ESPN 1420 with New Afternoon Lineup
"Sports Rush" with Josh Bertaccini is now on from 1-2 PM.
Tune in to Josh as he delivers his unique blend of entertaining sports talk.
Then, keep it locked for "Calling All Sports" from 2-3 PM.
This brand new show features Mike Henriksen, previously of "Sports Max" renown.
We think you'll like ESPN 1420's new look from 1-3 PM, and hope you'll tune in, because sports radio in South Dakota just got a little bit better.
Minnesota Twins Skipper Ron Gardenhire appeared with us on "Sports Rush" earlier this week. Undoubtedly one of the best managers in the game, Gardy (as Twins fans affectionately call him) addressed a number of subjects, including his team's strong start, injury concerns, Target Field and the emergence of his son Toby as a major league prospect.
I've always enjoyed talking with Gardenhire, having now interviewed him four times in recent years. He always gives you a thorough answer, whether he agrees with your line of questioning or not. Always low-key and humble, it's not hard to understand why Twins Territory is so enamored with him at the helm of its ship.
Hoping for a postseason breakthrough, this is an important season for Gardy's crew, and through two months, they've played with an incredible sense of urgency. In fact, this is the first time in three years that the Twins have had winning months in April and May to open the season. Target Field has played to a home field advantage for the Twins early on, even if the park's parameters are drastically different than the Metrodome. Balls flew out of that park, while Target is much more a pitcher's domain.
Minnesota has had its bumps and bruises so far this year, with Mauer, Morneau, Hudson, Hardy, Kubel and Cuddyer all missing some time. But the ship has more than stayed afloat. The pitching, though not mindblowing, has been solid, and Rauch has replaced Nathan ably enough to keep things stable.
Whether or not this all finally translates into postseason success for Gardenhire, only time will tell. But as always, he's utterly positive about his and his team's chances.
AP Has Gerhart's Help Now
No quarterback makes me wonder, but we all knew Brett Favre was coming back after all, didn't we? Still trading out of the first round on Thursday night was at least a little bit weird, especially when Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy were sitting there at the thirty slot. Instead, the Vikes let division rival Detroit trade up and grab California running back Jahvid Best. Minny was content enough with cover man Chris Cook to take him at #33. A necessary, if unspectacular pick for sure. Cook has size, and Cedric Griffin's knee is still mess up, so the Vikings had to address a need in the secondary. But dealing up to get Stanford running back Toby Gerhart late in the second at #51 was a stroke of genius. The Heisman trophy runner-up simply dominated college football last season, leading Division I in yards and touchdowns. He's durable, rugged, and a leader; more importantly for Vikings' fans, he's the perfect youthful complement to Adrian Peterson. In fact, having Gerhart in the backfield to share his carries will only keep Peterson fresher longer. (Sorry Chester Taylor fans, though respectable, Taylor wasn't a game changer at all.)
Minnesota's war room wasn't done yet though. Early in the 4th round, with the 100th overall choice, the Vikes went and got USC defensive end Everson Griffin. An up and down college player for sure, Griffin was listed as a potential late first round pick on a number of mock draft boards. He'll add depth to the pass rush rotation, just as LB Nate Triplett (5th round) will do for the run defense in the middle of the field.
Overall, a pretty solid draft haul for Minnesota, even without a quarterback.
Josh's Draft Grade: B+
-JB
Northern State University has hired Black Hill State Head Coach Paul Sather to replace Don Meyer as the Wolves' men's basketball coach. Sather was an NSU captain in the 90s, and then an assistant coach under both Bob Olson and Don Meyer. He spent the past five years rebuilding a struggling program at Black Hills State. Sather is the 22nd head coach in NSU's storied 100 year plus history of basketball. Since 1955, the only men's coaches have been Bob Wachs, Bob Olson and Don Meyer---now add Paul Sather to the list. He told us when the position opened, he couldn't pass up the opportunity.
"To have the love that I have for Northern, and the city of Aberdeen, it just makes me feel so happy to be a part of taking this program forward," said Sather. "There's so much great history here, so much support from the community, it really is a dream come true. And I hope and believe that we are going to achieve really big this here in the coming years."
