MACA striving to conquer southern Minnesota!

Business as usual for the MACA softball team, a 22-3 record as we get set for the most serious phase of post-season. If only such a record would be a more-or-less guarantee of making state! We have learned it is far from it. I write here once again that when we come up against the southern Minnesota teams, it's a whole new ballgame as it were. 

Does the "sub-section" even exist? Man, I almost missed seeing the upcoming post-season game notes on "Minnesota Scores" this morning. You have to scroll down quite a ways from the regular season to find the new info. Scroll down through some pictures in fact. Fortunately I did a thorough check. And so I see the 3AA action is already underway. 

I actually do not see "sub-section" specified anywhere. I know there has been a sub-section level over the recent past. If I remember correctly it is a very short phase, like two games both played here in Motown. Looks like this year there's maybe just one. Wait a minute, a bye for the Tigers? 

The Tigers played their one game and it was Tuesday at home. And so the Tigers dispatched Litchfield in a manner that reflected the one-sided nature of the regular season. Yawn, the Tigers took care of business shutout-style at our softball place. I hope the Litch fans were advised to bring their own chairs for viewing. If you don't, be prepared to stand. 

Maybe we need a new softball facility in Morris. The Tigers downed the Dragons 9-0. "Another day at the office." 

 

Next foe: Pipestone 

So now what beckons? Well holy cow, it's a game against one of those southern Minnesota nemesis teams. And that would be Pipestone Area. Past is not necessarily precedent. It would not have to be. So who really knows what the outcome will be on Saturday, May 23. And once again, MACA fans are being asked to make the long trip to Marshall for sectionals, just like in other sports. I'm sure this cuts down on the number of fans who elect to watch in-person. 

Sorry to say I have never gone to Marshall for high school games. And I've been around. MACA got stuck in this situation back when the post-season got organized into the sub-section and section. This replaced district and region. Looks like it could be permanent. 

Well I'll stay here in Morris. But I do enjoy writing about the Tigers when I can. I was quoting Mary Holmberg as far back as 1979 when the program started. I'll take Wells Park over the softball complex anytime. 

The Tigers played Litchfield on May 16 in a home tournament. We were fortunate to win that contest as the score was 9-8. So we scored the same number of runs against the Dragons on Tuesday, but this time we got a shutout pitching performance. Also on May 16, we defeated Alexandria and Grand Rapids.

 

Coach Mary Holmberg has been "the rock" with the Tiger softball program! She got it all going. The image you see at left is from the KMES-KKOK site. Holmberg has reached the incredible 700-win plateau as a coach. Compare her to the Energizer Bunny maybe?

 

Tigers 9, Litchfield 0

Well, another showcase for MACA pitcher Haley Kill as the Tigers turned back the Dragons. On this day Kill tossed a 3-hitter against the green-themed crew. She set down ten batters on strikes. And at bat, this Tiger had three hits. She crossed home plate twice and drove in two runs. 

We took our first steps toward victory with a three-run first inning. The Tigers played errorless ball. The line score: nine runs, eight hits and the zero errors. Pretty sharp play. 

Addie Cihak is my neighbor so I'll acknowledge at the start that she drove in two tuns. Keep it up Addie! 

I need to be able to keep my discipline and type "Harmony Coverdale" and not "Cloverdale." Harmony Coverdale had a hit and a run scored. Aina Rose went two-for-three plus she was HBP. She scored two runs. 

Samantha Konz got on via HBP. Ryla Koehler had a run scored and an RBI. Mia Lu Asche socked a triple. She drew a walk, scored a run and drove in one. Kill was three-for-four, scored two runs and drove in two. Nora Boyle doubled, scored a run and drove in one. Brenna Jergenson walked and scored a run. Lots of highlights across the board for the orange and black.

 

Coming up: Tigers vs. Pipestone Area on Saturday at Marshall, 11:30 a.m.

(Marshall is too cotton pickin' far away, IMHO.) 

A feline lover too! Coach Holmberg w/ "Coco," from Facebook. I'm jealous of Mary because I am not even allowed on Facebook. I have violated "community standards" probably because of my criticism of Israel.

- Brian Willliams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com

Three Tigers combine to pitch shutout vs. 'Waska

Thank goodness the baseball Tigers were not scheduled to play yesterday (Tuesday). A day when the blowing dirt or smoke filled the air as wind was relentless. I've never seen anything like it. So the Tigers were spared having to try to breathe amidst such conditions on the diamond. Looks to me like some games were actually played out and around. 

