The Wisconsin American Legion announced it will be cancelling the 2020 baseball season amid concerns regarding the Covid-19 virus. It will be the first time since 1927 the American Legion will not crown team state champions. Wisconsin joins the National American Legion Association and 24 other states in postponing this year’s tournament series.

Fans of Prescott Cardinal baseball nostalgia got their fix last Saturday as KDWA rebroadcast the 2012 State title game between Prescott and Parkview. Local sports icon Nick Tuckner and color man Ed Valenti called the game that ended in the bottom of the 8th on a run scoring, game winning single to left by freshman Clay Seifert. The 9th grader’s base knock drove in Mike Lytle who singled to start off the inning. He was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Keiper, setting the stage for Seifert’s heroics moments later. Speaking of the 2012 championship team, congratulations to Prescott alumnus Derrick Munsen who was recently hired to teach at the Prescott Middle School this fall.

When it comes to Firehall Field the Prescott CAB Company plans on making a few changes at Firehall Field. Dallas Eggers and Company will be installing new mesh fencing in front of the dugouts, building a bullpen mound down the right field line, and completing other field repairs.

Based on thousands of responses from Wisconsin deer hunters the majority are happy with the status quo for the 2020 Whitetail deer hunting seasons. Hunters were asked a number of online survey questions regarding the possible limitation of some “hunts” each year. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources continues to explore ways to increase the number of hunters that hit the woods from September through December. The number of Wisconsin deer hunters has continued to decline for well over a decade.

Wisconsin trout anglers were out in full force two weekends ago. Local property owners reported plenty of action at area trout streams the first week of the season.

For what it’s worth, there are few things more aesthetically pleasing than a trout stream in early May.

Last week All-Conference football players and threesport athlete Riley Anfinson made his military commitment to the Army Reserves in front of his parents and grandparents at a small ceremony held at the Veteran’s Memorial Park. This fall Anfinson will be attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and plans to play football for the Falcons. After his fall semester at River Falls, Anfinson will then attend basic training in January at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and will then enroll in the Military Occupational Specialty program at Fort Meade in Maryland.

Congratulations to Ellsworth Panther grad Charlie Stuhl on being named a WIAA Scholar Athlete. Stuhl earned 10 varsity letters in cross country, wrestling, and baseball during his prep career and was a member of a state champion wrestling team. The talented Stuhl was named All-Conference first team in cross country two years, team MVP in cross country twice, and was the wrestling MVP two years.

Most baseball fans know Cy Young is the all-time leader in wins, Pete Rose the all-time leader in hits, and Ichiro Suzuki as the record holder for hits in a season. But there are some obscure Major League records known by only a handful, if any horsehide fans. Here’s a few. Steve Carlton holds the alltime record for balks with 90 in his career and the single season balk record is held by Oakland Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart who had 16 in 1988. Another Hall of Fame lefty Whitey Ford did not allow a stolen base in 1960 despite throwing 283 innings during the season. Catcher Russ Nixon played 2,504 Major League games without stealing a base. Hall of Fame Shortstop Cal Ripken hit into 350 double plays during his great career. And St. Louis Cardinal Infielder Ron Hunt was hit by pitch 51 times during the 1971 season.