He'll be replacing a legend in Don Meyer, the all-time leader for coaching wins in men's college basketball history. But he does have a nice piece already in place with incoming Aberdeen Central standout Jared Hannigan. The 6'3 Hannigan averaged 30 points per game at the 'AA' state tourney in Rapid City this past weekend, including 39 in the championship, both setting new tournament records.
"He does everything you could ask for," offered Sather. "Inside game, outside, how he handles himself on the court and off---I'm really excited to get to work with him."
Only time will tell about Sather's tenure here at Northern State, but based on pedigree and energy level, it sure looks like NSU Athletic Director Bob Olson slam-dunked this one.
-JB
As the Timberwolves try to get the cobwebs out of their heads after a franchise record-tying 67 loss season, there lingers a hopeful feeling that the team is finally headed in the right direction. There are obvious pieces in place for a turnaround. Power forward Kevin Love has incredible size and versatility, and could use a stronger physique to play the post better next year. Swingman Corey Brewer made serious progress with his jumpshot, and looks like he can be an effective and unnerving defender at the NBA level. Point guard Jonny Flynn has shown incredible flashes but he's still really young--we're talking 20 years old here. He needs to mature more, mentally and physically, but looks like he'll be a feisty playmaker for years to come. Al Jefferson is already a tremendous low post presence, but does he fit the team's share-the-rock up-and-down style? That's for management to figure out. What they definitely need to decide better is who they're going to draft in the lottery this year. Though Flynn made sense a season ago, Ricky Rubio obviously did not. This time it needs to be a smart, safe move. You can't mess up the potentially #1, #2 or #3 pick in the lottery (depending on how the ping pong balls fall). Perhaps a missing link wingman who can glue it all together? Somebody like Ohio State's Evan Turner, maybe? Please? Nah, that would make way too much sense.
-JB
This is going to be a fun week for sports in the Hub City. The soon-to-be Senior All-Stars Roll into town for the 24th annual addition of the event. Folks like Keith Kusler, Mark Krogstrand and Roxie Dahl (to mention a few) bring their 'A' games year round to make this week-long deal possible. They are worthy of countless praises for keeping the pride and tradition of this event going. And the talent level over the range of events will be impressive, whether you're looking for it in basketball, football, volleyball, wrestling or golf. There's even cheerleading too. These people don't mess around.
Local standout basketballers Jared Hannigan and Alison Kusler headline the main attractions in the hoops games being played at the Barnett Center. The football game at Swisher Field has a number of names folks in town will recognize as well, including some who will play for Northern State in the fall. The cost of admission to the games is only five dollars per day, so it's fairly priced and a great weeknight option any time you might want to go and check some of the action out.
It'll be exciting stuff on ESPN Radio, and a chance for us to get back in the play-by-play swing in front of football, now just four weeks away.
Also more than worthy of keeping both eyes on are the Aberdeen Smittys. The local legion baseball team qualified for the State 'A' Tournament in Mitchell over the weekend with some clutch performances. A 4-2 win against Brookings on Friday afternoon was followed by an evening upset of host Watertown. A subsequent Saturday loss to Watertown didn't do too much to dampen the feeling of making the final field of eight for the Aberdeen crew.
Next up, a meeting with Sioux Falls East in the 1st round at 12:30 on Wednesday afternoon. Certainly Aberdeen has the chance to make some noise if the pitching holds up.
The same probably could've been said about Groton, but they came up just a little bit short in their Region 'B' finale against Alexandria. The game ended up 5-4 in Alexandria's favor in Lennox. Still, a great season for the team from Groton. But Alexandria gets the one automatic spot in the field in Mitchell.
Golfwise, AJ Elgart is the repeat champion at the Western Printing Pro-Am event that was held in town over the course of the weekend. The Lincoln, Nebraska native came from behind to win the 19th annual event at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen on Sunday. He ralled from two back to win it by one stroke.
And finally, a quick thought on the Twins has to focus on Delmon Young's torrid hitting of late. His average has climbed over .320, his home run total is up to 13 and he's driven in over 70 runs. There's no question he's carried the club of late with Justin Morneau on the DL. Without Young, who knows where the Twins would be right now. He's actually been so important to Gardy's team, he should be deserving of some All-Star consideration as well.
