The Prescott Cardinal softball team faced one of the top pitchers in Northwestern’s Ellie Peterson on Saturday. An expected NCAA Division 1 recruit, Peterson was the winning pitcher in what could be a precursor to a WIAA Tournament matchup in May. Last year, the Cardinals defeated Peterson and the Tigers by a score of 2-1. Few softball teams are playing a tougher schedule this season than Nick Johnson’s charges.

The Prescott baseball team will be hosting a free youth clinic for youngsters ages 6-13 (eighth grade) this Saturday at Firehall Field. Instruction for boys ages 6-9 is scheduled from 9-11 a.m. and boys ages 10-13 (eighth grade) is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Registration for boys ages 6-9 will begin at 8:15 and registration for boys ages 10-13 will begin at 11:30 a.m. All participants receive a free T-shirt, hot dog, chips and water, all courtesy of the Prescott baseball team. 

The Minnesota State women's track and field team competed at the Holst Invite and Dewey Donat Classic Saturday in Mankato, Minn. Sophomore Madison Matzek ran an 11:23.74 to place second in the 13-person race. Matzek, a 2022 graduate of Prescott High School, also competes in the 1500 and 5000 meters for the Mavericks. 

Brava to Cardinal baseball volunteer Julie Ryan on this year’s game programs. Prescott baseball player and team records, along with player profiles highlight the impressive horsehide dope sheet. Additionally, rosters including summaries of previous games are also available every home game at Firehall Field. 

Speaking of volunteers, hats off to Prescott High School teacher Kyle Schmidt and students Dylan Eliasson, Finn Stanton, Justin Maier, Luke Peterson, and Wyatt Kranig for their recent work at Firehall Field. The five upperclassmen built a stairway to an elevated platform that will be used to increase the storage at the baseball shed adjacent to the batting cages. Bravo Mr. Schmidt and students on a job well done!

According to a study by Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center, the biggest age group needing Tommy John surgery in the country is between 15 and 19 years old. Kids whose arms have not yet fully developed now account for 57% of all surgeries nationwide. Similar studies show that not only has there been a dramatic increase in injuries to young athletes, but also those injuries are becoming more severe. Not too long ago, doctors dealt with common youth injuries, like broken bones and bruises. However, today surgeons are doing pediatric ACL reconstructions, a myriad of arm surgeries, diagnosing thousands of concussions, and mending stress fractures in legs, arms, and spines. The question begs, are kids being pushed beyond their limit? Experts believe there are several overlapping factors leading to this alarming trend, but the principal one seems to be the rise in year-round training in sports. No surprise. Sadly, at times advice given to parents by coaches and professional trainers is to specialize in one sport, sometimes even at the age of nine or 10. When it comes to baseball, kids today are posting pitching “veloctiy videos” on social media where “the number on the gun” is all that matters. Who cares where the ball goes? Who cares if it’s a strike? Throwing hard, harder, and hardest is all the rage. And for many kids around the country, it is leading to disastrous results.  Mind you, baseball does not have a monopoly on the increase in sports-related injuries among young athletes. It is happening in all sports and sadly, the kids are paying the price. 

Heading into this week’s showdown with Top 10 ranked Altoona, Prescott hitters are hitting well above .300 after eight games and have three pitchers with an earned run average 2.25 or lower. The Railroaders are the defending conference champions and advanced to the state tournament last season. Altoona features Cameron St. John, one of the top five pitching prospects in the state of Wisconsin. 

From the WIAA: Brian Nadeau, the principal and superintendent at Plum City School District, will serve on the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control after a special election was conducted to fill the District 3 vacancy. Nadeau will begin his term and be seated on the 11-member board at its meeting Tuesday, April 23 in Stevens Point. He will serve the remaining two years in the position following the resignation of Greg Doverspike, the former superintendent at Durand-Arkansaw. Nadeau's wife, Amy is a teacher in the Prescott School District.

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The DNR again asks the public to stay vigilant and avoid outdoor burning due to elevated fire danger. Warm temperatures, low humidity and breezy conditions are in the forecast. Although recent rain has improved conditions in some areas, much of the state's vegetation is still dead and dry. Over the past week, the DNR has responded to 122 wildfires burning nearly 340 acres, the most active week this season. The majority of these recent wildfires have been related to debris burning and powerlines. Wisconsin's wildfire season is expected to continue for several more weeks, with pine needles dropping in moisture and fires starting to move into tree crowns. These conditions can lead to faster, more intense fires that are difficult to suppress.

Headshaker of the week. Fans were “treated” to, or had to endure, another mouthy baseball team at Firehall Field last week. Sophomoric cheering coupled with annoying barnyard animal calls are the norm for a number of teams in western Wisconsin as head coaches, with arms folded, do nothing as players engage in playground like catcalls reminiscent of elementary school yard behavior and nowhere near the good, solid, dugout baseball banter of years ago. It’s a headshaker.