By Cripe Olson

As expected, the Middle Border All Conference softball team is loaded with Prescott Cardinals. Isabelle Lenz and Ari Temmers were named to the First Team, while Sydney Matzek, Grace Franco, Taylor Graf, and Maddie Miller were named to the Second Team._ Honorable Mention honors went to Liz Rohl and Heather Hudak. Ranked in the Top 10 in Division 3 all season, Prescott enters the tournament with an overall record of 19-3 and are picked as one of the favorites to advance to the state tournament.__ Additionally, congratulations to senior pitcher/first baseman Austin Fox on being named First Team Middle Border All Conference. An Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore, Fox hit well over .300 in conference play and had a sub 2.00 ERA on the mound in Middle Border Conference action. Bravo to juniors Mason Bartsch and Phil Seifert who were also named to the First Team and speedy junior outfielder Justin Syverson was named to the Second Team. Osceola lefthander Nick Carlson was named Middle Border Conference Player of the Year. Another conference pitcher, lefty Kale Hooke set the Amery High School record by striking out 109 batters in 51 innings pitched._The Amery junior was also a state champion wrestler this past season._ When it comes to exceptional Wisconsin baseball players one needs to look no further than Owen Washburn of Webster. The South Carolina recruit has put together one of the best seasons in WIAA baseball history. _ The lefthanded hitting Washburn enters the tournament with a batting average of .741, has hit seven homeruns, and has an incredible 61 runs batted in this spring._On the mound the right-handed throwing Washburn is 6-0 with an ERA of 0.00._ He has also struck out 84 hitters in 34 innings pitched. Webster is the #1 ranked team in Division IV and hopes to win their third consecutive state championship. The Tigers are coached by former Major League pitcher and Webster native Jarrod Washburn, the father of Owen and current Oregon State pitcher Jack Washburn, who just finished his freshmen year with the Beavers._ Grumblings continue among some Wisconsin high school baseball coaches regarding the seeding process. The primary issue is whether or not the WIAA should begin seeding the entire sectional instead of only the regional._And of course, stories abound of coaches continuing to hijack the seeding process in order to benefit themselves._ The Metro Baseball League is now in full swing with several Prescott teams enjoying success on local and area baseball diamonds._ The 12-yearolds, coached by former All Conference and All District Prescott Catcher Mike Westberg, are 7-1 in league play._Another Prescott baseball alumnus and All Conference performer Mike Matzek skippers the 13-year-olds, who are 6-3 in league play. A strong 14year-old class sports two teams, with one headed by Thad Magee whose club is 63. The other club is led by Jason Bayer whose team is also vying to the top spot in league play with a record of 82. Incidentally, Bayer was a 1994 Prescott alumnus and the winning pitcher in the 1994 state title game and Assistant Coach Shawn Bernick was a member of the 1994 Spencer Rockets that also won the state championship the same season. _ The 2-1 Prescott victory over St. Croix Central was the third one-run win over the Panthers by the Cardinals this season. Previously Prescott defeated the Panthers by a score of 3-2 and 10-9._ The Minnesota Blizzard plans on using Firehall Field this summer for another series of weekend tournaments. The varsity field will be taking a beating in July and August and volunteers will be needed several weekends in order to maintain the playing surface._ Headshaker of the week: An area high school head baseball coach shared this story recently. While attending a graduation event, the head coach was approached by the parent of player._ After exchanging pleasantries, the parent wanted to know why the head coach had been “having his son pitch against the good hitting teams in the conference.” The head coach replied, “Well it just makes sense and it gives the team the best chance to win the game with him on the mound.”_ The parent replied “How do you expect my son to throw a no-hitter if he is always pitching against the good teams.”_ The coach did not know how to respond other than do the obvious. Shake his head._The comment truly was a headshaker._