Josh's Take (7/1): Independence Day Means Summer Sports
It's interesting to think about how our sports followings change so drastically in the middle of the summer. With basketball and football in the background (or foreground, if you're so inclined) baseball takes a front and center stage. Suddenly, in this area, the Twins are the ongoing sports conversation of the day. Morneau and Mauer, Gardy and Liriano---these guys take front and center stage for the warmest days of the year. And truly, every year, by the time we get to the 4th of July, baseball is our biggest target in the crosshairs.
There are additional things we follow, of course, and the Twins are far from the only piece of baseball conversation we have either. The Smittys, an above average legion baseball team, is one that is always worth watching. They play a very competitive schedule and are in tournaments pretty much every weekend through August. They feature a good mix of high school and college baseball players capable of playing at a high level. Not to mention, all of the amateur, "teener" and youth baseball we have in the area as well. Pretty much, pick a night during the summer, and you can attend or play in a game (or two) all over the place.
We also get to focus on some of the other sports at this summer holiday time of year. I've already talked about the World Cup and its Olympics-like appearance every four years, but there's golf and tennis as well. Surely, with or without Tiger Woods competing at a high level, the big time golf events come quickly in the summer, and they're always worthy of keeping an eye on, if only for the occasional drama of a really close final round. The U.S. Open and British Open are followed by the PGA Championship in rapid succession, and really, it's golf's best time to shine.
The same for tennis, to a certain degree, with Wimbledon seeming to open the summer with a July 4th championship celebration every year, and the U.S. Open in September always seeming to close it. I love watching Grand Slam Tennis tournaments in the big matches. You know Federer and Serena will be there, and even if you don't know the other players, it's still fun to watch while trying to pronounce their last names.
There's other stuff I'm leaving out here, from July's Tour De France (this will supposedly be Lance Armstrong's final race) to running, swimming and other assorted outdoor stuff all over the place. And then, for the diehards---there's always summer basketball camps and football traing camp stuff too. In other words, more options than you could need, especially when it's bright and suny outside. Enjoy it.
-JAB
Josh's Take (6/20): Greats, Guts and Goals
I'm into the World Cup, I admit it. The beautiful game is actually kind of cool, if only once every four years. But it's kind of like the Olympics, where everyone watches events they'd never care about during the rest of their lives. I realize of all the sports out there soccer is the one that's never caught on in a big professional way here in America, and it probably never will. But you've got to figure that we'll get good at this sport someday, right? I played as a kid, up until I was 15, and it's amazing when you think about how widely the sports is enjoyed by kids around the country that we aren't better at it internationally. But alas, we've got the best athletes in pretty much every other sport, so I guess you can't have everything.
But it's not just the graceful nature of the game, the incredible athleticism the players display in the use of their legs and heads, hands notwithstanding save for the goalies---it's more than the players themselves that keeps me interested in watching the matches. It's really just the pageantry of the games themselves. They transcend sports competitions; they are events. Every country, from Spain to Chile, Ghana to France---they all have their own celebrations, their own customs, their own means of expressing themselves and their love for their team and their sport. And that's the stuff that gets me more than anything else.
South Africa is obviously a beautiful country, and so far it has appeared to a be a really good choice as a host nation. The time difference for the games hasn't even been that bad to deal with as a viewer either, especially once you get used to it. The stars are there too, from Argentina's Messi to Brazil's Fabiano, Portugal's Ronaldo and Germany's Klose. We have a star on the American team too, in midfielder Landon Donovan. And sometimes, these guys even score goals! Joking aside, it truly is something to watch so many fans all invested so deeply in such a low-scoring game. In America, we go nuts for touchdowns and three-pointers and grand slams, but in soccer, they go one measly goal at a time, and many times there aren't any of them. But that's probably why their celebrations are so extraordinary.
So grab a vuvuzela, or a pair of ear plugs if you prefer, and enjoy the rest of the tournament. Watch a bit here and there, and maybe you'll find the nuances fun, like me. Or maybe you'll hate it. Either way, 4 billion people are watching around the world. And I'm one of them. Oh yeah, I'll be daring and take Brazil to win the whole thing too.
