First National Bank Field in River Falls is quite a facility. From the playing surface to the outfield wall, the stadium seating to the press box, and the concession stand to all the extra fan amenities, you would be hard pressed to find a better baseball venue. The hours and hours and hours of volunteer work, impressive fundraising, and self-sacrificing commitment to project after project have made for an extraordinary baseball facility. I am quite sure many of those in attendance fail to understand how much blood, sweat, and tears had to go into creating such a splendid complex. It takes a group of hard core, enthusiastic, selfless, and engaged people to create such wonderful space. Congratulations Josh Eidem and all those who have helped First National Bank of River Falls Field become among the best ballparks in the Twin Cities Metro area.

One strange thing about First National Bank Field is there is a gap in the fencing in front of both dugouts. Errant infield throws can easily bounce into the dugouts on the first base side and wayward throws from the outfield can also find their way into the third base dugout. If a ball ends up in dead ball territory all baserunners move up a base. It’s the lone ground rule criticism this fan has of First National Bank Field. 

Friday’s worst weather-related fears were realized when La Crosse Logan and Prescott only managed to play three complete innings, two short of an official game. Sadly, no other date appears on the calendar for any kind of a makeup or continuation of the game. All statistics, except for pitch count, are null and void. One local asked whether or not the fan who was ejected in the second inning in the canceled game would be banned from attending the next scheduled Prescott baseball game? When I researched the question the results were inconclusive. Therefore, I am guessing the ejected individual would be able to attend the next contest since the game where they were “tossed” was not an official game. So the ejected fan, like the player who was 0-2 with two strikeouts on Friday, can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the “stats” from last Friday’s game are erased. 

The North Dakota State Bison won their eighth game in a row on Sunday against Northern Colorado and swept the three-game weekend series against the Bears. Senior infielder Peter Brookshaw homered for the 12th time as the Bison trounced Northern Colorado in the series finale by a score of 10-0. The Bison are now 13-5 in Summit League play and will host the Omaha Mavericks for three games this weekend. Brookshaw enters the week hitting .313 for the Bison and is the team leader in homeruns, hits, total bases, and slugging percentage. 

This Saturday Prescott will host a four-team invitational tournament at Firehall Field. Prescott will play Ashland at 10 a.m., followed by Elk Mound squaring off with St. Croix Falls. Game three will feature Ashland and Elk Mound, with the final game slating Prescott against St. Croix Falls.  Ashland Hall of Fame Head Coach Chris Kempf sports an overall record of 441-174 and has been the Oredockers head coach for the past 26 years, with the bulk of Kempf’s coaching victories accumulating when the northern Wisconsin school played WIAA Summer Baseball. Elk Mound Head Coach Paul Andrea is in his 24th year as head coach of the Mounders and has an overall record of 294-150. St. Croix Falls Head Coach Matt Vold brings his top ranked and undefeated Saints to Firehall Field for the third time in the past three years. St. Croix Falls features hard-throwing right hander and Purdue recruit Brayden Olson, who led the Saints to a Division 3 State Runner Up finish last season. Olson has a fastball that reaches 94/95 miles per hour. A St. Croix Falls alumnus, Vold is in his fourth season as the Saints skipper.

Additionally, Ashland Marcus Cruzan has a fastball clocked in the upper 80’s. The same is true for Elk Mound junior Caden Russo, whose four-seamer also approaches 90 miles per hour. 

St. Mary’s infielder and Prescott alumnus MaKenzie Carey went 2-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base as the Cardinals defeated Augsburg 11-3 last Thursday in game one of a MIAC doubleheader. St. Mary’s won the second game 12-11 and qualified for the MIAC Tournament that begins this Thursday. St. Mary’s wrapped up the regular season this past Sunday as they hosted #19 ranked St. Benedict’s. The Bennies won game one by a score of 10-0 but St. Mary’s rebounded by winning game two by a score of 5-2.  St. Mary’s finished with a conference record of 13-9 and will enter the conference tournament with an overall record of 21-17. 

Headshaker of the week: Last Saturday afternoon the Prescott junior varsity hosted River Falls at Firehall Field. As is the case every year, early in the season the playing surface relies solely on Mother Nature for water. Areas around home plate, in front of the pitcher’s mound, near the dugouts show a great deal of wear and tear.  Prescott coaches and field volunteers are adamant that players use the on deck circles while awaiting their turn at bat. On Saturday, the first two River Falls players were not using the turfed on deck circle. Instead, they were swinging on the grass outside the circle tearing up the natural playing surface. A Prescott coach went over to the River Falls dugout and requested the players use the on deck circle. After players were told a third time, another River Falls player in the dugout looked at his teammate, looked at the coach and said in a snarky, smart alecky tone, “You can stand wherever you want to stand.” Needless to say, River Falls coaches were contacted about the incident. It was a headshaker.