Rod's Monday Ramblins for August 31

The Governor football team looked pretty good on Saturday and should have beat S.F. Lincoln. The Govs led 14-7 at the half and were down only 21-20 with half of 4th quarter to go, but couldn't up with the defensive stop, Lincoln scored and Pierre loses 27-20. Last year, Pierre won their opening game 13-12 over Spearfish. So why is everyone excited about this year's team and last year after starting 1-0 it was guarded optimisim? Let's be sure about this, this year's Lincoln team is nowhere near last year's. They play O'Gorman, who gets beat by Aberdeen, this week and then Roosevelt. Unless they do a huge turnaround, they will return to the bottom of the 4 Sioux Falls team's rankings. Now, let's not push under the rug what the Governors did. Twice, they gave up drives for scores in that game, and twice they came back and scored themselves. That is something last year's team could of done, but didn't for what ever reason. Depth is still the main question and it showed on Saturday. We wore down towards the end because we had to many guys going both ways. It tells in big school 11 man football. You can't get by with the same things in 11AA that you can in the other 5 classes, which is why schools like Pierre, Huron, Mitchell, Spearfish even Sturgis struggle with every year. It's all a numbers game. And it's a numbers game that could be taken care of at the early levels. I know that coach Kramer would like to start school football at the 7th grade level and have a 7th grade team to go along with the 8th grade. That would be a start. Here is another idea from another former coach in Pierre. At the freshman level, play to win obviously, but forget about the win-loss record. How about if a kid plays defense, he doesn't play offense and vice versa. You don't have to do it every game, but get the number of kids playing, a reason to continue to come out. History shows that the drop off level between freshman football and sophomore football is the biggest in the school. If you can keep 5 to 10 more boys per class coming out your going to have 25 kids per class competing instead of 15. Thus, when your at the varsity level, you have numbers and the opportunity to build some depth!!!!! It's what the Sioux Falls schools do, it's what Watertown, Yankton and Brandon Valley do! They also have seperate JV schedules from their sophomore schedule. Pierre has two games that are listed as JV-Sophomore. The rest are sophomore games. Would school budgets prohibit this addition if the numbers were there at the junior level? That is another question for another time.

Darren Boyle's weekly words of wisdom

No game for me last week, but strong performances from Stanley Co and Pierre last weekend eh? The Buffaloes took care of business against Bennett Co, and the Governors came up short against the defending 11AA champs but stayed in the game throughout and made the game much more competitive that the so called experts east of Salem though it would be. Since I needed to get in the football groove, I was a recliner "pilot" last night and took in the first half of the Broncos vs Bears game. What I was able to determine after a couple of hours of putting up with the ramblings of the totally worthless broadcaster Chris Collingsworth, is that Josh McDaniels (the new coach of the Broncos) is destined to be offensive coordinator of a NFL team next season (as in he wont be the coach of the Broncos) Heres why and part of what is wrong with pro sports in general. McDaniels was hired as head coach because of his percieved "genius" as an offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots. True the Patriots put up some big offensive stats during his tenure but also had some talent there like Tom Brady, Randy Moss, etc. But they also played some of the poorest defensive teams in the AFC over that span like the NY Jets, Miami, and Buffalo twice each season. Nothing like playing teams like that to boost your stats. But lets give him the benefit of the doubt on his offensive schemes for now and talk about the issues that he has had since becoming head coach of the Broncos. First of all he tries to get rid of his QB Jay Cutler, via a behind the scenes trade to get Matt Cassell ,then tries to deny it. Then after the damage is done tries to get his owner Pat Bowlen to clean up the mess. When it is was all over Cutler was a Bear and looked pretty good in last nights game. Now McDaniels has an issue with wide reciever Brandon Marshall. Of course Marshall thinks since the Broncos are going to compete with the Lions for the first pick in the 2010 draft he needs a new contract. He acts like a spoiled brat in practice and was suspended. I am fine with the suspension actually but I dont think the Marshall thing would have ever come up if the Cutler mess wouldnt have happened first. The problem with McDaniels is that he has arrived on the scene with zero head coaching experience expecting to get the same respect as someone like Mike Shanahan, the man he replaced in Denver. That's the kind of thing that irks me about pro sports. Players or coaches that havent really accomplished anything, expect the same treatment given to ones that have coached or played for years and have won titles. When I see someone with the attitude of a Josh McDaniels, or a Brandon Marshall, act like they do. It is no wonder that some young athletes act that way too. Good thing we live, where we live and our kids are raised better and know how to treat people with and earn respect.

Governor sports stuff from Saturday

Lady Gov Volleyball
Pierre wins a thriller in 5 games at Douglass. Wins game 5 19-17!

Lady Gov Tennis

Pierre scored 94 points to finish 7th at the Rapid City Invitational tennis tournament that finished on Saturday. Sioux Falls O’Gorman won it with 300 points. Rapid City Stevens was second. Molly Burke finished 4th in number 3 singles. Alexi Gusso took consolation championship at number 4 singles. Eileen Long was 4th at number 5 singles and Diede Beck lost in the championship match to finish 2nd in number 6 singles. Beck and Gusso were 6th at number 2 doubles for the Lady Gov place winners. Friday’s dual with St. Thomas More was won by St. Thomas More 7-2. Diede Beck won at number 6 singles and Kayle Inman and Molly Burke won at number 3 doubles for Pierre’s only wins.

Gov Football

Governor football team had a 14-7 halftime lead but could not hold it as Sioux Falls Lincoln scored twice in the third quarter and added the clinching touchdown with about 3 ½ minutes left in beating Pierre 27-20. Saturday night in Sioux Falls. Governors scored with just over 6 minutes to go to make it 21-20 but missed the extra point. Graham Schuetzle rushed for 101 yards and scored two touchdowns. Tyrell Walker scored on a 13 yard touchdown run. Tanner Schaffer added 78 yards rushing

More Friday Governor Sports results from Rod Fisher

Governor Cross Country at Watertown Invitational

Boys
Pierre was second with 56 points. Sioux Falls Roosevelt won it with 26. Top finish for the Governors is Kris Monroe in 6th place with a time of 17:30.00. Steven Gordon was 8th at 17:45.00 and Aaron Probst 10th with a time of 18:06.00. Josh Hietkamp of Roosevelt won with a time of 16:31.00. Other Pierre finishers, Sean Snyder finished 12th with a time of 18:30.00. Tyler probpst was 20th at 19:05.00 and Adam McMath 24th 20:11.00.

