Congratulations to Cullen Huppert on being chosen to play in the 40th Annual Wisconsin Baseball Coaches All Star Classic in Oshkosh on June 28 and 29. Huppert will play for the West Team and be one 72 seniors around the state to play in the two-day, three-game event. Huppert becomes the 23rd Prescott player in history to play in the classic. Dan was the first Cardinal player selected to play in the event in 1989 with Peter Brookshaw being the most recent player selected in 2018. Past selections have included Major League players Jarrod Washburn (Webster - 1992), George Williams (La Crosse Central - 1987), Kyle Cody (Chippewa Falls McDonnell - 2012), Daulton Varsho (2014 - Marshfield), Bob Wickman (Oconto - 1987), and Scott Servais (Westby - 1985).

The Cullen Huppert and Ian Leask combined no-hitter over Amery last Friday was the first thrown by a Cardinals pitcher since 2018. Matt Langer and Peter Brookshaw tossed a no-hitter in a 10-0 five inning victory over St. Croix Central. In Friday’s win, Huppert struck out 13 in 5 ⅔ innings and Leask fanned four in 1 ⅓ innings of relief. The 17-strikeout performance turned in by the two senior hurlers equaled a 17-strikeout performance by lefty Eric Tobias who struck out 17 La Crosse Aquinas hitters in the sectional semi-final back in 2002. One last note regarding Huppert’s performance: the four-year letterwinner struck out the first nine Amery hitters he faced. Huppert is now 4-0 on the season and has struck out 46 hitters in 24+ innings. 

It’s a big week for the Prescott softball team as they wrap up the regular season with Highway 10 rival Ellsworth. Head Coach Nick Johnson and his charges can wrap up the Middle Border Conference title this week by sweeping both games against a talented Panther club. Somerset also enters the week a half game out of first place in conference play. 

From the WIAA: A new definition and subsequent warning for faking being fouled (flopping) has been added to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book for the 2024-25 season. This revision to high school basketball rules was one of 12 changes approved by the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee at its April 9-11 meeting in Indianapolis. Faking being fouled is defined in Rule 4-49-1 as when a player simulates being fouled or makes theatrical or exaggerated movements when there is no illegal contact. Examples include, but are not limited to, embellishing the impact of incidental contact on block/charge plays or field goal attempts, using a “head bob” to simulate illegal contact and using any tactic to create an opinion of being fouled to gain an advantage. The new language also establishes a procedure for officials to issue a team warning on the first instance of faking being fouled. The warning is recorded in the scorebook and reported to the head coach. Any additional instances will result in a team technical foul and not a player technical foul, which was previously the case.

“(The committee) is hoping to get those dishonest acts out of the game,” said Billy Strickland, the executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association and chair of the Basketball Rules Committee.

All any fans need to do is watch any NBA game and see such in-game theatrics - another part of the game being mirrored by high school kids. Good rule change, now let’s see if referees enforce it, or if it will become another “paper tiger” sportsmanship rule. 

Hastings shortstop Alex Hendrickson was the hitting star in the Raiders 8-3 victory over Prescott on Saturday. The University of St. Thomas bound senior infielder is the son of 1993 Prescott graduate Ryan Hendrickson. An all-conference player in both basketball and baseball, Ryan was a member of the 1990 and 1992 Prescott State Tournament teams.

Finally, this Friday the Prescott baseball team will be hosting a youth clinic at Firehall Field from 4-7 p.m. All participants receive a free T-shirt, hot dog, chips, and water courtesy of the Prescott baseball team. 

Firehall Field will welcome La Crosse Logan, Elk Mound, and Ashland this weekend for the Prescott Invitational Tournament. Game one at 10 a.m. features Mississippi Valley Conference member La Crosse Logan taking on #4 ranked Elk Mound, followed by Heart of the North Conference member Ashland taking on Prescott. Heading into this week Elk Mound Head Coach Paul Andrea has a coaching record of 311-154 and is in the 25th season. Ashland Head Coach Chris Kempf is in his 28th season as skipper of the Oredockers and has an impressive record of 459-188. 

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR announced the publication of the 2024 Wisconsin Fishing Report, just in time for the general inland fishing opener on Saturday, May 4. This report details the fishing season outlook for a variety of popular gamefish species, lists gear and tackle tips and information on recent fisheries projects.

“Alongside your regulations and Choose Wisely booklet, this annual fishing report is a great resource to learn what the fisheries staff at the DNR have been doing,” said Justine Hasz, DNR Fisheries Management Bureau Director. “It can also help you find new fishing locations and fishing forecasts to help guide your 2024 fishing adventures.”

This report summarizes DNR staff work across the state. More detailed publications and survey reports from individual water bodies may be found on the DNR’s fishing webpage.

Headshaker of the week: As Ronald Reagan said during one of the 1980 presidential debates with Jimmy Carter, “There you go again.” Parents are suing the current and former head coach of the Waunakee boys basketball team for cutting their child from the team. Parents of the player are citing the first and 14th Amendments to the Constitution as the basis for their lawsuit. This is most likely just the beginning.  It’s a headshaker.