Most recently the Tigers won in a dominant way over Minnewaska Area at 'Waska. We blanked the Lakers 10-0. It was our 12th win against five losses. Just two games left in the regular season against Melrose and BOLD. The regular season wraps up on Friday. 

Our big inning against 'Waska was the seventh: six runs. Prior to that we had two runs each in the first and fifth. Our fielding was pretty clean: one error. 'Waska meanwhile committed five errors. Not a lot of hits in this game: four by MACA, one by 'Waska. Three Tigers shared the pitching work: Riley Asmus, Ozzy Jerome and Parker Nohl. Jerome got the win. The losing pitcher was Sawyer Erickson. 

At bat, Brayden Carlson doubled and drove in two runs. Travis Buss drove in a run. Hunter Westerman walked and reached on HBP. He stole a base and scored a run. Jack Kehoe walked and he too got hit-by-pitch. He scored a run and drove in a run. 

Ozzy Jerome walked, scored a run and drove in two runs. Alex Asmus had a hit, walked, stole a base, drove in two runs and scored two. Riley Asmus stole a base and scored two runs. Riley Saito made his home on the basepaths as he went two-for-two, walked and was HBP. He stole a base and scored three runs.

 

Blown away, yes

Weren't you stunned this morning (Wednesday) to notice there wasn't a trace of wind? The earliest settlers out here were shocked at how strong and persistent the wind could be. The earliest ones took the "Wadsworth Trail" which I have been fascinated to research. Named for a Civil War general. The fort eventually got a name change from "Wadsworth" to "Sisseton." Not sure why that was done. Wadsworth was heroic in his service to the Union cause. 

The wind here on the prairie was striking in its severity. We were assaulted by the wind on Tuesday. And I have to ask: Was loose dirt in the air, or smoke from Canadian wildfires? Both? And at times the limited visibility was just like in a winter blizzard. The wind backed off overnight. So I took my bike downtown just now to have my biscuits and gravy (the Wednesday special) at DeToy's Restaurant. 

Detoy's was overflowing on Sunday for their Mother's Day buffet. Literally not a place open when I entered. I thought I arrived early enough that it wouldn't be a problem. Wrong-O. But it was problem solved as a server who I knew opened up a spot at the end of the counter. I availed myself of the offerings. Dessert too! 

I think there are only three days of the whole year that DeToy's offers the buffet. It used to be every Sunday. I guess food waste is a problem with buffets. Considering the ever-rising cost of food, a buffet is helpful for really loading up your stomach so you can "coast" for two or three days. 

DeToy's can feel heartened by its popularity on Sunday. But I'm also reminded of a comment made to me by my No. 1 contact at our UMN-Morris. Erin said "I think Morris could use another restaurant." 

I rely on restaurants because it's not practical for me as a single person to do much if any food prep at home. My refrigerator/freezer has been disconnected ever since Mom passed on. 

The people at Caribou Coffee tell me they have a new "bacon breakfast sandwich" now. Will have to try soon. I tried the "breakfast bowl" and found it not to be a good value. Isn't it harder to find good food value these days? We read more and more about "shrinkflation" and "skimpflation." The food industry constantly modifies its food to try to maximize its profit. 

Some people write that the food we purchase these days is "poisoning us." Not far-fetched. Synthetic bacon instead of real bacon etc. It is concerning. But I have faith in my biscuits and gravy at DeToy's on Wednesday morning! Maybe DeToy's does not have as much competition as they should. But the food there is reliable, helps keep my mind sharp!

 

You should all be shocked and scared by the new inflation report! 

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn innesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com 

Powerful Border West to play in Morris May 14

The end of the regular season will have a very good test for the MACA softball Tigers. They could use it. Not only will that game be challenging, it will be a treat for area fans as it's an area rivalry. Non-conference, yes, but a rivalry. Who will get the upper hand? Actually it looks like Border West has the caliber to challenge the Tigers. 

Many of you might wonder, what is "Border West?" You can be forgiven. I used to think of Herman but Herman has its hands joined in this venture. So it's a "cooperative" of teams. It can get a little complicated. But for now let's just get ready for the May 14 big game that will have state-ranked teams taking to the field in Morris. 