Girls
Pierre was third with 78 points. Roosevelt had 17 to win it, Watertown second with 54. Top Lady Gov runners, Bridge Simmons 9th with a time of 16:33.00. Allison Meintsma was 12th 16:50.00. Libby Gartmaker 13th 17:18.00. Courtney Brandt was 22nd 19:03.00 and Dacey Beck 25th 20:26.00. Roosevelt had the top 4 finishers with Seanna Kautz winning in a time of 15:10.00

FridayGovernor sports results from Rod Fisher

Yankton at Pierre Volleyball
Pierre wins 3 - 2 (21 - 25, 25 - 23, 25 - 20, 23 - 25, 15 - 13)
Pierre begins the year 1 - 0 (1 - 0 ESD) - Pierre is @ RC Douglas Saturday Aug. 29
PierreKills: Amber Olson - 24 Kelsey Oligmueller - 6
Assists: Amanda Stout - 41


Governor Golf at Huron Invitational
Pierre wins their 3rd tournament of the season with a 311 team score at Broadland Creek Country Club. Sioux Falls O’Gorman was next at 315. Seth Stadel had the best score of the day with a 75 good for a 3 way tie for 2nd.

Nothing available for Lady Gov tennis at Rapid City Invitational and Governor and Lady Governor Cross Country at Watertown.

Brian's football picks - Week 0

Why they call this Week "zero", I don't know, but that's what it is on the SDHSAA website. At any rate, I figure, why not show everyone how much (or how little) I know about high school football around these parts. Each week, I'll try to post my picks, and maybe some comments, on games of interest in Central South Dakota, as well as games that look like barnburners, at least on paper. So, with less than 3 hours to kickoff, here we go (my picks in ALL CAPS):

For starters, I will abstain from picking Stanley County games, since I will be broadcasting them, lest I either get somebody hot under the collar, or give someone else any bulletin board material.

Faulkton at HITCHCOCK-TULARE - last year's 9B runner-up hosting a Trojan team that made big strides last year, but I assume Patriots are still very good.
KIMBALL at Lower Brule
HERREID/SELBY AREA at Strasburg, ND - Shue is high on H/SA, so the rest of us should be, too
SULLY BUTTES at McLaughlin
MOBRIDGE-POLLOCK at Linton, ND - I know Linton is usually pretty good, but I'll pick the Tigers cuz Morrison said so.
PLATTE-G/DC at McCook Central - Black Panthers probably lost a lot, but they probably still have a lot.
CHEYENNE-EAGLE BUTTE at St. Francis
Sunshine Bible at SANBORN CENTRAL
Newell at WALL
Mt. Vernon at WESSINGTON SPGS./WOONSOCKET
Hot Springs at WINNER - Winner is now 11B, I still can't get used to that (both of these schools drop to Class B in wrestling this year, for what it's worth)

Two big games in the East, right off the bat:
MARION/HURLEY at Hanson - last year's 9AA champion runs past last year's 9B champion
West Central at HARRISBURG - I'm as bored as anyone with West Central's constant success (no disrespect intended)....Go Tigers!!

11AA Games:
Pierre at SF LINCOLN - tough way to start for the Govs, at defending champs, but they'll play hard, that's for sure
BROOKINGS at RC Stevens
SF O'GORMAN at Aberdeen Central
SF ROOSEVELT at Mitchell
SF WASHINGTON at Huron -- still gonna be hard to pick against Sioux Falls when playing non-SF teams
WATERTOWN at Spearfish
RC Central at YANKTON
Sturgis at BRANDON VALLEY -- still gonna be hard to pick the West River teams over most of the eastern teams
Also, Douglas hosts ST. THOMAS MORE - I'll pick the Cavs, but maybe they start to decline now

22 picks made here out of 46 games this weekend, mostly on hunches and assumptions, and not because I've studied up on what to expect this year, at least for this first week. I will be picking all games privately and reporting my honest winning (losing) percentages each week, and then we'll see how we all stack up at season's end. Let's have some fun, and good luck to all teams!!
- Radiooo

We haven't heard from Brian in a while.....

Well, I haven't had much to say in the past couple of weeks, or else I've been too busy, but there is one thing I saw that last night in the highlights that really bothered me. Did you see strike zone from the umpire in the Mexico-Japan Little League World Series game? I know in the Big Leagues there are a lot of times a catcher will set his target off the outside part of the plate, and if the pitcher hits the target, then the umpires will often call that a strike, even if it may have been a few inches outside. But in the highlights of at least two pitches thrown my Mexico pitchers, I think the catcher was line up with the middle of the left-handed batter's box. The target was hit, and two Japanese young players were rung-up by the blue, one to end the game. Japan was limited to one hit, losing 6-0, and maybe it's no wonder. If you should be swinging at pitches you can't reach, then your odds aren't very good, I guess.

Now, on to football ("Are you ready for..."...you know the rest). As I take a look at area teams, like Andy said yesterday, I think we're in for a pretty exciting, if not interesting, season. I usually try not to read too much into things, though, because I usually lose sight of who is gone and who remains for most teams. I can look at rosters and see how many juniors and seniors a team has, but if I don't recognize names, then how do I know how much experience those kids have? Chances are you're in the same boat as I am, or else you think I'm just totally ignorant, and for now I'll bet on the latter. Anyway, as for the football that I will be covering this year, I'm looking forward to seeing what the Stanley Co. Buffaloes can do. I'm not going to say at this point that I expect great things out of them in terms of wins and losses, because this is a young team facing a rather tough schedule in at least 5, maybe 6, of their 8 games. But what I am looking forward to is watching a young group with a fun football mentality progress from day 1 to day 56.

Unfortunately, looking at the "all new" Region 4 in Class 11B, I think a playoff possibility for a middle-of-the-pack team is going to be very difficult to attain. I call this region "all new" because of the addition of Winner, who has dropped to 11B this year (and I don't think I will be able to get used to that fact before the season gets over). Winner obviously becomes the clear favorite in the region, while Mobridge-Pollock, as Mr. Morrison pointed out a while back, has a very positive season in front of them. Bennett County, last year's region champion and tomorrow's season-opening opponent for the Buffs, has lost a lot, I think, but I imagine they will still be tough, and I also expect Red Cloud to get enough wins make another surge toward the playoffs. That Bennett Co. game will definitely be a good way to start for the Buffs, though - at home, against a good team, the team that ended their season last year, and a team that could be the perfect measuring stick in finding out where the Buffs are, right off the bat. A win in that first game could breed some confidence into the young group. Find out how it goes on KGFX Friday night.

One other thought - we're expanding our coverage of volleyball this year, and I am hoping fans are able to listen up and take notice. I personally had a great time covering Pierre during the season, and especially Miller and Philip in their State Tournament runs, and I re-realized something I always knew --- volleyball rocks!! For me, it's every bit as exciting and fun to watch as a good basketball game. I invite you to take in a volleyball match if you haven't done so recently, and I also invite you to tune in to our coverage. We'll provide regional coverage on 94 Country, each Tuesday night of the season (Monday during football playoffs) starting with Chamberlain at Stanley Co. this Tuesday. We'll also feature Highmore-Harrold, Gettysburg, Miller, Lyman, Jones Co., Sully Buttes, and White River, among others over the course of the season. Oh yeah, and we'll of course be carrying 12 regular season Lady Govs matches on our stations as well.

