Regarding spring sports the WIAA continues to reiterate the seasons have been put on hold and have not been cancelled. In lieu of this, some state coaching organizations are holding virtual meetings discussing a whole slew of topics. In the meantime, I am guessing there isn’t a spring athlete around the state that does not have their fingers crossed hoping for some kind of a season.

Speaking of virtual meetings, the Prescott Baseball Coaches held their annual baseball trivia contest this past Friday. Seniors Lane Budworth and Gabriel VanHolbeck were this year’s winners of the virtual competition. Senior Dylan Malmlov and Freshmen Kenyon Raden finished in second place, and the duo of Senior Cody Miller and Junior Austin Fox taking the bronze. A tiebreaking question was needed to determine this year’s winner. Here is a sampling of some of the questions. Players were not allowed to use any electronic devices, henceforth the same should apply to readers of this column. Answers will be listed next week.

Who was the last catcher to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season?

Who was the youngest pitcher to win 20 games in a season?

What Prescott Cardinal pitcher has the most wins in school history?

The 2015 Prescott Cardinals complete how many double plays during the season?

Two Prescott Cardinal pitchers won 10 games in one season. Name them.

What Milwaukee Brewers pitcher is the all time win leader?

How many times did Minnesota Twin Rod Carew steal home in 1969?

Joe Nuxhall was the youngest player to play in the Major Leagues. How old was he?

What Major League team from time to time features a White Elephant on it uniform?

Two Prescott Cardinals hit two homeruns in one inning during the same season. One player accomplished the feat at home, the other on the road. Name one of them.

Speaking of sports nostalgia, I asked a few Prescott locals to share their most memorable high school athletic experiences. Those who were fortunate enough to win a state championship were asked to identify a non state title moment as their most indelible high school sports memory. Here a a few.

Jason Bayer (1994): A football playoff qualfiying victory over St. Croix Central in October of 1993. Trailing with under five minutes to go and Prescott trailing 14-10, the senior signal caller led the Cardinals on a drive that would give them a 16-14 win on the road over the Panthers.

Nick Johnson (1999). A baseball regional win over Altoona. With the score tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the 7th, the 1st Team All State Outfielder entered with game with the bases loaded and nobody out. After throwing ball one, Johnson struck out the next three batters on nine pitches. Prescott eventually would advance to the state tournament.

Ryan Huppert (1997). The baseball sectional championship win over Nekoosa. Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the 5th, Huppert hit a dramatic, grand slam homerun over the left field fence that would catapault the Cardinals to the state tourament in Wausau.

Mike Matzek (1992). The baseball sectional championship win over Clintoville. With score knotted at 0-0 with one out in the top of the 4th, the lanky senior scored all the way from second base on a bunt by sophomore Dusty Schommer. The run proved to be the game winner as the Cardinals turned four double plays en route to qualifying for the state tournament with a 4-0 victory over The Truckers.

The Somerset Police Department is investigating an incident of vandalism at the varsity baseball field at Larry Forrest Village Park. Someone drove a vehicle onto the field and tore up portions of the infield dirt and outfield grass. It was reminiscent of the work of vandals last March on the soccer fields in Hastings, Minnesota.

Congratulations to Osceola School District teacher/coach Larry Benitz who is retiring at the conclusion of this school year. A longtime baskeball and baseball coach, Benitz was hired in the fall of 1980 and has worked in the district his entire teaching and coaching career. Benitz coached in three conferences: Upper St. Croix Valley, The Middle Border, and Dunn-St. Croix Large.