Game-time is 5 p.m. at the "softball complex" in Morris. My daily walking route goes past the place. One of the reasons I have been so critical of this facility is that I get to see it so often. Yesterday (Thursday) was an example. The Tigers played. I'm guessing it was Senior Day. 

 

Shortcoming 

But of course I always notice the woeful and almost nonexistent accommodations for fans at the softball facility. I'm sure the ground gets muddy often. The Pomme de Terre River is close by. Rivers are at the lowest elevation in an area. 

The old UMM softball field which seemed perfect in my mind is gone. The old field had the distinctive concrete player seating areas. "Cougars" painted on the side. Gone. I have to believe that the new field in that place has the batters facing the sun too much, too often. The old field was designed precisely. The fences were low enough that adults of average height could watch unimpeded from all over. I know because I took in some Cougar action there. 

The old facilities are a memory. Now we have the "complex" where fans have to bring their own chairs. Meanwhile we have the baseball "Chizek Field" that has generous grandstand seating. Looks like the male gender still has some advantages. Why did our school board not look ahead better? It spends a lot of our money. 

 

Alliteration in name 

"Border West" has the neat nickname "Buccaneers." The softball team is a Class A power. MACA of course is AA. The Tigers thumped Class A BOLD on Tuesday 14-4. The Tigers win often by scores like that. Very impressive but will we have the firepower to climb into state? Ahem, to get past those always-tough teams from southern Minnesota? The 64-dollar question. 

The High School League informs us that Border West is a cooperative that draws students from three schools near the South Dakota border: Wheaton, Herman-Norcross and Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley. 

Border West softball sports the super won-lost of 12-1. The Bucs are 8-1 in section, 7-0 in conference and 4-0 at the home diamond. They are coming off a 22-0 win over Ashby. I'm impressed that Ashby still has a stand-alone team. The Arrows! Ah, the old days of the "Herman Panthers." I remember well. 

It was the Herman boys basketball team that defeated Morris in a tournament game that turned out to be a watershed for the beleaguered Morris school district and its sports program once. That game was at the UMM P.E. Center. You might say it was a culmination. People lost their inhibitions after that. No longer were we so willing to buy the tired argument that "school is about academics, not sports." I have always argued "let the kids have fun." 

In the long run I probably won. In the short term I suffered. But I never compromised my soul for expedience. Not much anyway. Some of our community leaders were spineless. 

 

Anticipation 

So again, mark your calendar for the May 14 game of Border West versus MACA at Motown, 5 p.m. And of course bring your own chairs to the game. Maybe sit out by the outfield fence. How come I can point out so many deficiencies when no one else wants to talk about it? My cross to bear? And how about the parking out there? Yesterday same as always: long rows of cars parked along the shoulders of Prairie Lane. We used to see the name "Cesar Chavez" close to there. No more. That's what "allegations" can do. 

 

Buccaneers 16, Benson 1 

Let's take a look at the recent Border West blow-out of Benson. The wind blew hard as the Bucs handled the Braves 16-1. Border West had an impressive rally in the fourth inning - eight runs - and had ten hits total in the romp at Benson. Only four innings were needed. The Bucs emerged from this game ranked No. 10 in Class A. 

Border West "Buccaneers"

Border West played errorless ball. Sadie Wright occupied the leadoff spot in the order. She surely gave spark with three-for-three hitting numbers. Two of her hits were doubles. She drew a walk and scored two runs. Makaya Hennessy had a hit, drew a walk, scored two runs and drove in one. Hannah Gary went two-for-three, walked, scored two runs and drove in one. 

Jordan Wright crossed home plate three times. She drove in two runs. She walked twice, stole two bases and had a hit. 

Avery Kellen had a hit, scored two rims, drove in two and stole two bases. Bristol Paulson stole a base and scored two runs. Kylee Gail walked and scored two runs. Makayla Bertram went one-for-two with a walk and an RBI. Ellen Anderson walked, stole a base and drove in a run. 

Parker Stotesbery went one-for-three with a run scored. Occasionally I spot a last name that is familiar from when I wrote for the Morris newspaper. Brings warm feelings. 

Border West scored four runs each in the first two innings. 

Let's not forget pitching here! Border West has the creds in that department too. Jadyn Kellen worked throughout and she struck out five batters while allowing two hits. 