Let's have some fun this year - I know I will - starting tomorrow night. Good luck to all teams and athletes. Make us proud! Peace.....
- Radio

Darren Boyle's weekly words of wisdom chapter 4

Not much wisdom this week. Things are quiet on the VSK (VIKING SEASON KILLER) a.k.a Brett Farve front. It was reported that he plans to play the first half of Monday nights preseason game against Houston. Did you notice that in the limited time that VSK played Friday night against the Chiefs the amount of punishment he took? Look for the same thing Monday night. The Minnesota Motion Company better do a better job of protecting their "hope" of going to the Super Bowl. In my travels over the last few weeks, I have had several of you try to soften my stance on the signing of VSK. It may happen over time. Look, there is no question that VSK is going to go down as one of the top quarterbacks of all time. He WILL be a first ballot hall of famer with out a doubt. My problem is and has always been, amount of time and effort Brad Childress has spent over the last two seasons to get VSK to play for the Vikings. Childress was hired to build a team and got the benefit of the doubt when they sucked over his first couple of seasons because he was this great developer of talent. If they needed to sign a quaterback instead of drafting one there sure was some good QB's available, Drew Brees for one, who could have been traded for and then signed long term. Now just like Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon, Jeff George, Brad Johnson the second time...etc, VSK is being rented in the hopes of winning it all. I was gonna talk about the 2003 steriods report and how all the hubbub would die down now that there are some Red Sox players on it, I have been checking for new info, maybe some new names of players to throw under the bus and there hasn't been anything new so maybe I was right, If it involves the Red Sox and puts them in a bad light, ESPN sure wont go out of their way to uncover anything. On the good side of sports Tony Stewart's charity allstar dirt track race, the Prelude to the Dream, which was rained out back in May has been rescheduled for Sept. 9 and WILL be on HBO pay per view. This race will include Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson , Kasey Kahne and other NASCAR stars in super late models @ Eldora Speedway. Proceeds from the race this year will go to the fallen heroes fund and other charities that support our troops. I watched it last year and it was a blast. If you are a fan of dirt track racing, this race is a "must see". No game for me this week, the first game on KPLO is set for Sept 4. I am rested and ready!!!!! Keep your responses coming, the more feedback we recieve, the more fun this is gonna be. Dont forget to tell your friends.

Pierre wins own golf tournament from Rod

Pierre wins the Pierre Invitational Golf Tournament today (Tue) with a 307 team score. RC Stevens was second with a 311. Mac Young of Stevens wins individual title with a 70 and two shot win over Kyle Higgens of Winner and Austin Hieb of Mitchell. Jacob Greenhagen had Pierre's best score, 75 good for 5th place. Seth Carter-Stadel was 7th and Zach Smalley 8th with 76's. Miles Schock was 12th with a 80. Willie Welch had an 81. John Breckenridge had a 84. Other Pierre scores, Cash Anderson 85. Trevor Karst 86. Joey Beck and Hans Leong had 89's. Kieran Gray 95. Drew Leif 97, Tyler Metzinger and Connor Forney 98, Colby Johnson 101, Tyler Hughes 107, Jordan Smith 109. A total of 13 full teams and 17 teams total played. Pierre split up into it's varsity squad and then two JV squads. Jon Willoughby had an 85 for Stanley County's top score. Jacob Miller had an 88.

Rod's Tuesday Ramblings 8/25/09

I am a Nebraska football fan. I grew up in Nebraska. Saturday afternoons were football afternoons. I have only been to 1 Husker game, that was in 1978 when I.M. Hipp was the touted tailback or I back in the Huskers offense. But every Saturday, the radio was on growing up, listening to Lyle Bremser do the games on KFAB out of Omaha. Most Husker folks live and die with every play. And I do not exagerate. I can remember Nebraska scoring 50 some points on the University of South Dakota in the early 60's. South Dakota State didn't fare much better all those years ago. Some of the best and most exciting Husker games were against the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. They played each other every year. And games went down to the wire. And the Oklahoma games were like none other in college football. The Sooners won a few, I still can't stand Boomer Sooner when the OU band strikes that up on TV games, and the Huskers won a few. Times have changes. OU fell on a few years of hard times but bounced back. The Huskers fell on some hard times and now are hopefully on the way back under head coach Bo Pelini. It is refreshing to see a guy on the sideline that lets his emotion show. He expects that from his teamplus he expects something else from his players. They have rules. Rules that are to be followed. If they aren't, that player no longer is a member of the Nebraska football team. So was the case earlier this week when running back Quentin Castille was dismissed from the team. All Pelini said was he (Castille) violated rules that were pretty black and white. How refreshing to see a big time college coach, whose job is dependent on winning games, to follow the rules he made. Castille was expected to do big things this year. He blew it and is gone.! I dare say Not every top tier program in the country would do the same! It's good to see that the good players are treated the same as those that are not quite as good and the starter must play by the same rules off and on the field that the scout team player must abide by. And the coach sticks to his guns! Perhaps even Dr. Tom should look back and say that he really didn't need Lawrence Phillps that year the Huskers won the national championship. Maybe he should have stuck by his guns a little bit. Maybe Lawrence wouldn't be spending time in jail again. And, there are some high school programs and coaches, right here in our state that could learn a lesson from Pelini this week. No player, no parent, no fan is bigger or better than the program. Isn't that really the way how loyalty is earned!!!!!!

Andy's Shoes Scuttlebutts

Ready or not it's time for football season. Yes time for the hot days in pads and two a day practices. We used to call it county fair and I don't know why we didn't call it purgatory. It was hot and it seemed as if the coaches would wrap up nine weeks of conditioning into three weeks before the first game. Finally the first game would come and it was a relief to ultimately start setting into motion the goals you've set for yourself and your team. Of course the ultimate goal is to win a state title, but for yourself I hope the goals are to play the game with respect and honor and to give one hundred percent efforts each and every day you are on the field. If you accomplish these goals you will be able to look back on your high school career with pride. Win or lose, play to have fun and always remember that it is a game.

Now that I've said that, I want to talk to about the upcoming season. In KMLO Country there are some signs for a great season for many teams. I think the new co-op with Herreid and Selby Area will be an interesting one to watch this year. These two teams have played some epic games against each other and now they will be asked to put it all together as one team. I think the character of the kids will shine through and even if there are some that will harbor some cruel memories of games past it will be a successful experiment. Eureka Bowdle had an exciting and very successful season last year and have some big shoes to fill this year. If there is one thing I know about the coaching staff up there, they will be ready to go again. With any football program at this level keeping kids out of catching the injury bug is very important. The Patriots will need to stay off the injuries to be competitive. The Gettysburg Battlers will be right back in the mix again. The coaches seem to reload every year and they always have someone to step into positions and do some spectacular things. It will be hard to replace their half-back from last year, but I know they will get the offense needed to get it done again. Timber Lake looks to be young, but don't count them out this season. The Panthers seem to field a very good football team year in and year out. They play in a tough conference and usually have a tough schedule. Look for the Panthers to be in the mix when we start talking about play-offs. The Mustangs from Hoven, Edmunds Central will bring some talented kids to play football this season and expect them to keep improving for the next couple of years. There is a lot of tradition in these schools that will keep the teams for the next couple of years motivated to play hard.

