Prescott Softball and Baseball ventured outside the climate controlled confines of the high school gym this past Saturday. _ Players and coaches endured chilly temperatures and brisk winds on the fields east of the high school working on outfield fundamentals. And, in similar fashion,_ hats off to the volunteers who braved less than stellar conditions to ready the Biggs Frey Softball Field for the fast approaching season. _ MacKenzie Carey went 4-4 with two runs scored and an RBI as the St. Mary’s University- Winona beat Augsburg University by a score of 10-5. The Cardinals won game two of Sunday’s twin bill by a score of 6-0._ Carey, a 2019 Prescott alumnus, is hitting .375 on the year and is the team leader in hits and tied for the team lead in total bases._ St. Mary’s will travel to the University of Wisconsin-Rivers this Wednesday to take on the Falcons. St. Mary’s is a member of Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Conference.

Speaking of softball, depth will be the operative word for the 2021 Cardinals. A number of players return from the 2019 club that qualified for the WIAA State Tournament for the fifth time in school history. Those returning from that state qualifying team included Bella Lenz, Ariana Temmers, Madison Matzek, Brynley Goehring, Heather Hudak, and Liz Rohl._ When it comes to Cardinal softball history, in their first trip to state in 1993, Prescott rode the right arm of pitcher Kollyn Eichman (Severson) to Waukesha._ Over the last three decades Prescott High School catchers have been named All Conference 23 times and Cardinal middle infielders have received All Conference recognition 30 years in a row._ Prescott faculty and staff have reported hearing the countless crowing of pheasants east of the high school._ Discussions are being held regarding significant field surface improvements to the mound and home plate areas at Firehall Field in the near future. _ Also, a field work day at the varsity field is planned to begin at 8:00 am Saturday, April 3rd._ Volunteers welcomed. _ The deadline for nominations to the Prescott Hall of Fame is coming soon._ Nomination forms can be on the Prescott School District website with hard copies available in the Prescott High School office. __ The latest installment of the Wisconsin Baseball Podcast features Webster, Wisconsin native and former Major Leaguer Jarrod Washburn. The current head coach of the Tigers, Washburn called Wisconsin baseball “very underrated” and “greatly improved” over the last 20 years._ Washburn’s son Owen has accepted a baseball scholarship to South Carolina and his oldest son Jack is a pitcher for national power Oregon State._ Several Wisconsin high school baseball prognosticators say Webster is the odds on favorite to win their third straight state title. The popular podcast series _ is the work of current Menomonee Falls High School Head Coach_ Tim Gotzler who conducts well over a dozen interviews with high school, college, and professional coaches around Wisconsin._ Growing up on the plains of Nebraska there weren’t a lot of trees dotting the landscape. Sure, there were some stands of hardwoods near rivers and other bodies of water but nothing like the forests of pine, maple, oak, and elm Wisconsinites have enjoyed forever. While taking a leisurely drive through Prescott recently I noticed “tapped” maple trees in the front yard of one residence. _ For me the notion of making maple syrup in the middle of town is both charming and delightful._ Bravo to you, whomever you are._ Good luck to Parker Nielsen and the rest of the West Texas A& M Buffaloes this Wednesday as they play Daemen College of Amherst, New York in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament.

The North Dakota Baseball team opened Summit League play winning three of four games against Western Illinois. _ Peter Brookshaw homered to center field in the series finale on Sunday and remains among the team leaders in hits, runs batted in, and stolen bases as the Bison improved to 14-4 on the season._ Off to their best start in history, the Bison opens a crucial four game series this weekend against Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. _ From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources… The Department Resource (DNR) announced recently the 2021 County Deer Advisory Councils’ (CDAC) planning meetings will take place virtually March 22-April 1 to discuss the upcoming deer seasons._ Wisconsin's hunting legacy runs deep. Everyone has a say about the deer herd in Wisconsin and the DNR wants to hear from you. Anyone interested in listening to their county's meeting can join from the comfort of home. Every county in Wisconsin has its own CDAC and each spring they meet to develop recommendations for antlerless harvest goals, antlerless tag availability and season options for their county.

Headshaker of the week:_ It is always fun to watch the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Although it brings consternation and anger to tournament bracket connoisseurs, there are few things more fun than watching a lower seed from a “non-power conference” knock off one of the favorites._ However that enthusiasm is muted when I watch the following_ tiresome spectacle unfold._ When the final buzzer sounds some players on the floor immediately untuck their jerseys. Bravo to the basketball referees and and baseball umpires who tell players to tuck in their jersey. Look like a ball player on the court or field before, during, or after the game. Keep the jerseys tucked in and save the disrobing for the locker room. If not, it’s a headshaker_