SHOTS from the Hip

Congratulations to Sydney Matzek on being selected to play in the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association All Star Games on July 12 and 13 in Wisconsin Dells._ The senior outfielder/pitcher helped lead Prescott to the state tournament twice during a stellar softball career._ The Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association will be hosting its 38th annual All-Star Classic on July 9 and 10 in Oshkosh, Wis._There have been 23 Prescott athletes chosen to participate in the prestigious all-star series, the latest being two-time First Team All-State selection and 2018 alumnus Peter Brookshaw. Past WBCA All Star game participants include pitchers_ Brad Matzek (90), Eric Tobias (02), Gary Seifert (07); catchers Dusty Schommer (94), Mike Westberg (95), Nick Thoen (99), Nick Schommer (04), and Ben Krings (08); infielders Ryan Hendrickson (93), Charlie Block (00), Jim French (01), Chris Terrazas (03), Tom Block (05), Bill Brookshaw (12), Mike Brookshaw (15); and outfielders Dan Sterud (89), Brent Pattridge (90), Chris Schommer (92), Nick Johnson (99), Alex Ross (04), Alex Helmer (14), and Zach Dolan (17)._ With both Baldwin-Woodville and Prescott softball teams coming off State Runner Up, look for the two Middle Border Conference powers to battle it out again in the spring of 2022._Each team has five all conference players returning next season making the two perennial powers among the favorites to make another long trip East in June 2022.__ On the baseball diamond, Middle Border Conference champion Osceola will return four all conference players and Prescott three to their respective diamonds next spring._ However, on paper Middle Border Conference newcomer Altoona, champions of the West Cloverbelt this season, will return eight starters in 2022 and will be picked as the team to beat beginning next April.

Firehall will get quite a workout over the next two months as teams from Prescott and the Twin Cities metro utilize the frequently complimented local baseball diamond. _Volunteers are needed to sell concessions and help with field maintenance as the facility will host more than 40 games the next two months._Please contact Dallas Eggers if you are willing to lend a hand in helping keep Firehall Field one of the best baseball facilities in western Wisconsin._ Agenda items expected to receive some attention at the WIAA Baseball Coaches Advisory meeting this September include seeding sectionals, adding a fifth division, adjusted pitching rule at tournament time, state tournament schedule and format, and season start dates._ Prescott Cardinal baseball teams competing in the Metro League have an impressive combined record of 43-15. The teams wrap up their regular season next week and begin playoffs the second week in July.__ Sun Prairie won its record setting ninth WIAA Division I State Baseball Championship last week with a convincing 11-2 victory over Bayport last Thursday._ The Denmark Vikings won its first state title in Division 2 with a 4-1 victory over Jefferson and Dunn-St. Croix champion Boyceville won its first ever state championship with a 4-0 victory over Rosholt.__ The Prescott football coaching staff will be hosting youth camps the middle of this month._ Head Coach Jordan Hansen and his staff will begin by hosting a camp for incoming fourth through sixth graders 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, July 19 through Wednesday, July 21 from at the varsity football field. Much of the instruction will focus on flag football skills and techniques required for success. Also on the 19th, incoming seventh and eighth graders will receive instruction 1-3 p.m. that will focus on skills required to compete at a higher level, including drills emphasizing footwork, throwing, catching, blocking, tackling, and position specific techniques and schemes. This camp will also provide leadership and character development opportunities to help student-athletes perform at an elite level on and off the field._ The football camp for high school players will also begin on July 19 and will run through Friday, July 23 at the varsity football field._ Speaking of football, Middle Border All Conference lineman Austin Fox will be playing for the North Team in the small school division in the Wisconsin Football Coaches All Star Game in Oshkosh on Saturday, July 17.__ Headshaker of the week: North Shore Conference Baseball Champion Whitefish Bay finished the regular season with a record of 22-2 and were ranked in the top 10 all season. _Whitefish Bay received a bye in the opening round of the WIAA tournament and played Milwaukee King in the second round._King upset the Blue Dukes by a score of 9-5. However, there is more to the story. Three senior Whitefish Bay players, including the son of Milwaukee Brewers Head Coach Craig Counsel, decided not the play in the regional final game and instead opted to play in a baseball showcase event in the state of Indiana. Pressure from club baseball coaches is as strong as ever. It’s a headshaker._ Wait … there is another Headshaker:_Fans from a Big Rivers Conference School engaged in reprehensible behavior during the WIAA tournament._ Fans lobbed a myriad of inappropriate catcalls at an opposing pitcher while he was on the mound during the game._These sophomoric spectators made unseemly references to the pitcher’s girlfriend and other acquaintances._What perhaps is even more ridiculous is not one adult or event official stepped in to stop the crude and insensitive commentary. It certainly casts a pall over this school. It's a headshaker._