Benson has been given the green light to keep using its "Braves" nickname. I'm not sure that is a wise course. University of North Dakota has moved on.

Border West's Sadie Wright threw a no-hitter in the 11-0 win over Lac qui Parle Valley on April 10. Sadie struck out eight. She is the Neon Needles Subway Player of the Game.
 

   

- Brian Williams -morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com

Sometimes we have to absolutely realize failure

Memories are stored in this place: First Lutheran

So I'm a "quitter" now. That's what someone suggested to me last week. Or at least strongly implied. I had swallowed the bitter pill of continual decline by my First Lutheran Church over a long time. Part of us wants to "suck it up" in situations like this. In Morris you do not want to be perceived as "negative." So I'm just supposed to look the other way as brick-by-brick my church just deteriorated. 

I have a long memory from when things were so much better. Maybe it was the continual decline that got to me. The drop-off became predictable. 

Maybe memories are fading of when First Lutheran members made a decision every Sunday morning: go to the early service or the late service. Coffee and fellowship in between. 

I have never been programmed to just accept a steady rate of deterioration in anything. I noticed significant problems in our Morris public school system in the 1980s. That situation became horribly uncomfortable before we finally had some people in power who slowly called for some adjustment. In the mid-1980s I was like the boy who said the emperor had no clothes. 

People were not inclined to say I was wrong, just that I was being negative or "drastic" or some such thing. The forces on the other side of these matters gravitated to expedience or simple "quiet." Maybe it was the persistence of certain problems that got to me in the end. "Small town expedience" got to me perhaps. 

Little by little my First Lutheran Church deteriorated. Do I have to remind you of the main catalyst? The whole gay rights thing that came down to us from the national level. But what consequences of all that! 

We can say that First Lutheran was proud of its building once. It has slipped in that regard because of handicapped/elderly accessibility issues. The problem is accentuated by the seriously aging complexion of small town churchgoers. And these people do not want "gay rights" thrust in their faces. They are reasonable people primarily and they would want humane treatment for all. So OK, the church can remind everyone of that over-arching value and then move on. Move on, I tell you, and don't try to educate me about "LGBTQ" etc. Sexual preference is just one component of life. 

So in the ashes of all this we now have First Lutheran Church of Morris. I remember its true heyday. No one would have accused it of being liberal. Our pastor was a Nixon Republican in the days when the political landscape of America was quite different. Republicans and Democrats could get along mostly, often just treating their differences with an air of levity. Nothing like today. Today it's "MAGA against the world" and Donald Trump actually lost in 2016, I mean he got three million fewer votes than the Democratic candidate. The electoral college is a holdover from Civil War reconstruction. Give the southern bigots some room to operate. 

I'm sure MAGA was a factor in the tumble downward of my old First Lutheran Church. Can the people there even hold their heads high anymore? They will say they can. They are deluded. 

Can I cut to the chase here? What kind of church does not even have an activity at their own building every Sunday? The congregation is paying to keep the building open. And it just sits there now on half of all Sundays, virtually unused? When I try to state the obvious like this, as with our public school system in the 1980s, people really sniff and get resentful. It's interesting how they stop making eye contact with me. The worst ones cease trying to use logic and just come at me with ad hominem personal criticism. I'm "negative." I'm a "quitter." I had an important local person accuse me of being negative to my face in the 1980s. As if the local public really truly wanted to plod along indefinitely with our public school as it was operating. As if the school was ashamed of making a genuine commitment to extracurricular. You should know what I'm talking about. Oh here I go again assuming that these people can actually peel through obfuscation and self-interest on the part of certain people and see the truth. People in their comfortable positions who fear any boat-rocking. Many of them simply fear change, especially people with government jobs. We still have a teachers union in Morris that can be very irritating, at least this was true up through a couple years ago. Oh, I do try to hold out hope. I'm not a quitter, I just think there is no hope for First Lutheran Church. Here's a heading on the Drudge Report this a.m.: "26 percent say Trump a positive role model." 26 percent? "Trump is a positive role model?" Why has our society gone to hell so horribly? The man was found responsible in a legitimate legal proceeding for sexual assault. Shall I go on? Maybe we should not not have any churches anymore. Our military destroys an Iranian girls school. Our Navy sinks an Iranian ship and doesn't bother to rescue survivors. I feel like the only sane person in an insane asylum. But go ahead and keep calling me names. Call me a "quitter."

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com