-JAB
Josh's Take (6/4): Sports Radio is Opinion Land
Having worked as a sports radio host for over a decade now, I can safely say that the medium never ceases to amaze. Whatever the station, wherever the location, sports fans remain passionate and deeply opinionated in their beliefs. Certain topics can be "hot buttons" for some, which is to say, they spurn people to react strongly. Who would have thought that Detroit Tigers' pitcher Armando Galarraga would factor into one of these conversations? But that's just what he did, after throwing (or not) the third perfect game in baseball in less than a month. Considering there have only been 20 such perfectos in the history of the sport, it's still a pretty big deal. But Galarraga was robbed of a piece of history by a terrible call at first base the other night. Veteran umpire Jim Joyce called a pinch hitter safe on an infield single play that wasn't all that close, and the sports radio diehards got busy with it.
Listening back to some of yesterday's "Sports Rush" show, here's a sample of some of our call-in takes: #1- "It's another example of why we don't need umpires anymore. It's 2010. Just put monitors around the bases so we know if guys are out or not."
#2- "The big question I have is why the pitcher didn't get the benefit of the doubt. He's got a perfect game in the 9th inning and he gets treated like that? The umpire should be suspended."
#3- "That's just part of the game. It's human error, there's really nothing we can do about it. If you change this one thing, then you're going to have to look at and change so many other missed calls. You just can't do it in baseball."
And, my favorite, #4: "Bud Selig has been a terrible commissioner for a long time. This is his chance to make it right. He's got to change the call and give the kid what he deserves. Otherwise, he stays the worst commissioner in history."
I'm not sure I agreed 100% with any of those takes, but I didn't completely disagree with any of them either. It's one of the coolest things about doing radio, the ability to interact and reflect immediately with your audience. Everybody's take is different, and sometimes I just enjoy listening.
Obviously, some topics are constant button-pushers around here (Twins, Vikings, NSU coaching changes), while other days unfold a little more slowly. But the passion of sports fans is permanent and relentless.
(UPDATE: Commissioner Bud Selig says he won't change anything about the game's finish. Nice, Bud. Way to step it up again.)
Josh's Take (5/20): More Spring Odds & Ends
-Some say horse racing is a "dying" sport these days. That may be true, depending on your view, but it's still an awful lot of fun too. I'm not going to tell you that I regularly watch and handicap thoroughbreds on a regular basis, but for just a few days every year, I get into the king's game, or sport, or whatever they call it. Aberdeen itself has three straight weekends of equestrian action at the Brown County Fairgrounds every year and it's worth checking out for a day of fun in the (hopefully) sun. Trainers and jockeys come in from around the region for six total days of races through Memorial Day Weekend. Admission is free and wagers are small, if you're so inclined. Plus, kids love animals, so there's an easy day of kiddie-sitting already taken care of.
-Kudos to Presentation College on the diamond, for sure. The PC Saints baseball team concluded its campaign with a 1-2 showing at the UMAC tournament in Duluth this past weekend. All of the Saints' games went down to the wire, including a season-ending loss to St. Scholastica. You can only wonder what a couple more keys hits could have produced. Coach Alex Ferguson joined us on Sports Rush the other day and spoke of his team's showing. "I think we took a step forward this year," offered Ferguson. "Guys stepped up and made a lot of progress, and now we get to see what we can do next season with a lot of our big guys returning." When you consider that PC began the season at 1-10, a .500 finish looks pretty impressive. On the flip, St. Scholastica's victory in the tournament was its second straight crown.
-State tennis looms on the weekend with Aberdeen Central and Roncalli competing in Rapid City. The event takes three days and sees champs crowned not only in the team classes but also in singles and doubles play as well. Competitive schedules for both the Eagles and the Cavaliers should help them in their West River postseason play. Golf and track and field will see things wrap up next week. Just a week and a half remains in their respective seasons.
