Sports & Outdoors Sled dog team visits middle school
High school baseball outlook promising with returning catcher Cole Duncan. Other juniors that should help the Saints on the hill are Alex Bauermeister and Brady Blowers. Some sophomores that look to contribute on the hill are Matt Heagerty and Josh Niemeyer. Games are won with good pitching and defense up the middle and these players will play a big role in the 2013 season. Team depth will also play a huge factor in the team’s success. Along with the players mentioned above, there are a number of younger players looking to make an impact and contribute at the varsity level after having much success at the lower levels. This group includes juniors Charlie Barette, Mitch Benson, Jeff Bowman, Laine Carlberg, Trent Carlson, Taylor Koep, Kolton Oie, Brent Tholen and Mitch Wenker. The Saints look to continue to compete and work hard this season to make a run at a conference and section championship and getting back to the state tournament. With this group of seniors and some very promising talent, this could be the season where the Saints play themselves to a championship, one pitch at a time. The season begins March 18 with the first game Thursday, April 4, at Irondale.
Brian Julson St. Francis high school Head Baseball Coach
The St. Francis High School baseball program has a saying, “Playing our way to a championship, one pitch at a time.” This saying could be especially true in 2013. The Fighting Saints have been to the final four the past two years, finishing second and third. The team hopes this is the year to get over the hump and back to the state tournament. To do this, they are going to have to rely heavily on their returning players and get contributions from a deep and talented class of juniors. The Saints return a number of guys with playing experience including seniors Blake Carlson, IF/OF/P; Ryan Holritz, IF/C/P; Lucas Huss, OF/IF; Jimmy Mayer OF; and Ryan Ratke OF. The Saints get back Trent Sagedahl, IF/P, who missed all of the 2012 season due to a back injury. Other seniors who are in the mix for playing time are Jordan Forbord OF/P and Caymen Salitros OF. The Saints also return some experienced players at the junior level. The Saints’ battery is back as ace Lucas Niemeyer is back for his third year on the varsity pitching staff, along
St. Francis Youth Travel baseball 2013
Tr yo Tryouts at St. Francis High School Gymnasium
or varsity baseball field in case of good weather
Saturday, March 16 9 & 10 year olds: 8:00-10:15 a.m.
11 & 12 year olds: 10:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. 13 & 14 year olds: 1:30-3:45 p.m.
Open to any player in Independent School District 15.
St. Francis Middle School Language Arts teacher Jessica Rowles invited Stoffel (pictured above, left) and Sandra Reitsma of Big Lake to come with their sled dogs to provide a hands-on demonstration for students. The Courier photo Brianna Herting & Paige Ehresmann
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St. Francis middle school Students
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Players must have registered in February in order to tryout.
Coaches needed – visit www.stfrancisbaseball.org for an application Have other questions? View contact information at www.stfrancisbaseball.org
On February 7, Stoffel and Sandra Reitsma of Big Lake came to St. Francis Middle School to visit and talk with Jessica Rowles’ 7th grade language arts classes. Stoffel and Sandra came with some of their Siberian husky sled dogs. Rowles’ class had just finished reading the book, Woodsong, by Gary Paulsen, which is about Paulsen’s experiences with his sled dogs and running the Iditarod race in Alaska. Stoffel said that he’s never run the Iditarod and he didn’t plan to, but he has run shorter races, such as the Beargrease race. He said that the snow lately hasn’t been the right condition for sledding because it’s too soft and wet; it gets packed in between the dogs’ pads on their feet. After he explained a bit about the dogs, like the fact that the females are always in charge (“Just like real life?” Stoffel said), he let us meet the dogs. Students got to put harnesses and booties on the dogs with a little help from Stoffel and Sandra. The two The Courier photos answered questions from students and then it was time for students to say goodbye. “It was a very creative and 23428 Hwy. 65 NE valuable lesson—an experience 2 Blks. S of CR 24 on Hwy. 65 that will stick with me for a 763-434-4772 long time,” said SFMS student 763-434-7373 Autumn Doerr. Plenty of students were Collision Specialists fascinated by the experience Recommended by insurance companies of being with the sled dogs. It Ask about a free loaner car • Owners John and Lori Buchta was an extraordinary time!
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The Courier | March 2013 | www.the-courier.org