After a thrilling one point victory over Lincoln Memorial in the Semi-Finals, the West Texas A& M Buffaloes fell to the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State in the NCAA Division II title game._ It was the first trip to the championship game for West Texas A& M who finished the 2021 truncated season with an overall record of 19-3._ Parker Nielsen, a 2019 Prescott alumnus, played in 17 games for the Buffaloes who were ranked in the top 10 nationally all season._ The vast majority of the roster will return next season for the champions of the Lone Star Conference.__ St. Mary’s infielder MacKenize Carey enters the week with a batting average of .333 for the Cardinals. St. Mary lost both games of a non-conference twin bill against the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Carey is in her second year playing for the Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Conference school in Winona, Minnesota and has a career batting average of .362._ Peter Brookshaw and the North Dakota State baseball team split their four game series with Oral Roberts University._ The 2018 Prescott alumnus slammed his third home run of the season in game three, a two run shot to right center in the top of the 6th._ Brookshaw leads the team in homeruns and is among the team leaders batting average, rbi, hits, and stolen bases. The Bison will travel to Omaha this week to take on the Mavericks,

by Cripe Olson

who were picked to win the Summit League this year._ Hats off to members of the Prescott Pirates baseball team for installing the batting cages at Firehall Field. Look for more activity at the park over the next two weekends._ Baseball has returned to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the first time since 1995._ The Blugold are off to a rough start and have lost six straight to open the season._ Despite the slow start, fans around Wisconsin are thrilled that college baseball has returned to Carson Park. Last weekend the Blugold squared off with the UW-Stout Blue Devils at First National Bank Stadium in River Falls._ It was the first college baseball game played in River Falls since 2002, when the University dropped the sport._ UWRiver Falls remains the only school in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Conference without a college baseball program. However, this embarrassing claim to fame is also shared by the University of Wisconsin where the Badgers have been without an NCAA affiliated baseball program for over 30 years._ With primary baseball reinstatement roadblock Barry Alvarez recently announcing his retirement, perhaps the return of baseball to the Madison campus will gain renewed momentum._ Although NCAA affiliated baseball has been shelved at UW-Madison for decades, it does not mean that university students are not playing baseball._ The University Club baseball team is identified as one of the finest in the nation. Coached by Prescott High School alumnus Jeff Block, the University Club baseball team has won 12 Conference Championships with the former Cardinal All Conference outfielder at the helm._ Block has won over 80% of the games he has coached and has been recognized by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association for his tremendous success. _ Block is among the fiercest advocates for bringing back NCAA affiliated baseball back to the state’s flagship campus.__ The Prescott Softball and Baseball teams will be hosting youth clinics this month._ The Youth Softball Clinic will be held on Saturday, April 12th and the youth baseball clinic will be held on Saturday, April 24th. At 390 feet the centerfield fence at Firehall Field remains the deepest in the Middle Border Conference. The left field fence is 310 feet with a 12 foot fence and the right field line is 330 feet away from home plate._ The Middle Border Conference has two quirky short porches._ Left Field in Ellsworth is a mere 275 feet away with a 20 foot fence and Somerset’s right field is 281 feet with a 20 foot fence._ Baldwin-Woodville’s new park is very symmetrical at 325 down the lines and 365 to center._ Osceola is 315 down the left field line, 355 to center, and 325 to right._ New Richmond’s field is comparable to Firehall. Field with dimensions 325 down the lines and 380 to centerfield._ Headshaker of the week: Most people agree from time to time social media, whether it be Facebook or Twitter can be a sports advice cesspool._ Armchair quarterbacks_ and Lazy Boy sitting basketball coaches offer chronic and at times humorous advice to coaches and players alike on how they can improve their performance. One could argue critiquing, criticizing, and berating professional coaches, players, and teams is normal behavior, a rite of passage, part of being a fan. However, when those social media behaviors are directed at high school players, coaches, and teams it is nothing more than shameful. _ Sadly it is becoming more and more common in our corner of the world. And it’s a headshaker._