-It was fun talking a little rugby with DJ Mounga from the NSU club the other day. Northern State doesn't officially sanction the sport, so it's up to the team to generate most of its operating budget through fundraisers throughout the year. The commitment to doing something like just to compete at the collegiate level is enormous and shows a lot of dedication from the players themselves. When you throw in the fact that NSU won the national crown at the D-3 level last year, it's even more impressive. (If you're wondering about the D-3 assignment for the Wolves, since it's a club sport, the national classification is based on each team's operating budget). The Wolves head 20 plus hours down to Austin, Texas, to compete in the Sweet Sixteen round of the national tournament this weekend. Good luck to Mounga's crew. (On a side note, rugby flick "Invictus" is now out on DVD. If you're into sports drama meets real life (and who isn't?) you should give it a rental.
-The T-Wolves can't catch a break. Last night's draft lottery saw their selection slot fall from second to fourth overall. A top two pick would have guaranteed the Wolves a shot at Evan Turner or John Wall. Fourth overall means.... Wesley Johnson? DeMarcus Cousins? Either young big man would help Minny, but neither's going to lead you back to the playoffs. So it goes for Timberland.
Josh's Take (5/10): May News, Notes & Nuggets
-There's going to be a different look to the South Dakota high school football playoffs starting this fall. In 11A, 11B and all three 9 man classes, the playoffs will be reseeded after the first round this year. 11AA was the only class to nix making a change of any kind. The reason for the reseeding is so that, potentially, two strong teams from the same region can now meet for the state championship. It's hard to question the format change, though it makes it tougher for a darkhorse to go all the way. We'll see if it comes into play this fall.
-The Hub City Four Star track and field meet was held on Saturday in Aberdeen. Aberdeen Central multi-sport standout Jared Hannigan shined again on the boys' side of thigns, winning the 100 meter dash and the long jump competition. Central's Alli Arrampatzis excelled as well, winning the long jump and the pole vault competitions. The ESD conference tournament arrives this weekend, while the state tournament is less than three weeks aways.
-Sticking with the track stuff, Northern State competed in its conference tournament in Moorhead, Minnesota over the weekend. Speedster Bill Cameron won the 400 meter hurdle event with a time of 53.21 seconds, almost setting a personal best mark. Cameron is a Roncalli graduate who finished second at last year's outdoor conference meet. Meanwhile, Melodi Boke was the shot put at over 45 feet. A Faulton native, it was Boke's first ever conference crown. Not a bad time to get that done at all.
-Congratulations are in order for the Presentation College Saints baseball team. At 16-17 overall, PC came storming back after a difficult start to the year, finished at 11-9 in UMAC conference play. The Saints reward is a trip to Duluth on Thursday morning, when they will take on Bethany-Lutheran in the first round of the conference tournament. Coach Alex Ferguson's team has struggled with the Vikings this year, but the postseason's always a different deal entirely.
-Wayne St. made a splash with a couple of key signings from the past year's AA South Dakota hoops scene. Terrelle Newton, from Huron, and Adol Aluong, from Sioux Falls Roosevelt, both inked to played their college basketball with the D-II Warriors next year. Newton's an immensely talented 6-5 swingman who should be a great college player, so long as he keeps his attitude issues in check. Aluong is versatile as well, and with some improvement on his jumpshot, could be a matchup nightmare at the next level as well.
Josh's Take (4/30): Presentation Hires Football Coach
Give Presentation College credit: the Saints have a lot of heart. Fielding competitive athletic programs at any Division III school can be a difficult task, but Presentation has managed to do that pretty consistently in basketball and on the diamond during recent years. Yet the biggest test yet starts next year in 2011 when Presentation begins its inaugural college football campaign.
You have to start with a coach and yesterday PC did just that, announcing the hiring of Andy Carr, an SW Minnesota State assistant coach with over a decade of experience. His youthful look belies over ten years of assistant coaching experience and extensive familiarity with the area. Carr told us he was thrilled for the opportunity because "it means a lot for me and for my family. We get to come back to an area we love and get in on the ground floor of something exciting. Starting something new is always tough, but it's an opportunity we've been waiting for. I can't wait to get started."
The work starts now for Carr, as he looks to fill out his coaching staff, and begins to fill in the blanks as far as equipment and facilities. Eventually, there's the whole recruiting thing. And yeah, that's kind of important too. "We're going to locate players who are good fits for us from South Dakota, first and foremost, but also from Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, and some other places as well," said Carr. "We need to find student athletes who believe in the same core values we believe in here at Presentation College."
