by Cripe Olson

Bravo to all the volunteers who built the new baseball storage shed at Firehall Field. Hats off to Tom Schommer, Greg Harris, Bruce Dravis, Mark Engstrom, Swanson Brothers Construction, Prescott Electric and Heating, and Anfang’s Asphalt Plus for all of their hard work over the last two weeks._Also, a standing ovation to Ed Lucas for making a new tarp for the home plate area and for his work on the new pitcher’s mound in the right field corner. _ Last but not least a thumbs up to Dallas Eggers and Randy Hansen for giving the infield and outfield grass its first haircut for the fast-approaching 2021 season._ And of course, 2021 Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award winner Dennis Gagnier volunteered all weekend along with groundskeeper extraordinaire Jim “Juice” Johnson._ Prescott Cardinal Assistant Baseball Coach Brad Matzek will work with pitchers for five days this week as Cardinal hurlers prepare for their opener on April 27. Practice for all players will officially begin on April 19._ North Dakota State swept the four-game series against Western Illinois improving to 11-5 in Summit League play and 22-8 overall._Peter Brookshaw drove in seven runs in the four-game series and now has a team leading 29 runs batted in for the Bison. North Dakota State will host Oral Roberts in a four-game series this weekend in Fargo._ Prescott Assistant Baseball Coach Kyle Schmidt is in his first year with the Cardinals._Schmidt was a former prep baseball star at Park Falls where he played for Hall of Fame Coach Tom Armstrong. _Schmidt was a second team All-State selection as a senior and played in the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches All Star Game. Schmidt served as an assistant for Armstrong at Park Falls and coached baseball at Ashland High School with Head Coach Chris Kempf, who is also a member of the WBCA Hall of Fame_ From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Youth hunters can experience the excitement of Wisconsin turkey hunting with family before the regular season begins. The 2021 youth turkey hunt runs April 17-18, before the statewide turkey opener for period A on April 21. The youth turkey hunt gives hunters under the age of 16 the opportunity to gain valuable experience. Youth hunters must either have completed hunter education or participate under the mentored hunting program to be eligible for the youth turkey hunt. To participate, a qualified adult must accompany the youth and not accompany more than two youth hunters at one time. The adult mentor must hold any valid 2021 hunting license. The Prescott Cardinal baseball team will do some community service as part of the team’s fundraising activities. Players and coaches will also conduct a free youth clinic for boys ages 6-13 at Firehall Field on Saturday, April 24 beginning at 10 a.m._ The Prescott High School softball team will reschedule its annual youth clinic soon._Stay tuned for future details._ Anyone interested in purchasing a hard copy of the 2021 Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Yearbook may order this year’s edition at baseballwisconsin. com. The popular WBCA publication includes summaries and information on Wisconsin high school and college teams including conference previews and profiles of high school players._

Headshaker of the week:

Not only have basketball players begun to spurn the college basketball experience, but the new transfer portal has allowed players to move from program to program like the pieces on a chess board._I do understand the reasons for the changes in the rules due to COVID, but players bouncing from program to program have become a new version of professional sports free agency._ The NCAA transfer rules? It’s a headshaker._