The schedule for KMLO gets off to a busy start on September Fourth when I will be at Herreid to see the new co-op for the first time, although they will have played a game already. It will be a good match-up with Timber Lake in a game where there will be no love lost between the two teams. That night I will be in Hoven to see the Mustangs take on Eureka, Bowdle in a YTC match up. Herreid, Selby Area will get a huge test early in their season when they will take on Langford, Roslyn September Nineth and the KMLO microphone will be on the scene to provide some play-by-play. The next week Hoven, Edmunds Central will be in Selby for another YTC game. On October second Eureka, Bowdle will play a tough game against Ipswich and again KMLO will be there. Eureka, Bowdle will take on Strausburg, Zeeland the next week and Timber Lake will be in Hoven on October sixteenth. KMLO will finish the reagular season with Eureka, Bowdle in Selby.

It is going to be an exciting and interesting season of football on KMLO this year and speaking for myself, I think one of the best, most competitive seasons I've had in my eleven years here. I hope to hear from you fans as well so if there is anything I can do please don't be afraid to stop up and talk to me. Good luck teams, coaches and fans this season.

Governor Golf results from Sioux Falls today 8/24/09

Pierre Governor golfers finished 6th at the Sioux Falls Warrior Invitational Monday with a 330 team score. Watertown won it at 303. Miles Schock and Jacob Greenhagen each had 81 for 13th and 14th place finishes. Zach Smalley tied for 21st with a 82. Seth Stadel and Willie Welch tied for 38th with scores of 86. John Breckenridge had an 89 and tied for 50th. Colby West and Josh Weismantel of Watertown each scored 73 to tie for individual medalist with West taking first with a playoff win.

Rod's Monday Ramblings 8/24/09

I am especially noting the plight of the Sioux Falls public schools and the increased cost of of doing their sports business in this day and age. The following story basically gags me.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota schools are taking a hard look at travel costs for sporting events during the economic downturn. Schools often have to travel long distances for games. For example, the Sioux Falls School District will spend more than $40,000 this year to send its teams to play western opponents. The issue has stirred talk of a future "metro conference" that would include the Sioux Falls schools, Brandon Valley and Harrisburg. Harrisburg activities director Scott VanDerMillen says talks might happen as early as this year. The South Dakota High School Activities Association at its Sept. 3 meeting also expects to discuss raising ticket prices at state tournaments to generate more revenue. The recession also is affecting families and sports. Cindy Behm in Sioux Falls says she's been forced to limit her children to one sport each season to cut costs.

Oh boo hoo to the fact that the Sioux Falls school district will spend more than 40 thousand dollars this year to send it's teams to play western opponents. I don't see any of the western opponents, and in Sioux Falls terminology western opponents means anything west of I-29, complaining about how much it cost them. Pierre for instance would be down right giggly to get by on 40 thousand a year. Sioux Falls school district needs to buck up and find other ways to raise money. Selling names and information for $100 like they have been doing to outside interest may not be one of the prescribed ways granted. And don't cry to us when your football team only has to make 1 trip west and 3 of your "road games" are played on the same field that your "home" games are played on. And don't complain about what Pierre is doing with their sports marketing program in an effort to raise additional funds. As far as the "Metro Conference", Sioux Falls schools have complained for years after their old I-90 conference was forced to fold thanks to the South Dakota High School Activities Association. No more 70 mile road trips at the max to Sioux City. They have to make 1 long trip per year. Boo Hoo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But it is a fact of life, if you cry and complain and throw a tantrum long enough, you will get your way. The Sioux Falls schools have wanted the ESD to fold for a long time and they probably will see that wish come to fruitition. And then where will Pierre and Aberdeen be? Having to make multiple trips per year to Sioux Falls I bet with only minimal return contracts. As a matter of fact, the Sioux Falls School District should contact the Pierre Post 8 baseball board. That board would love to be able to get by a year with only a 40 thousand dollar travel budget.

And fnally, I hope the High School Activities Association understands that raising ticket prices, won't be the problem solved solution for their state events. Because I doubt that the hotel industry in Sioux Falls and Rapid City and Aberdeen and Brookings and Watertown and where ever else will feel the pain of fans and lower their prices for that 3 night stay. Could be good for South Dakota Public television and their internet though.

Gov Golf Information from West River Inv. from Rod

The Pierre Governor Golf Team shot a 649 two day total to win the West River Invitational Golf tournament by 1 stroke. Pierre shot a 330 on Thursday at Spearfish and a 319 yesterday at Meadowbrook Golf Course in Rapid City. Yesterday, Jacob Greenhagen had the Governors best score with a 76. Miles Schock and Zach Smalley had 79. Seth Carter-Stadel 85. Willie Welch 87 and John Breckenridge a 89. Rapid City Stevens Blue had a 650. Watertown was third at 653. Schock had a two round total of 157 to finish 2nd, 3 shots back of Josh Wiesmantel of Watertown.

Rods Friday Ramblings 8/21/09

Gov golfers win West River Invitational. No details yet but they played well at Meadowbrook today I understand. And meanwhile, back at Hillsview, the JV's were practicing and Cash Anderson nails a hole in one. Nice way to start the season.

Rods R

West River Inv. Golf

Here is some limited info on the first day of the West River boys golf tournament that Pierre is playing in.

Rod


SPEARFISH, S.D. - Pierre and Watertown tied for the first-day lead in the two-day West River Invitational boys golf tournament with team scores of 330 strokes apiece. Watertown’s Josh Weismantel shot a tournament-best 76 to take a two-shot lead over Pierre’s Miles Schock and Aberdeen Central’s Austin Hieb, who each shot rounds of 78. Hieb’s Golden Eagles were all alone in third place at 333 strokes, two shots ahead of Rapid City Stevens Blue at 335. Yesterday’s first round was played at the Spearfish Canyon Country Club. The final 18 holes will be played today at Meadowbrook Golf Course in Rapid City. Sturgis, Rapid City Central and Spearfish are also golfing in the tournament.

West River Inv. G

The first Favre/Vikings era T shirt from Green Bay

Ok, I heard this over the noon hour and have not seen it, but apparently Packer fans have a new t shirt out in Packer green of course that says something to the effect "Good Luck Number 4. We will always remember you BRENT". Now that to me, is humerous.