Athletic Director Rick Kline believes in Carr's mission, considering he was the driving force in hiring him. "I think he's a great fit," Kline told us. "Every day during the hiring process I'd hear from Andy about his passion and interest, and then I'd hear from people he'd worked for, or worked with, and the response was pretty overwhelming. He's got the energy, the drive and the knowledge of the area and its people that we were looking for."
Without players or a schedule in place yet, and no games to be played for 16 months, it's far to early to speculate on wins and losses, but at some point in the next few years, the Saints are going to need to show the heart and competitiveness that has made them relevant in other sports on the Division III level. Kline elaborated on this. "When the freshman take their bumps and bruises and become sophomores, and we get a few classes in place behind them, then we'll start to get a feel for how we're doing. But make no mistake, we expect to be competing in every game we play right away."
Exciting news for Presentation College and its alumni. Another college football team in town can't be a bad thing. In fact, it probably motivates D-II's Northern State to get itself going again quicker. Though NSU's enrollment is under 3,000 students right now, PC's is only at 700. There's definitely an uphill battle to be fought as far as the numbers are concerned. But once again, it's good to see the Saints are unabashedly fighting it.
Josh's Take (4/19): Spring Game A Success
It's hard to make strong conclusions on all that you're seeing in a Spring Football Game. Position battles, new schemes and the desire to avoid injury all force the casual football observer to take it all in with a grain of salt. That being said, the first spring game for any college football coach is an important one, if only to show the fans a glimpse of what their football future holds.
On that note, Friday night's annual Northern State Football Maroon and White Game had to be deemed a successful one. For starters, nobody got hurt. "The truth of the matter," NSU Coach Tom Dosch said afterwards, "where we're at right now, with a little over 30 guys active on the roster, the last thing we can afford is a bad injury or two, and fortunately we didn't see anything like that."
The injury bug was avoided, but it's important to remember that star tailback Montrell Richardson (track team) wasn't available for the game. Neither were two quarterbacks, injured earlier in the spring. And of course, none of the incoming freshmen take part in any of the spring stuff. That all being said, we saw some nice things on Friday night:
#1- QB Nick Wanner. Unofficially, I had Wanner at 12 for 15 for 140 yards. He threw one pick in the two minute drill, but his touchdown strike to John Migdahl from 23 yards out on the first drive of the night was a great throw. Wanner looked far more comfortable in the shotgun formation, and has emerged as a contender for serious playing time in the fall.
#2- WR John Migdahl. Speedy, shifty, and able to add yards after the catch, Migdahl showed once again that he's the go-to wideout come the fall. Though undersized, Migdahl uses it to his advantage, with a great burst and natural elusiveness. He had a nice touchdown catch early, and absorbed a hard hit from cover man Marquis Mulkey late, bouncing back up. Migdahl's clearly a leader.
#3- CB Marquis Mulkey. He was one of the first guys on the field for stretches Friday night, and made plays throughout the game. Mulkey is quick, with fluid cover moves. He intercepted QB Jeff Ross in the middle of the field and returned it for 25 yards on a nice change-of-direction play. He had a couple of nice hits playing up against the screen passes and broke up a pair of passes as well. He's a great piece of the puzzle in the secondary.
#4- K/P Thomas Parrot. He brings back as much experience as anyone on the roster, and at a hugely important position. Parrot drilled all three of his field goal attempts on Friday night, from 40, 32 and 26. His punting was decent as well, with only one shy of 35 yards (and that wobbly kick caused a fumble by the returner). If Parrot can be steady and reliable next year, the Wolves can be competitive quickly.
All in all, a good night of mid-April football that felt more like mid-October. Lots of shotgun sets, good use of screens and designed bootlegs, and aggressive defense up in the box. We won't see Dosch and his crew again until early August, but so far, I like what I see.
Josh's Take (4/7): Tough Haul for NSU Baseball
It's not easy playing college sports, especially when the weather won't cut you a break. For Northern State baseball, never has that been more obvious than during each of the past two seasons. Last year, weather issues wreaked major havoc with Wolves baseball, forcing frequent cancellations and postponements. New head coach Mark Gulseth was handcuffed, and his young team struggled to a 9-31 overall record.
