Both the varsity softball and baseball fields will be game ready by the end of week. Head Coach Nick Johnson and his softball charges will open the 2024 season at home in a double header against St. Croix Central. The softball team will then host St. Croix Falls on Saturday. The baseball team will travel to Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau on Friday to take on the Redbirds and will then head to Lake City to participate in a three-team round robin involving host school Lake City and Dover-Eyota. The baseball team will play its home opener on Thursday, April 11 against St. Croix Central. 

From the WIAA: The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has identified 23 individuals to serve on the ad hoc committee to study season length, game maximums and coaching contact. Following a December 2023 meeting when the initiative was approved by the Board of Control, the executive office received 189 letters from school and athletic administrators who expressed interest in serving on the committee. Prescott Athletic Director Andrew Caudill has been named to the 23-member statewide committee. 

Late last month Prescott High School alumni Clay Seifert (2015) and Peter Brookshaw (2018) spoke to members of the Cardinal baseball team about dealing with pressure and being a leader. Both multi-sport all conference athletes, Brookshaw and Seifert each won state championships in storybook fashion. Brookshaw’s three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Cardinals a 65-64 victory over Valders in the 2018 WIAA Division III title game, and freshman Clay Seifert’s line shot single to left in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Prescott their second WIAA State Baseball Championship in 2012. Both Brookshaw and Seifert shared with players the importance of visualization and a willingness to view failure as an opportunity to learn. 

“Baseball is such a tough sport,” said Seifert. “In practice you might get frustrated with a drill or try to avoid it because you don’t like how the drill makes you feel. You can’t pout or give up. You have to keep working at it until it clicks.” 

A nodding Brookshaw also added, “I just knew no one was going to work harder than me in practice and that’s what being a leader is.” 

Seifert also added, “Leadership is not just being so on the baseball field, it's being a leader in school, in the classroom and the community. Be respectful to your teachers, your coaches, and everyone. To me that is leadership.” 

KDWA Radio Sports Personality Nick Tuckner returns as one of the voices of Prescott High School sports. A longtime Cardinal fan favorite, the popular Tuckner will be on the dial this spring covering Prescott athletics.

Look for an extensive baseball program this season at Firehall Field. A popular fixture at games courtesy of longtime Prescott baseball booster Dallas Eggers, the 2024 version will include player and coach bios, game schedules, and other Cardinals baseball information. Look for it during the home opener against St. Croix Central on April 11. 

Prescott seniors Lila Posthuma and Nolan Thomley were recognized on Wednesday at the Middle Border Conference Scholar Athlete Banquet at St. Croix Central High School. Thomley earned three letters in football, four letters in wrestling and two letters in baseball and is expected to win his third letter in baseball this spring. Thomley won one individual regional championship in wrestling and advanced to the state championship his senior season. Thomley has a GPA of 4.00 and ranks sixth in his class. Thomley also received the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American and NWCA Character & Leadership All-American Honors. Posthuma earned four letters in volleyball and four letters in basketball. She was a part of three MBC championship teams in basketball and one in volleyball while winning two regional championships. Posthuma was named first team all-conference in basketball three times and was named team MVP in basketball once. Posthuma has a GPA of 3.92 and ranks 13th in her class.

From the Department of Natural Resources: The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and the DNR invite the public to attend spring hearings on April 8 at 6 p.m. to learn about resource management through the annual Fish and Wildlife Spring Hearing process. Additionally, an online opportunity for public input will be available from noon on Wednesday, April 10 through noon on Saturday, April 13. DNR staff and WCC delegates will be on hand at these spring hearings to discuss local issues of importance, answer questions from the public and open a dialogue between the public, the DNR and the WCC about areas of interest and concern. Finally, the public is invited to provide feedback on a variety of fish, wildlife and other natural resources-related topics as part of the spring hearing process. The public is encouraged to provide input online from noon on April 10 through noon on April 13. For those who prefer to do so in person, a number of paper ballots will be available at each in-person meeting.

Headshaker of the week: It has become head spinning to try and find basic statistical information about high school, college, or professional athletes. Baseball, basketball, and football cards used to show simple understanding things like batting average, points per game, and yards rushing. Today, player stat lines include things like player efficiency rating, value over replacement player, or ultimate base runner. Come on…just the basics please. No need to share statistical information that supposedly demonstrates how smart you are when it comes to today’s tiresome sports analytics. It’s a headshaker.