Rod's Thursday Ramblings 8/20/09

The more I listen and read about the Brett Favreulous era beginning in Minnesota, the more I have come to the conclusion that Brad Childress has sold his soul for the possibility of a championship run. He knows that this season is "the" season for him. They make a run at the championship, he is gainfully employed next year. The (being the Vikings) don't make the post season or a first round exit, and he is looking for a new job. Zigi Wilf did not pay Favreulous 25 million over two years or 10-12 for this year for a "Close but not quite season". Childress, who has been the staunchest supporter of Tavaris Jackson the last two years was either told to give in, or gave in to the Favreulous mess. So much for hard work and loyalty Tavaris. Look where it will probably land you. Perhaps as a backup for the Bengals!!!!

Rod's Wednesday Ramblings 8/19/09

OK, I would not make a good pro sports general manager. After what I said yesterday about Derrick Lee and Aramiz Ramirez of the Chicago Cubs and they are not hitting so I would get rid of them. All they did last night is get on base nearly everytime they were up and Lee smacked the ball around pretty well, so today I would be re retrieving them off of the waiver wire.

As far as the Vikings and Brett "Favreulous" is concerned, if Brad Childress thought the pressure to win was pretty intense last year, just wait. It would only take one injury in the line and one injury to Adrian Peterson to make Brett "Favreulous" an average Joe. And the way Childress likes to overcoach his team right into a loss, it may take only an injury to Peterson.

And the Governor golf team is ready to go as they open their season tomorrow at Spearfish Canyon Country Club and Friday at Meadowbrook in Rapid City. They held a 54 hole qualifier to determine the top 6 golfers for later this week. Lots of varsity experience. Miles Schock, Seth Stadel, Jacob Greenhagen, Zach Smalley, Willie Welch and John Breckinridge will tee it up. Monday is the Sioux Falls Invitational. It won't be played at Fox Run as it has in the past. It is at Prairie Green this year. Tuesday is the Pierre Invitational at Hillsview. So in just 6 days, 1/4 of the season will be golfed. If I can get the scores, I will try to keep you updated here. Same for girls tennis. Pierre opens against the 3 Sioux Falls public schools on Saturday.

Darren's (almost) weekly words of wisdom part 3 along with a free soap opera update

Thats right a free soap opera update. I used to watch soap operas alot, now it seems I dont have time to at all. When I was younger, I was amazed with the twists and turns of the plot of each show and as I watched more and more, I knew how things were gonna turn out. So why wasnt I able to sense the outcome of some of sports most compelling stories this summer. First Jeremy Mayfield, a talented driver with somewhat of an attitude problem. He begins the NASCAR season starting his own team and qualified for the Daytona 500. Thats a "feelgood" story if there ever was one. That is until he "supposedly" tested postive for meth and was suspended. The love affair with the fans almost lasted three full months, longer than alot of soap opera marriages. But now is when the twist comes, Mayfield sues and is reinstated but doesnt take a car to Daytona for the July 4th race, then his step mom gives an affidavit to the court saying she has seen Mayfield use meth several times. Mayfield is suspended again. Mayfield counters that by saying that that his stepmom is responsible for the death of his father. Stay with me now, this past weekend Jeremy Mayfield's stepmom was arrested for tresspassing onto Mayfields property, and assaulting some of Mayfields staff. I cant wait for the TV movie. However this ends, and we can only hope it ends soon. it will not be good for NASCAR or Jeremy Mayfield. ********As we move on to our next update remember that Brett Farve is called VIKING SEASON KILLER in this blog************ Each soap opera has a villian, you know, one that you think is killed by the good guy and then suddenly comes back to terrorize the community months later. (Usually, it is because the actor who plays the bad guy gets a part in a TV movie and has to be gone for awhile) Most of the time the villian shows up again out of the blue on a Friday and leaves the viewers guessing until Monday. It's what they call a "cliffhanger". In the Vikings soap opera the villian would have to be VIKING SEASON KILLER. What will it take to get rid of him? It seems he just wont go away and now VIKING SEASON KILLER is set to sign a 10-12 million dollar contract to be the quarterback of the Vikings, and play like the hall of famer he is for the first half of the season. In fact I could see the vikings with a 7-1 or 6-2 record to start the season. Then VIKING SEASON KILLER will start to talk of a "tired" arm and they will tank down the stretch. You knew when VIKING SEASON KILLER was lying didnt you? When his lips were moving. :) Now we will get to see an endless stream of purple #4 jerseys running around, young kids believing the purple will win it all. Only to see their dreams dashed, like mine were in the seventys. :( Only problem with this plot is the fact that there is no "cliffhanger" here, only a sad and painful ending for Viking fans everywhere. At least Madden'10 is already out and he wont be on the cover, or is he already? And finally every soap opera has a "good guy", one that is just too naive,or just too stupid to stay away from all the bad people and bad situations. If he could it would make his life somewhat normal. But always the "good guy' makes the bad choice that seals his fate. Brad Childress fits the mold of the a soap opera "good guy" he had a perfectly good team this year and just couldnt stay away from the temptation of VIKING SEASON KILLER. Now his job is, and should be, dependent on a 39 year old athlete that has seem his share of punishment. Childress has everything riding on the hope that they win the Super Bowl this year. "This Rolaids moment is brought to you by VIKING SEASON KILLER, when you think 2009 Vikings, think R-O-L-A-I-D-S, Rolaids spells relief." And another thing, have you noticed that ESPN isnt chasing after that list of baseball players who failed the steriods test back in 2003 now that it has leaked that a couple of Red Sox players were on it. That seems fishy to me but I have to get back to work, more on that later.

Rod's Tuesday Ramblings 8/18/09

I would not make a very good professional sports general manager or owner. I would have a tendency to clean house a couple or 3 times a year. If I were GMing the Cubs and got the OK from ownership. Here is who would be gone. Derrick Lee (he is getting old and can't hit for power anymore) Aramis Ramirez (he always finds a way to injure himself just when he gets things going and then he has to sit and start over) Alphonso Soriano and Milton Bradley (both are not very smart and aren't hitting) Kevin Gregg (He can't get anybody out when he absolutly has to) Aaron Miles (he doesn't hit and his fielding is suspect) It's hard to pick a starting pitcher cause they all have done pretty well but when you go out and think you have to throw a shutout every time because the offense is pathetic it's tough to win in the major leagues. I'd keep Carlos Marmol because as sure is a day is 24 hours long, if you let him go the Cardinals would pick him up and he would come back and shutdown the Cubs 18 times a year. And I have one correction from yesterday. A dome dog and a small soda at the Metrodome was $9.50 and not $9. I found two quarters in my pocket yesterday and remembered it was change from Saturday. Sorry if I mislead anyone.

And on another note. Sully Buttes sports took a hit. Ryan Yackley, who was starting guard on the state champion basketball team last week has enrolled at Mitchell High School and will play for Gary Munson and the boys this winter and also play spring baseball in Mitchell. Hope that all of us in Pierre give Ryan a good old welcome home he will remember when Mitchell plays here this winter. Not sure what his Legion baseball status in Pierre for next summer will be or if he will just stay and play in Mitchell, but I would venture to say that Dave Ploof in Rapid City will be watching carefully and may very well determine where he plays.