This year, the weather hasn't been much kinder. Despite mostly rain-free days in late March and early April, Northern State's home field has been soggy and unplayable, and other area schools have been suffering with baseball stadium issues as well, most notably the University of Mary (Bismarck). With irregular games and outdoor practices, a still young Wolves team has struggled again, with a record of 3-22 headed into the season's final six weeks.
Northern State University is a proud athletic school. There's all kinds of history and success with the basketball program, and the track team has stayed consistent under coach Jim Fuller as well. Even the football program has high expections, rightfully or not. Still at some point, you've got to wonder whether baseball remains a viable sport going forward. Sure, most schools want to field a baseball team. There's no questioning the desire to have a good team in another sport. But if you can't play and practice with any kind of consistency, it makes it awfully hard to be competitive and win.
This is an issue that Northern State needs to deal with going forward. The Wolves play hard for Gulseth, no doubt. It sure would be nice if the weather cut the baseball team a break one of these years as well.
Josh's Take (3/31): MLB Predictions 2010
AL East
New York Yankees (y)
Tampa Bay Rays (x)
Boston Red Sox
Baltimore Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays
AL Central
Minnesota Twins (y)
Chicago White Sox
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals
AL West
Anaheim Angels (y)
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners
Oakland Athletics
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies (y)
Atlanta Braves (x)
Florida Marlins
New York Mets
Washington Nationals
NL Central
St. Louis Cardinals (y)
Milwaukee Brewers
Chicago Cubs
Houston Astros
Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers (y)
Colorado Rockies
San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Diego Padres
y= division champ
x= wild card
ALCS: New York Yankees over Minnesota Twins
NLCS: St. Louis Cardinals over Atlanta Braves
World Series 2010: New York Yankees over St. Louis Cardinals
Josh's Take (3/24): Incredible High School Sports Year Here in Aberdeen
This past year has seen a number of incredible runs by Aberdeen high school teams. Go back to the fall, where Central's football team came within ten points of a state championship in football, falling short in the title game to SF Washington at the Dakota Dome. Then there's Volleyball, where Dennis Northrup took the Golden Eagles on an incredible run through the season en route to Central's first ever state championship. Don't forget about wrestling either, as Toby Bryant continued his turnaround of the Golden Eagle program, winning Central's 2nd straight ESD title. And Dawn Seiler's Lady Eagles won the first ever ESD title in Central's girls' basketball history, the Eagles going a perfect 17-0 against ESD competition this year.
It culminated with the state tournament runs by Aberdeen Central and Aberdeen Roncalli in boys' basketball. Both teams had great regular seasons, and both saved some of their best basketball for late. The Eagles did their damage in Rapid City, with 'AA' State Tournament wins over Brandon Valley and Rapid City Central, the latter in an absolute thriller. Aberdeen's championship quest came up short in the final though, as they got outmuscled down low in a 19 point loss to Sioux Falls O'Gorman. Meanwhile the Roncalli Cavaliers finished their season at the 'A' Tournament in Sioux Falls, rallying late to get past Elk Point-Jefferson in the first round, before falling to St. Thomas More in the semis. The Cavs would beat McCook Central-Montrose in their finale, finishing third.
Both boys' teams played well at their state tournaments, and both carried themselves with class and dignity all season long. For the Eagles, eight seniors depart, while it's only three for the Cavaliers. To all of those seniors, and all of the senior athlete boys and girls who performed well throughout the seasons, the Aberdeen community offers the utmost appreciation and respect. Some of these high school athletes will go on to play at the next level, while some will not. Regardless, it was great watching you play all year long, and we wish you nothing but the best in your future endeavors.
Josh's Take (3/10): Hub City HS Hoops Hysteria
Pressure? Aberdeen Central and Aberdeen Roncalli sure didn't play like they felt any last night. It's been three years since each high school sent a boys' basketball team to the State Tournament. Those brief droughts are now over.
