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• HOWARD LAKE COMMUNITY GUIDE 2009 •
The 1970s and 1980s were a dark period for town team baseball in Howard Lake, as they had no team, with many players playing in neighboring towns. The team did try to come back in 1991, and also fielded a team in 1992, but then folded again. That is when a group led by current manager Mike Gagnon and Kevin Gruenhagen started the Orphans back up, and it has been a success ever since. That first year, 1995, the Orphans qualified for state, and have done so six times since then, including in 2008, and the past three years in-a-row. The Orphans play their home games at Memorial Park in Howard Lake, which is located on the shores of Howard Lake. Over the past decade, the park has seen a number of improvements, including seating behind home plate, a batters’ eye, and a grass infield, among other improvements. All of those improvements, along with more to come, have made Memorial Park one of the best baseball fields in the area. New dugouts and a new backstop were recently installed and were in place for the 2009 season. Mike Gagnon manges the Orphans, while being assisted by Bob Heber. For additional information on the Orphans go to their web site at www.orphansbaseball.com.
Orphans 2009 roster 1 Tim Sonnek 2 John Stueven 3 Tom Borrell 4 Shane Khan 5 Ryan Long 6 Andy Gagnon 7 Luke Gagnon 8 Trent Zachmann 9 Adam Koch 11 Jesse Berg 12 Ben Borrell 13 Aaron DeMarais 14 Matt Donovan 20 Shane Heber 21 Jake Streich 23 Matt Streich 29 Tom Bobrowske 30 Cameron Lehner 34 Steve Bobrowske Mike Gagnon Bob Heber Chad Burau Steve Weber
IF OF OF P OF C IF IF P IF OF IF IF P P OF OF IF C MGR Coach Coach Book
Photo by Aaron Schultz
Orphan manager Mike Gagnon talks with catcher Andy Gagnon and pitcher Shane Heber during the 2009 Class C state tournament in Arlington. The Orphans fell to Forest Lake in the opening round of state.