The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Jim Rueda

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June 3, 2009

It's a sports smorgasbord this spring

Area teams, individuals still competing

Every sports season has one particular day where it seems just about everything is going on at once.

For the spring high school sports season, that day is today.

Heading the list of events on tap is the annual three-class state softball tournament at North Mankato’s Caswell Park. This year’s competition features three area teams — Mankato West, Waseca and Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial.

We could fill our sports pages with information and results from that tournament alone, but we have to leave room for some other things, too.

Among them are the state golf meets in Class AA and A that conclude today. The Mankato East girls are playing at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan along with a number of individual boys and girls golfers from the area. A handful of Class A competitors are also concluding their seasons at Pebble Creek in Becker.

The state boys tennis tournament is also in full swing and this year’s competition includes a doubles team from St. Peter that could do well in Class A. The duo of Robb Hawkinson and Sam Moore has a decent chance to make it to the semifinals.

In baseball, three area teams are playing for section championships tonight and the right to go to state.

In Section 2A, New Ulm Cathedral is taking on Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s at Franklin Rogers Park. In Section 2AA, Montgomery-Lonsdale is playing Glencoe-Silver Lake in Le Sueur. In Section 3AA, New Ulm Public is playing Luverne in Marshall.

And don’t forget the Mankato MoonDogs playing at Rochester at 7:05 p.m.

Friday will be nearly as busy. Golf will be over and baseball will be done until the state tournament, but state softball will play it’s final rounds and so will state tennis.

In addition, the state track meet featuring numerous area athletes in both Class A and AA kicks off at Hamline University in St. Paul.

And don’t forget the MoonDogs playing at Waterloo, Iowa, at 7:05 p.m.

The whirlwind crush of athletic events all but culminates Saturday when track crowns its champions in both classes.

After that, the only thing left is state baseball next week at three different sites.

It’s been an interesting spring and we’ve done our best to keep up.

Now, how long is it before the Vikings hit town?



Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@mankatofreepress.com.

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Jim Rueda