Rods Monday Ramblings 8/17/09

My wife and I spent the weekend in Minneapolis. Stayed downtown at the Radisson. Only because they had a hot shot weekend special, two nights for the price of one which would be the price of 3 nights at a motel 6 unless your in the black hills. Anyway, after weaving our way through rush hour traffic on Friday we arrived, parked our vehicle in the ramp and spent the rest of the weekend getting around either walking or taking the light rail. I know this will come as a surprise but since I lived there in 1975, there isn't much too familiar remaining except the WCCO studios are still in the same location and Hennepin Avenue is still entertaining center of the evening hours. I came home with a couple of thoughts. 1) Fans that can afford to attend 4 days of the PGA tournament, really need to get a life. Most well to do people who won't or can't strike up a casual conversation with a stranger. It's like they have 911 on speed dial on their cell phones. So fine, they can stick their putter, you know where. 2) We went to the Twins game on Saturday, first time I have sat behind home plate and in the second deck. It was great. For $9.00 you can have lunch. A dome dog and your favorite soda. You can put as much relish and chopped onion on your dog as you want at no extra charge. The soda was the small size. Adult Beverage at $6.50, I opted to be under 21 for the day. (Although I did get carded at Hooters that night for dinner. Who says those waitresses only work there because they fill out the uniform!!!!!) Anyway, I am not a Twins fan, but I don't root against them like I do the Yankees and Cardinals and Brewers. But the Twins are in trouble. Not enough pitching and the big two, Mauer and Morneau can only do so much. And you have to have the lead for Nathan to shut the door. But it still boils down to pitching. Alas, there will be no post season baseball in the dome. Their new ball park is really shaping up. Since it is a construction zone, you can only get so close, from what you can see, from the Target Center which will be across the street, it should be impressive. While I love Wrigley Field and really like Kaufman Stadium, I am looking forward to having an opportunity maybe next year to visit their new ball park. I can only hope that their road construction in the Twin Cities will be finished or at least close to be finished by then.

Darren Boyle's (almost) weekly words of wisdom

If you havent already noticed, one of the many sports I try to follow is auto racing, especially NASCAR. And although my interest has been up or down depending on the year, I would admit I have never been a fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr. But the luck that kid has been having this season has me starting to root for him at least a little bit. All the pressure of being the son of arguably the best driver of our generation, driving for the best team in the sport with probally the coolest sponsor, and he can hardly hit his pit stall this season. Him starting the "big one" in the season opener @ Daytona this season didnt get things off to a good start and he hasnt been able to shake the funk since. Now he is even HIS loyal fans are starting to to make fun of him in the world of "blog", I read one post where they compared his driving skills to Michael Waltrip. That is going a little too far. Even though I root for Tony Stewart, I would suggest that as you watch the race this Sunday, you could at least hope Dale Jr. doesnt have another bad day. Michigan is one of his favorite tracks and if he doesnt run well there, its gonna be a long rest of the season for him. High School football teams start practice this next week and one of the teams to watch in the 9-man ranks will be the Lyman Raiders, they came up short in the semi finals to a very good Marion-Hurley squad. And with the Raiders having lot of skill position players back, they should be one of the areas top teams. What do you think? This blog is not just here for us sports guys to write, we welcome your ideas and comments as well. If you have an opinion on some of the other football teams in the area this year please post a comment. Lets keep things positive if we can and have some fun!

Rod's Thursday Ramblings 8/13/09

I see that we are getting ready for the Little League World Series to be televised in it's entirety. I am not a big fan of 11 and 12 year old kids being exploited on world wide television. I am old school I admit. It used to be just the 1 game on TV. The Little League World Series final in which either Japan or China always beat the USA team in the finals it seemed. Now we have to have every game of the region and then the LLWS on cable or satellite. Whatever happened to the days when kids got to be kids and just played to play. No uniforms, no umpires, no adults around. Just playing to play. I will say when I do watch and they show the crowd shots it is sometimes not a pretty picture. You wonder who the adults and who the kids are?

Rod's Wednesday Ramblings 8/12/09

The first ESD Conference pre season football poll that I have seen does not paint a pretty picture for the Governors. 7th in the poll of the conference coaches. Watertown and Aberdeen Central are the 1-2 picks. Brandon Valley third. After that it is Brookings and Yankton. Mitchell is ahead of Pierre and Huron behind us in 8th. I am not surprised in Pierre's placing in the pecking order. The Poll was conducted by the Mitchell newspaper and has coach Kramer saying the same thing we have heard from Coach Busch and before him Coach Gusso and all the way back to when Ken Koistinen coached. It comes down to the line. And that is the question mark for Pierre this year, like it is most years. Last year, the line was supposed to be the strong point with all of the seniors, then things started happening and what do you know, Pierre gets 1 win and doesn't make the playoffs. 1 returning starter on defense and 6 on offense. Graham Schuetzle goes into pre season camp that begins on Monday as the starting quarterback. Pierre has 4 home and 5 road games this year including 4 of the first 5 on the road. At S.F. Lincoln, the defending state champs, at Watertown, at Brookings, at Yankton (for a 2nd straight year) and at Huron. We have Mitchell, R.C. Stevens, Brandon Valley and Aberdeen at home. This will be the third time in the last 4 years that Pierre has had more road than home games. No other AA team has had that happen to their scheduling. Just taking a look at the schedule, the key games I see that Pierre will really, really need to win are Mitchell, R.C. Stevens and Huron. Mitchell and Huron for sure.

Rod's Tuesday Ramblings 8/11/09

Congratulations to the Pierre B Teeners baseball team. 21 wins this year and a 3rd place finish at the Minor State tournament (they have to come up with a different name than minor. It sounds so, so, minor). Reality check though. Not the best of seasons for Post 8 baseball teams. But with dedicated coaches like we seem to have in the program beginning at the top with coach Sullivan, things hopefully will get better next year. Remember, baseball players that are multi sport athletes, get alot of pressure in the summer to go to camps and team camps and play alot, so it takes full attention away from the baseball field. I would dare say that if that player wanted to go to a baseball camp in the middle of a fall or winter high school sport, the allowance by that particular sports coach would probably not be the same as what it is in the summer. But then it depends on the individual athlete as well. And I want to congratulate the Pierre baseball board on what appeared to be a superbly run State AA Teener tournament last weekend. Rain, rescheduling, and groundskeeping became a test, a test that the guys should get an A+ for. And from a media standpoint, the gentleman in charge of the post 8 baseball website did as good a job as has been done at the Teener level, ever as far as I am concerned. Having been a board member, the gentleman on that board (and not all of them are dads of kids on the teams) are pretty much under appreciated for the time and effort they put in to fund raising mostly, but in tournaments like we just had, ground maintenence, public relations and tournament operations to name a few. I bristle when I hear people say that the only reason so and so is playing is because his daddy is on the board. Maybe that person should inquire about becoming a board member and find out first hand how things are done and handled and how coaches are hired and what is expected? From this former board member to the current members....."You done good".

