Welcome to another Sports Feever column. It is still a slow time for sports, but things will pick up next week with the American Legion baseball tournament starting up next weekend.
I hope you had a great Independence Day weekend. I stayed active and did some waterskiing, jogged a few miles, swam about three-quarters of the way across the lake and then halfway across the lake, golfed nine holes, ate, and had some frosty cool beverages. Most importantly all my siblings and parents were together, all my kids were able to make it and the most important thing….we got along all weekend. So it was a great weekend.
Enjoy this weeks column.
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Who wants to go to a Twins game for free? I have four tickets for the following games –
Thursday, July 8
Friday, July 9
Saturday, July 10
Sunday, July 11
Email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com and let me know which game you would like to attend compliments of the Twins and KROX Radio. All you have to do is have/download the MLB app and I can forward them in a few seconds!
The first email from each date will get the tickets.
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The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Baseball team has several players playing professional baseball, and other summer baseball this year. We take a look at how they are doing this summer –
Jake Hjelle (East Grand Forks) is playing for the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks in the college player Expedition League. The team is made up of D-1 and D-2 college players. Jake is leading the team with a .336 batting average with 37 hits in 110 at-bats in 29 games. Jake has 10 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, and 23 rbi’s. He has walked 15 times and hit by a pitch twice.
Brock Reller (Grand Forks) is playing for the Freemont Moo (Freemont, Nebraska) a team made up of college players that are playing in the Expedition League. He has played in a team-high 28 games and is batting .423 with 44 hits in 104 at-bats. He has a team-leading 12 home runs. He also has 37 rbi’s, 25 walks, 7 doubles, and one triple. He has also scored 37 runs.
Zach Seipel is playing for the Augusta Green Jackets, the rookie league team of the Atlanta Braves. Zach is a pitcher and is 0-2 on the year with a 12.56 ERA. He has pitched in 12 games with 14.1 innings pitched. He has given up 24 hits, 20 runs with all 20 earned. He has walked 16 while striking out 10 and has given up 4 home runs. He has a WHIP of 2.791.
Will Zimmerman is playing professional baseball with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. He is batting .276 in 30 games. He has 29 hits in 105 at-bats. He has 4 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 19 rbi’s, 15 walks, and 26 runs scored.
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Kaden Zenzen, who will be a senior this fall at Barnesville High School, has verbally committed to play football at North Dakota State University for the Bison. He is following his brother (Hunter) on playing D-1 football as Hunter went to Iowa State to play football and redshirted this past season.
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If you have been driving through Crookston this month you have probably seen Crookston High School teacher and Boys Hockey Coach Josh Hardy running. Coach Hardy is raising money for one of the best entities I can think of, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
I asked Coach Hardy for more information on his running and his response is below –
Hey Chris!
With the birth of our third little bundle of joy back in April, I’ve been super busy parenting (who would’ve thought 3 boys 4 and under would be a ton of work?!) and I haven’t been taking enough consistent time to work out and as such, the Dad Bod (or father figure as my wife so kindly puts it) has gotten a bit out of hand. If I got a pair of white New Balances and a pair of jean shorts I’d fit the bill all too well!
So to motivate myself to really get back after it (and prepare for the Grand Forks 10 Miler in August) I’m taking on the 100 Mile Run Challenge for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital!
Basically what that entails is that I commit to run 100 miles in the month of July and I’m collecting donations that go directly to St. Jude. I’m so thankful and lucky that our boys have never had any medical issues but many aren’t so fortunate and the work that they do at St. Jude in regards to increasing the survival rate of children diagnosed with cancer is really incredible. And that they do it all without charging families makes it even better. I’ve already raised almost $2000 to help their cause and would love to continue to see that number grow over this month!
I just wrapped up week 1 and logged 28.8 miles so I have 71.2 miles to go! The accountability by putting this out there in the public has been a pretty good motivator to get up and get on the road!
If anyone wants to donate, or just follow along with my progress, you can do so in two ways!
You can head to my fundraiser page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/donate/1163754374141996/
Or you can scan the QR Code below –
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The 18th Annual Crookston High School Pirate Pride Golf Scramble will be held Friday, July 9 at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston.
Registration will start at 9:00 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be served starting at 11:00.
The cost is $60 per person and includes 18 holes of golf, a t-shirt, sandwich, salad, and chips.
There will be four-member teams. Call the clubhouse to reserve a cart (not included). Golfers must be 18 years old or older or graduated from high school to play.
All the proceeds help support Crookston High School Pirate athletics. They will have a raffle again this year so contact a Pirate coach or staff at Minakwa to purchase a raffle ticket.
Pre-registration is encouraged. Contact Steve Kofoed at 320-290-9904 or email stevenkofoed@isd593.org. Leaving a message with your team members is fine.
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The UMC Teambacker Golf Classic Presented by Altru will be held at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston on Friday, July 16. The 31st annual golf scramble is a five-person team athletic scholarship fundraiser.
If you are interested in competing for the Cup visit z.umn.edu/teambackergc or in becoming a UMC Teambacker contact Derek Martin at 218-281-8346 or derekm@umn.edu.
UMC Teambackers is the fundraising arm and directly supports Golden Eagle Athletics at the University of Minnesota Crookston. The goal of Teambackers is to help build an athletic program that will provide a sense of pride, tradition, and legacy in our community, region, and state. Consider becoming a member or purchasing a raffle ticket. They will hold the drawing for the 2021 Teambacker raffle for $5,000 in cash prizes.
