SHOTS from the Hip

By Cripe Olson

Congratulations to Tyler Loucks, Ryan Zerneke, Breckin Schommer, and Eric Korfhage on setting a new record in the 4×1600 relay. The new mark bested the previous Cardinal standard set back in 2012 by Troy Urman, Zach Sobolewski, Cole Hauenstein, and Danny Cobenais. Thus continues the long tradition of strong boys and girls track relay teams. Also hats off to sprinter Josh Peterson on being named Prescott High School’s March Student-Athlete of the Month.

Speaking of student athletes, a standing ovation to Cardinal senior Liz Rohl. The Prescott three-sport athlete has been named one of 32 finalists for a WIAA Scholar Athlete Award. Four boys and four girls from each of the four WIAA divisions were selected based on both athletic and academic achievement. Liz becomes the first Prescott student athlete selected as a finalist and will be honored at the WIAA Scholar Athlete Banquet in Wausau early next month. The WIAA Scholar Athlete Award began in 1994. Over 800 students were nominated this year. Hats off to Liz Rohl on this well-deserved award.

The Prescott Baseball coaches and players will be hosting a free youth clinic for players ages 6-13 (eighth grade) at Firehall Field this Saturday. Registration for youngsters ages 6-9 will begin at 8 a.m. with instruction and a competitive skills contest beginning at 8:30. For players ages 10-13 registration begins at 10:15 a.m. with instruction and competitive skills competition beginning at 10:30. All participants will receive a free T-shirt and lunch courtesy of the Prescott Baseball Club. Additionally, players will complete some community service work for the city of Prescott this weekend.

From the Department of Natural Resources: The department reminds hunters that the 2022 spring turkey season opens this week (April 20).The 2022 spring turkey season includes six, seven-day periods running Wednesday through the following Tuesday. All seven turkey management zones will be open for hunting. With the spring hunt almost here, hunters should brush up on the spring turkey hunting regulations within the Fall 2021- Spring 2022 Combined Hunting Regulations. General information regarding turkey hunting in Wisconsin is available on the DNR’s Turkey Hunting In Wisconsin webpage. Registering your turkey harvest remains a critical component of wildlife population management. Turkey registration is mandatory. Hunters must register their turkey by 5 p.m. the day after recovery at gamereg.wi.gov or by calling 1-844-426-3734. Hunters will need the number found on their paper or electronic harvest authorization to register their turkey.

And speaking of successful turkey hunts, hats off to Prescott senior Mason Lewis on harvesting a nice tom a couple weeks ago in Minnesota. Another bird for a young man who spends a lot of time in the woods. Well done.

After Mother Nature forced the North Dakota State baseball team to move their home series against Omaha on the road this past weekend, the Bison took two of three from the Mavericks and improved to 9-3 in Summit League play and 21-10 overall. Peter Brookshaw and his Bison teammates travel to Oral Roberts University this weekend for a crucial three-game series against the Golden Eagles. Brookshaw, a 2018 Prescott alumnus, remains among the team leaders in eight offensive categories.

The worthless weather start to the spring sports seasons has some coaches clamoring for a later start to the season, recommending baseball and softball seasons start times be moved to April 1. If so, it would mean softball and baseball seasons would effectively last through the month of June. Don’t expect a great deal of support from coaches of other sports on such a change.

Hard to believe the WIAA tournament seeding meetings for softball and baseball are one month away.

Bemidji State outfielder Hunter Daymond went 3-9 with four runs batted in as the Beavers split two games with the University of Sioux Falls early last week. Daymond, a 2019 Prescott grad, is hitting .309 for the Division 2 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference University.

Softball infielder MacKenzie Carey went 2-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in as the St. Mary’s University Cardinals split a doubleheader against Macalester College on Saturday. The former Prescott all conference player is hitting .300 on the season for the NCAA Division III Winona, Minn. school.

Headshaker of the week. As if cheese tray orders for NFL Draft Day parties isn’t enough, now crazed, zealous, and wacko pigskin fans can watch more professional football this spring and summer via the United States Football League. My guess is most reading this column are chomping at the bit for the matchup between the Birmingham Stallions and the New Orleans Breakers. What a rivalry that one will turn out to be. Hardly. It’s all a big headshaker.