Rod's Ramblings Sunday 8/9/01

The baseball season is over for Pierre teams. The A Teeners went 1 and 2 and out. A dissapointing end to the season. Watertown seemed to know what they were doing when they got the rule passed that allowed players on Legion state rosters to be on the Teener roster if they were eligible. I hope they are abiding by the "intent" of the rule. I still think Pierre and Mitchell were right when they stood alone and voted against the rule. And 1 and 2 and out unfortunatly is something alot of Pierre ball players will have to live with going into their next sport. Legion: 1 and 2 and out at their Region tournament. A Teeners, 1 and 2 and out at their state tournament (No regions in A Teener ball). The B Teeners are 1 and 2 and out of the running for a title at their state tournament although they get to play a 3rd place game today so at least they have a chance to finish the season with a win. 13-14 Teeners, 1 and 2 and out at their state tournament (no region tournament). And then the Rattlers amatuer squad went 1 and 2 and out last weekend at their region tournament. Lets hope that 1 and 2 and out is a result in the future that our guys learn to hate and becomes not an acceptable result.

pat morrison blog

Rod's Friday Ramblings 8/8/09

Kuddos to Pierre Baseball Board guys running the 15-16 State Teener tournaments and the work they did yesterday to get the field ready to play two games last night. If their wives are anything like mine when I was on the board, they are probably saying, "If he would work that hard on our lawn at home like they do on that field, our lawn would look good too! Broncos fans shouldn't quite so hard on Kyle Orton. They booed him yesterday at training camp after he threw a couple of interceptions and bad passes. He has been booed many times before, it doesn't bother him. Oh and last time I checked, he has a winning record as a starting quarterback. At all levels! Rapid City Post 22 is playing Dickinson in an elimination game of the Central Plains Region tournament. Two teams Pierre played this year. Pierre went 2-1 against Post 22 and 1-3 against Dickinson. And with all the hub bub about the State Teener tournament in Pierre, hopefully not getting lost in the shuffle are the B Teeners. Sam Koenecke's crew is in the 15-16 "Minor" (Could they come up with a different name than major and minor, like AA and A and then call the smaller communties the B and C division tournaments. But not A, B, C and D. D for some reason is considered a Degrading word) tournament in Yankton playing Huron and Sioux Falls Central in pool play. They are 23-19 this year. Last year they won 4, count em 4 total games. That is quite a turn around.

Rod's Thursday Ramblings Part 2 8/6/09

Wouldn't you know it. It struggles to rain all summer and today, of all days when your hosting the State VFW 15-16 Majors Teener tournament, it rains, and rains and rains. I feel for the Post 8 baseball board. Best way to keep up with the latest decisions, start times of games and changes that will have to be made is the Post 8 baseball website www.post8baseball.com.

And congrats to Kyle Cichos who was named to the Rapid City Journals All State Legion baseball team. Kyle had a monster year on the mound going 8-1 with 87 strikeouts this year and a earned run average of 2.14. It is tough to make the all state team when your team does not make the state tournament but somebody from the Journal had enough forsight and Pierre apparently had a coach who went to bat for Kyle and got him on the team. Nicely Done.

Rod's Thursday Ramblings 8/6/09

It is a rather mixed day of emotions for me. Today marks the 26th year of marriage for my wife and I. Yesterday, Terry's mother passed away at the age of 81 or 82 ( my wife was checking). My mom passed away earlier this year and both of our fathers have passed so her mother's passing marks kind of a final chapter in our lives. Dorothy was a sports fan. She was a cheerleader in high school at Milbank and my father in law used to always kid around that she was at the games but didn't know who won at the end. She knew her football though I would have to say. How she could pick winner every NFL weekend in our little freindly family wager still astounds me. She really didn't have a favorite team. It wasn't the Bears I know. My father in law was a Packers fan. Because of that, I don't think she was a Packers fan either. She liked Joe Montana in the 49ers hay day. I always accused her kiddingly that she really like that end zone shot of Montana over center, going the other way. She did become a Cubs fan I will say. And who was responsible for that? I am raising my hand! She had been in one of the nursing homes in Pierre the last 7 or 8 years. But she did get to see her grandson Mike play several basketball games in his senior year as one of the nurses would accompany her in her wheelchair up to Riggs. And she did get to see Mike and his Governor teammates on TV in the state tournament that year. As Terry and I were sitting with her in her final hours yesterday at the nursing home she still had pictures of both Mike and her other grandson Trevor on her walls and some of the newspaper writeups of their basketball and baseball exploits of several years back. Perhaps in the last couple of years she wasn't as involved in knowing what was going on in Governor sports and Post 8 Legion baseball after Mike didn't play, but for most of the 27 or 8 or 9 years that I knew her anyway, She was a Governors fan, usually dressed in some sort of Pierre green on game days. And I can still hear her sing the Milbank High School fight song! But don't ask me how the words went other it started with Milbank High!!!!!!

Good Luck to the Pierre A Teeners at their state tournament . If the weather forcast holds, it could be interesting to see if today's time frame for games runs as scheduled. At least they won't need to water the infield and outfield.

Darren's (almost) Weekly Words of Wisdom

My quest for a witty name for my posts continues, until my quest ends I will blast away until something comes to me. I caught part of the NASCAR race Monday, and even though the COT (which I call the Crap On Tour) is basically a bus with a big engine I was suprised by the quality of the racing. The intensity level is starting to creep up as we get closer to the Chase.. NASCAR is going to have to do some technical changes to the car in the off season so the races dont look like 3 hour parades with an pit stop now and then. Dont know if I like the lucky dog rule so much if you can make up three laps in the last 50 laps like Jimmie Johnson did. I have never seen someone have as bad a day as he did and still finish 13th. Its too bad there isnt a dirt track series that is on TV consistently, not just on SPEED TV in the middle of the night that my friends is RACIN'. You can tell that the pennant races are heating up, I just read that one of the Dodgers intentionally hit Prince Fielder of the Brewers last night with 2 outs in the ninth while leading 17-4, they say it was done as retaliation for Manny Ramirez being hit a couple of innings earlier. Fielder tried to get into the Dodger clubhouse after the game and was restrained by security. Fielder is the undisputed leader of the Brewers and is rather large like his dad, Manny is just being Manny. Things may get interesting when they play later today. On another baseball subject, Hank Aaron is calling for the 2003 list of players who tested positive for steriods to be published. You know, there wasnt one single owner who talked of a steriod problem in baseball back in that period when the ball was flying out of the park and the stands were packed. Now everyone wants to make an issue of it. As usual the owners want to have it both ways, get the economic benefit that all that offense created, (remember that after the last baseball lockout baseball even went as far as talking about contraction?) then come out and say they are concerned about the "purity" of the game. I do like to see the members of Red Sox nation squirm about the allegations of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez though, I always wondered why Ortiz couldnt hit a lick when he played for the twins, yet after a couple of years he was one of the premier power hitters in baseball. Now we know why. Red Sox fans are whiners and will defend Big Papi to the end, maybe it is curse of the Bambino getting its revenge. I just hope that one day soon the steriod crisis "ERA" will end and we can just care about the game and ESPN can get rid of its legal analyist. Did I just say Red Sox fans are WHINERS? OOPS how do I find the delete button? Now I am in trouble