As in year’s past, the Golf Classic will once again have the hole-in-one contest on hole four with a $25,000 grand prize. The hole-in-one contest is sponsored by Brost Chevrolet, Noah Insurance, and McKinnon Company. Aaron Horak Farmers Insurance will be the food sponsor and will have a great presence at the event. Thrivent Financial representatives Aaron Meyer and Garret Kollin will be game sponsors this year. Contact Derek Martin to discuss other sponsorship opportunities for this great event.
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JOKES
My doctor asked if anyone in my family suffered from mental illness. I said, “No, we all seem to enjoy it.
Camping: where you spend a small fortune to live like a homeless person.
I won’t say I’m worn out, but I don’t get near the curb on trash day.
People who wonder if the glass is half empty or half full miss the point. The glass is refillable.
Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.
My wife says I have two faults. I don’t listen and…something else.
Never laugh at your spouse’s choices. You are one of them.
“dammit I’m mad” is “dammit I’m mad” spelled backward.
I’d grow my own food if only I could find bacon seeds.
Losing weight doesn’t seem to be working for me, so from now on I’m going to concentrate on getting taller.
Common sense is not a gift. It’s a punishment because you have to deal with everyone who doesn’t have it.
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I still haven’t hit a hole in one — but I did hit a guy, and that’s way more satisfying. You’re supposed to yell Fore, but I was too busy mumbling “no way thats gonna hit him”.
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What she Really Means
I need = I want
We need = I want
It’s your decision = The correct decision should be obvious by now
Do whatever you want = You are going to pay for this later
We need to talk = I need to complain
Sure…go ahead = I don’t want you to
I’m not upset = Of course I’m upset, you moron!
You’re so manly = You need a shave and you sweat a lot
You’re certainly attentive tonight = Is sex all you ever think about?
I’m not emotional! And I’m not overreacting! = I have a severe case of PMS
Be romantic, turn out the lights = I have flabby thighs
This kitchen is so inconvenient = I want a new house
I want new curtains = I want new curtains, new carpeting, new furniture, new wallpaper…
I need new shoes = the other 40 pairs are simply the wrong shade
I heard a noise = I noticed you were almost asleep
Do you love me? = I’m going to ask for something expensive
How much do you love me? = I did something today you’re really going to hate
I’ll be ready in a minute = Kick off your shoes and find a good game on T.V.
Is my butt fat? = Tell me I’m beautiful
You have to learn to communicate = Just agree with me
Are you listening to me? = Too late, you’re dead
Yes = No
No = No
Maybe = No
I’m sorry = You’ll be sorry
I was wrong = Not as wrong as you
I’m not yelling! = Of course I’m yelling, this is important!
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How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere?
****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Sweden for Vasby IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan league. He will be returning to Sweden in the fall.
Aleece Durbin, is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.
Ben Trostad is playing Club Hockey at UMC.
Ty Hamre is playing Club Hockey at UMC.
Brandon Boetcher is playing Club Hockey at UMC.
Brady Butt is a freshman playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta, a Sophomore, is playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Nick Garmen is a sophomore playing tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Thea Oman, a sophomore, is swimming at St. Ben’s.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Emily Meyer is a girls hockey and softball assistant coach.
Lacia Hanson is the Junior High softball coach.
Carrie Clauson is a Junior High girls tennis coach.
Jeremy Lubinski is a Pirate 8th Grade Football coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach and assistant volleyball coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Cody Brekken is the Head Pirate Girls and Boys Tennis coach and Crookston Community Pool Supervisor
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming coach
Mitch Bakken is the head Pirate Baseball coach.
Brock Hanson is a Pirate Baseball volunteer assistant coach.
Ben Halos is a Pirate Baseball assistant coach.
Alex LaFrance is a Pirate Baseball volunteer assistant coach.
Jeff Perreault is the Pirate Girls Golf head coach
Wes Hanson is the Pirate Wrestling Head Coach and assistant boys golf coach
Kevin Weber is a Pirate Boys Basketball volunteer assistant coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Sam Melbye is the Pirate Boys J.V. Hockey coach
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling Coach
Colton Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching –
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown
Kaylee Desrosier is a softball coach for Fargo Davies Middle School.
Josh Edlund is an assistant football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach in Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is Head Wrestling coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson, is Head Volleyball coach at Little Falls High School.
Katy Westrom, is Head Girls Tennis Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Monticello High School.
Matt Harris, is an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of Wyoming
Mike Hastings is the Minnesota State Mankato Men’s head Hockey coach
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Thief River Falls High School
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football and volleyball and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for the Bison media relations
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College
Chris Myrold is a Tennis Pro on Nevis Island in the West Indies
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Jarrett Butenhoff is serving our country with the U.S. Navy
Joshua Butenhoff is serving our country on a Submarine with the Pacific Fleet with the US Navy.
Peter Cournia is a 2002 Crookston High School Graduate and also a grad of West Point and is currently is serving in the U.S. Army.
Erik Ellingson is serving our country with the U.S. Air Force at Minot.
Philip Kujawa class of 2004 from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Scott Riopelle is head of Crookston Parks and Recreation
Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome
That’s it for this week. Thanks for the comments and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com
