somewhat muddy photos.
Let's take a look at the CGB performance against New Ulm. One Wolverine had a multiple-hit game. This was Chloe Cardwell: a perfect two-for-two with a run scored, plus she drew a walk. Addison Ward had a hit and scored two runs. Makaya Hennessy didn't have a hit but she drove in a run. Sadie Wright had a one-for-three showing and drew a walk. She drove in a run.
Dru Stotesbery crossed home plate once. Hannah Gary went one-for-three and drew a walk. Hennessy had a sacrifice fly.
Two Wolverines saw work from the pitching circle. Some sportswriters still say "on the mound" but there is no mound in softball of course. Sadie Wright and Jordan Wright pitched for the Wolverines. Jordan was the pitcher of record. She pitched three innings, struck out one and walked one. She gave up seven hits and four runs. Sadie had a pitching stint of four innings. She walked three batters and gave up nine hits and six runs.
The line scores were ten runs, 16 hits and no errors for New Ulm Cathedral, 4-5-0 for the Wolverines. Certainly clean fielding throughout!
No. 2 in state! Pretty historic for our friends to the west.
A toast to Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever! Basketball in June, how about that?
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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