Rod's Wednesday Ramblings 8/5/09

I was reading in the Rapid City newspaper yesterday another stroy about Post 22 and Post 320 and they need to get a regular season series going between the two. They interviewed several baseball board members and coaches. As a matter of face, they interviewed everybody it seems but the one person that is the only person that can make it happen. Post 22 coach Dave Ploof. And until he wants it to happen, sorry 320, it isn't going to happen. I am still looking to see if he show and his team show up at the region tournament next year. Mitchell is hosting the State tournament, so Post 22 does not get an automatic bid. The current tournament rotation has Post 320 next in line as host. Will Mr. Ploof and his team actually step inside the fences and on that field? The people I have talked to have said if Post 22 wants to go to the state tournament they will have to. I guess I am a bit of a skeptic. I can only say "We'll See". Another thing I do know is that it will be difficult for Pierre to qualify for the state tournament again next year. Post 22 and Post 320 have alot of really good players back. Let's hope we get the state tournament in two years and don't have to worry about the Region qualifying process.

Oh by the way, Twins fans. Tomorrow's game at Cleveland starts at 11 a.m. or so. KGFX is not carrying the game. Why? Don't know. I can only tell you I was not asked what should be done.

Rod's Tuesday Ramblings 8/4/09

It was a frustrating year for the Pierre Rattlers amatuer baseball team. No so much wins and losses, as 17-7 is a nice winning percentage. But an early exit from the post season Sunday in the region tournament leaves one to wonder about next year. And next year, nobody is talking about just yet. Alot has to depend on numbers of players? Will jobs allow guys to take the time to play? And bodies get another year older and wear and tear can take it's toll. That's why you don't see baseball players playing as long of careers as say, slow pitch softball. Still this year provided some big numbers for several players. Tyson Lindekugel, the player-coach, finished the year with a .418 batting average with 12 home runs and 42 RBI's. Harry Decker had a .451 average with 4 home runs and 33 RBI's. And Michael Gardner, who was the losing pitcher against Brookings on Saturday for his first and only loss of the season had an ERA of 3.72 over 46 innings pitched, the most of any pitcher on the staff. Several Rattler players will have the opportunity to continue to play in the state tournament even though their team's season is over. Each amatuer team can pick up two players from other teams in their region. Lindekugel and Decker have been asked by Brookings while Tony Rislov and Kyle Kurth were asked by Aberdeen.

Rod's Monday Ramblings Part 2 8/3/09

I overestimated Sioux Falls West pitching, did not give enough credit to Rapid City Post 22 and their home field advantage. But I think I got R.C. Post 320 about right. In an earlier post I said that Post 320 would do something stupid to cost them. How about giving up 34 runs, in a single game!!!! But they did beat Post 22 finally, so what are they now, 16-1 all time against their across the parking lot foes. I don't think to many people are quite ready yet to name Post 320, Rapid City's team.

And, I think I mentioned in an earlier post that there would be some complaints in this weekend's State AA Teener tournament in Pierre that Pierre will be using 3 Teener players who played a majority and started for the Post 8 Legion squad. Watertown is the number 1 seed. Pierre will be number 2. Watertown, which was the driving force to get the rule on the books that players could be on both Legion and Teener rosters to play in the state tournament, apparently/alledgedly, however you want to phrase it, is now questioning Pierre using Adam Deneke, Scott Cichos and Ryan Yackley. The "intent" of the rule is the key question that may be brought up. Unless the rule that was passed at the State VFW Teener meeting list the word "intent", and is specfic in stating that players can not start for both Legion and Teener teams, let the Pierre players play, which they will. I would fully expect this situation to be addressed again before next year especially if Pierre beats Watertown in the tournament. And I would not be surprised if this subject comes up before this weekend. What will the VFW do? Remember, Pierre and Mitchell voted against it at the winter meeting but all the others in attendance did. Ah yes. The Wild and Wacky World of VFW Teener baseball. Never a dull moment.

Rod's updated Monday Ramblings

The end of the baseball season is not going well for Pierre. The Post 8 Legion goes 1 and 2 and are out in their region tournament. The 13-14 Teeners go 1 and 2 in their state tournament and are out. The Pierre Rattlers have gone 1 and 2 in their Region tournament and are done for the season. Ouch.

I got 27 holes of golf in at the Dunes this weekend. Walked all of them. 18 Saturday and 9 Sunday. Now I know there are die hard Hillsview Golf Course golfers and members who really don't consider the Dunes a golf course for whatever reason and that is fine. I have had at least one member relate that to me in the past. (Bet the short iron and pitching games are the weak part of their game) Tell ya what. Dunes has greens with a cup and a flag sticking out of it, there are fairways, there are tee boxes. Those seem to me to be 3 basic ingredients for being called a golf course! Oh, it also has a driving range and cart rental. Sounds like a golf course to me. Of course, I am only a novice golfer. But I do have some things in common with Tiger Woods. Yes, when I hit a bad shot I can swing and drop and toss my clubs, just like Tiger. Like the old commercial said, "I am, Tiger Woods".

But this has been a bitter sweet week. Last Sunday my pull golf cart of 38 years, finally fell apart. I bought the cart in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1971. Bought it with "Green Stamps" Remember those? I have a set of clubs that I bought back in the mid 80's. (I still have my original starter set of Spalding clubs and a black vinyl bag) The newest set have Jack Nicklaus name on them, they have to be good cause he was and still is. I still have a Wood Driver and Wood 5 Wood that I still use along with a steel 3 wood and steel 5 wood. But they are "Ram" Clubs which probably doesn't mean I am a golfer either. 3 thru 9 irons and a pitching wedge. I do use Callaway and Titleist golf balls if that means anything. Most of the Callaways have a Big Red N on them. Anyway, I bought a new golf pull cart for myself. $39.95 at a local retailer on your way out of town headed North and East. You know, the wheels roll, they stay on and my golf bag, also coming with my Jack Nicklaus set of clubs back in the mid 80's, stays on the cart so I can pull it around with ease. Now, if I can ever figure out how the clubs work, I might figure this game out. But then, it probably wouldn't be any fun to play!!!!!!!!