By Cripe Olson

the change at the WIAA’s annual meeting for 2021 on Wednesday. The amendment to the WIAA bylaws will tack on a ban for fans who are removed from an athletic contest for one additional game due to “flagrant harassment or unsporting conduct.” According to the new rule, fans will be suspended from the next contest of the same sport and level of competition that the ejection occurred in. The vote was 312 to 70 in favor of the change to the bylaw._Additionally, a bill is currently being worked on by the Wisconsin Legislature that would create a new statute that addresses the issue of harassment of sports officials. Under the proposed law, Senate Bill 175 in the 2021 State Legislature, the penalty for harassing, intimidating, striking, shoving, or kicking a sports official would become a Class A misdemeanor, and 40 hours of community service work would be added on to the criminal penalty. The proposed law also might require anger management or other counseling for an individual convicted of the crime. The bill currently has 26 bipartisan sponsors in the Wisconsin Legislature in both the state Assembly and state Senate. The bill was sent to the Wisconsin Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on March 3. Bravo WIAA and for the State Legislature for taking action. Yes, it is sad, but unfortunately necessary. Here’s an idea: In each town, community members could name the new rule/law after an unruly fan either past or present who is or was known for barking at and berating high school officials. Let the nominations begin._ Hunter Daymond, a 2019 Prescott Cardinal alumnus and former all-conference outfielder, will be playing baseball at Bemidji State next spring._The NCAA Division II Beavers are members of the Northern Sun Interscholastic Conference._ For the second time in school history, the North Seeding meetings for both the Prescott baseball and softball teams will be made this week. The softball team is expected to garner the #1 seed and the baseball team hopes for an opening round home game as the #3 seed._ From the WIAA: Deputy Director Wade Labecki announced his retirement from the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, effective on Aug. 31, 2021, to the Board of Control and Executive Staff on Wednesday._The Milwaukee native served as Deputy Director since 2009 and previously worked in the Baldwin-Woodville School District as a an administrator, teacher, and coach._ Also, from the WIAA: A new rule approved by the membership of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association will increase the penalty for fans who are removed as a spectator of an athletic contest by game officials for poor conduct. WIAA school membership overwhelmingly approved Dakota State baseball team has won the Summit League Tournament title, advancing to an NCAA Regional. After dropping the first game 15-5, the Bison bounced back to beat Oral Roberts 11-6 in the second championship game._The Bison set a school record with their 41st win, improving to 41-17 on the season. Oral Roberts, the top-seed and regular season champion, finished the year 31-23. NDSU will learn its postseason destination on Monday at 11 a.m. The selection show will be broadcast on ESPN2._Sophomore second basemen Peter Brookshaw finished the regular season as the team leader in walks (36), is second on the team in RBI (38), and third on the team in hits (57), runs scored (47), doubles (8), and homeruns (5)._ Speaking of baseball, with the departure of the “Bringing Back Baseball Roadblock” Athletic Director Barry Alvarez on the way out at the University of Wisconsin, a group of people are poised to bring a proposal to the Wisconsin Assembly to bring baseball back to the state’s flagship university. _Currently Wisconsin is the only Big Ten school without an NCAA affiliated Division I baseball program._Hopefully this athletic embarrassment will soon end, likewise for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls._ From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: As outdoors enthusiasts experience the great outdoors this spring, you may come upon a fawn lying quietly in brush, high grass or even your lawn. The fawn is most likely healthy and safe and its mother will return periodically to feed and move it to a new location. If a fawn is in an unsafe location, such as near a roadway, it’s okay to move the fawn back from the road several yards. Be sure to wear gloves in order to protect the health of the fawn. Know the mother will find the fawn and although you should avoid touching the fawn unless absolutely necessary, it is a myth that the mother will reject the fawn if it has human scent on it.

Congratulations to Austin Fox on being the recipient of the $1,000 CAB Company Baseball Scholarship._Fox will attend the University of Wisconsin- River Falls this fall and plans to play football for the Falcons.