Disappointed by a road loss at Huron on Friday, the Golden Eagles ran all over their home floor against Rapid City Stevens last night, easily dispatching the Raiders, 82-51. It's not often that a team shoots 12 of 24 from downtown, but that's just what the Eagles did. "We needed all of them," offered a hoarse AC Coach Brent Norberg after the game. "They played a box-in-one on Jared (Hannigan) like we expected, and everyone took advantage of that. We got good looks all night and shot the ball really well." If anyone was feeling the magnitude of the moment, it was Norberg, who's spoken all of year of the team's goal of making the 'AA' state tournament. A loss last night would have prevented that, and put a summer long gloom over the Aberdeen Central program, but the Eagles weren't about to let that happen. "It's always fun when you get going early," said center Corey Casanova, who finished with nine points. "Everyone got in a rhythm, and now we get to go and see what we can do next weekend out west." The Golden Eagles are the #2 seed at Rapid City's Civic Arena next weekend. They will play the #7 seed Brandon Valley, whom the Eagles beat in both meetings this year. Game time is set for 7 PM (CST) next Thursday night.
Meanwhile, at the "neutral" site of Groton High School, Roncalli played like a team on a mission. Certainly the Cavs faced more resistance from their opposition than the Eagles did. Milbank is a team that likes to slow the pace and limit possessions, and the Cavs had to play with patience as they looked for a chance to make their move. That opening would come in the 3rd quarter, when the Bulldogs started turning the ball over. Roncalli attacked inside and turned a six point deficit into a one point lead after three. A big basket by Andrew Holmstrom at the 3rd quarter buzzer put the Cavaliers ahead, and they would not trail again. "I'm just so happy for this team," Roncalli Coach Todd Neundorf said afterwards. "Early on this year, we put a lot of our focus on bigger goals, like winning our district and getting back to the Region title game and getting to State, and we've achieved that now. It's a really good feeling." Junior Andrew Holmstrom sizzled for 23 points, making all eight of his shots from the floor, including two three-pointers. Next up for the Cavs at the 'A' State Tourney in Sioux Falls is Elk Point-Jefferson. Roncalli is the #3 seed while Elk Point is seeded #6. Gametime is set for 8:45 PM next Thursday night at Sioux Falls Arena.
In the end, both HS boys teams played with confidence and pride and would not be denied. They're both going dancing for the first time in three years. Now the question is how far can they go? Three wins in three days is not out of the question for either club. Before we see how that unfolds, we'll watch the top-seeded Aberdeen Central Lady Eagles go for their first ever hoops crown at the 'AA' Tournament in Huron. The Eagles take the floor against the #8 seed Sioux Falls O'Gorman in the quarterfinals tomorrow afternoon. I'll have your play by play call on ESPN 1420 from the Civic Arena with tipoff slated for 1:00. Aberdeen Central enters the tournament as a heavy favorite.
Josh's Take (3/3): Quarterback Club a "Hidden" Gem
The Quarterback Club is a lot like Rodney Dangerfield: it doesn't get nearly the respect it deserves. Every Tuesday afternoon during the heart of the sports year (August to March), assorted Hub City coaches get together for a lunch and conversation deal at the Northern State University's Student Union. It's become a weekly destination for me, and I thoroughly enjoy being there to get some extra sports insight from folks in the know every Tuesday. The meetings are held in the Missouri Room behind the cafeteria, and for $8 you get to hear the latest on all the different Aberdeen sports teams, high school and college both included. Folks like Don Meyer, Curt Frederickson, Brent Norberg, Tom Dosch, Gene Brownell and Bob Olson are regulars at the weekly noon get-together. It usually runs about an hour and a half in length, certainly time for enough information to feel like you're getting your money's worth. Joe Dingers runs the Club these days, and encourages area fans to come out for a behind-the-scenes question and answer format with their favorite coaches. Dinger says, "for eight dollars, it's can't miss entertainment for the diehard Aberdeen sports fan." Well put, Joe. The quarterback club is definitely one of Aberdeen's coolest weekly social events. With proceeds from the club benefitting area athletes in the form of scholarships and grants, you can feel good about spending your lunch money there as well. Here's hoping more locals hop on board with the Quarterback Club next year. It's a special Hub City sports tradition well worth preserving.
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