SPORTS AND OUTDOORS
JULY 12, 2023
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Ex-Zephyr enjoys weekend sweep at Target Field league season, after making his debut with a late-season call-up in 2021, then spending only two months of 2022 season (April and September) with Mike Baumann, Baltimore Orioles pitcher from Mahtomedi who’s making the Orioles, and four months in the minors. He came back strong in spring a big impact in his third major league training this year. season, just enjoyed his lone home In Baltimore’s 10-inning, 3-1 win visit of 2023. over the Twins, Baumann relieved The Orioles thumped the Twins starter Cole Irwin, who was leading in three straight games at Target 1-0, with one out in the seventh, after Field, improving to 54-35, two games Kyle Farmer hit a double. Baumann behind first-place Tampa Bay in the gave up a single to Will Castro that American League East, heading into knocked in Farmer to tie the score. the all-star break. Baumann made just one appearance He got Alex Kiriloff on a fly ball, then walked Christian Vazquez. Manager in the series and retired only one of Brandon Hyde brought in Danny three batters he faced, but the first Coulumbe, who got the third out on a half of the season overall went very grounder, stranding the two runners well for him. Baumann was responsible for. The 27-year-old middle reliever has Baltimore completed the sweep 6-2 a 5-0 won-lost record while appearing Saturday and 15-2 Sunday. Baumann in 40 games, most on the Orioles staff. was not called upon in either game. He has struck out 45 batters in 42 The Twins won two of three in innings and posted a 4.07 earned-runBaltimore the previous weekend. average, allowing 30 hits, including Baumann pitched a scoreless inning four homers, and 25 walks. during Minnesota’s 1-0 win, allowing This promises to be his first full big BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
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one walk and striking out two batters. Those are the only six games the Twins will have with Baltimore. Baumann allowed no runs in the five games where he was credited with the win, meaning he was pitcher of record when the Orioles took the lead for good. Those wins were against the Chicago White Sox, 6-3 (two-thirds inning, two strikeouts, no hits, one walk); Chicago again, 8-4 (two innings, no hits, one walk, two strikeouts); Toronto, 8-3 (1 2/3 innings, no hits, no walks, one strikeout); the New York Yankees, 9-6 (one 1-2-3 inning, no strikeouts); and Seattle, 6-4 (one 1-2-3 inning, two strikeouts). A rugged 6-foot-4, 240-pound athlete who played offensive line for the Zephyr football team, Baumann currently has a 7-4 career record and 5.00 ERA in 57 games. His top recorded speed is 96 mph. The Orioles, after a dismal four-year stretch in which they went 178-368, turned it around in 2022, going 83-79,
and continue to trend upward this year. Baumann, interviewed by The Athletic commented about his team, “There’s a lot of talent. A lot of young talent. A lot of CONTRIBUTED great veteran Mike Baumann leadership. And it’s a group that knows what they’re capable for doing, and ready to show the league that, and the fans around the country that.” Upon his graduation from MHS in 2014, Baumann was drafted by the Twins in the 34th round, but chose to attend the University of Jacksonville. After three impressive seasons with Jacksonville, he was drafted by the Orioles in the third round in 2017.
3 elements in the golf swing that matter
m writing today about three elements of a good golf swing that are rarely mentioned, balance, tempo, and tension. So many people have become laser focused on mechanics they forget these three elements have as much impact as path and plane. There is new focus on how important the feet are to the golf swing. If you can’t keep your balance when you swing, that shot is probably not going to turn out well. Here’s a few drills to try that will help you understand what a balanced swing feels like. First, hit balls with your feet Tee Time together with a slow short swing. Once you’ve got that, swing with Betsy Larey your eyes closed. I like this drill because it’s a great way to find your perfect tempo. I believe everyone
has an innate tempo that works best for them. A lot of men swing for the fences because their goal is to hit it as far as they can. That’s a great goal, but if you don’t finish in balance chances are you’re not going to find the fairway. Swing tempo gives each player the chance to create the proper sequence in the swing. In the perfect kinematic sequence, the lower body moves first, followed by the upper body, then arms and hands on your backswing. They fire in the opposite on your forward swing. Have you ever felt out of sequence during your swing? Tempo also affects balance, so finding your best tempo is critical to creating your best swing. The last element to mention is tension. I’ve written many times before there is no saboteur of the golf swing more than tension. The most common places it will show is in the jaw and hands. When it shows up in your hands, grip pressure gets tight, and shots can go anywhere.
Is tension the same thing as pressure? I think tension causes pressure. Everyone experiences it at some point, including professionals. Some players get quick with their swing, others are tentative to the point where it looks like they are trying to steer the club. On the course the skill that breaks down is more often the one that is the weakest part of your game. When you practice, the flaws in your game are not so apparent. But when you place your game under pressure, your weakest link is exposed. My next column will be devoted to what you can do to minimize pressure when you’re on the course. Betsy Larey is an LPGA Teaching Pro who has been working with adults and juniors for 30 years. She currently teaches adults and juniors at Keller Golf in St Paul and Chomonix in Lino Lakes. Contact her at betsylareygolf@gmail.com.
E Scows celebrate 100 years of White Bear Lake
PHOTOS BY CARTER JOHNSON | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
White Bear native Eddie Cox and crew round the upwind mark on I-66 at the ILYA E Scow Invitational Regatta.
Race committee member Sean Wagner holds up a wind meter prior to the start of the race. Lee Alnes is at the steering console and Terry Thompson is behind the buoy in the committee boat.
The 38 foot Class A Scows are the largest, fastest, and most powerful inland scow sailboats, requiring a crew of 6 or 7 people. Nine A Scows race on White Bear Lake on Monday nights. Specatators are welcome to watch the race on the water from an appropriate distance. Use the QR code above to see the names and photos of each A Scow, which can be easily identified by their different spinnakers. For race results, go to wbycsail. org/wp/results.