SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
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The American Legion Baseball playoffs will start next week and there has been another name change to the Sub-State divisions which was much appreciated and a lot less confusing.
BUT….not so quick. The standings below aren’t exactly what the playoff seeding will be.
Ada and Twin Valley/Ulen-Hitterdal will move from the Tony Sipe South and will drop to the Minnesota Lakes and Parkers Prairie and Breckenridge will move to the West Central Sub-state and Frazee won’t play in the playoffs. There will be a test on this at the end of the column.
The 2026 Tony Sipe North Standings –
1. Roseau 9-1
2. Warroad 8-1
3. Stephen-Argyle 2-4
4. Red Lake County 2-4
5. Thief River Falls 1-6
6. Middle River 1-7
League games left –
Middle River – plays RLC July 8 and 14 and plays Warroad July 14
Red Lake County plays Middle River July 8 and 14, and Stephen-Argyle July 9
Stephen-Argyle – plays RLC July 9, TRF July 8 and 14
TRF – plays Stephen-Argyle July 8 and 14
Warroad – plays Middle River July 14.
The 2026 Tony Sipe South Standings –
1. Fosston 4-0
2. Ada 6-1
3. Crookston 5-3
4. Win-E-Mac 4-5
5. Fertile 2-6
6. Twin Valley/UH 0-6
Games remaining –
Ada – plays Fosston July 9
Crookston – plays Fosston July 10 (two games)
Fosston – plays Ada July 9, Crookston July 10 (DH), TVUH July 13
TVUH – plays Fosston July 13
On the SOUTH side of the sub-state –
The 2026 Minnesota Lakes Conference West Standings-
1. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 5-1
2. Breckenridge 3-1-1
3. Barnesville 2-3-1
4. Hawley 0-5
The 2026 Minnesota Lakes Conference East standings –
1. Wadena 2-0
2. Parkers Prairie 6-2
3. New York Mills 1-3-2
4. Park Rapids 1-3
5. Frazee 0-2-2 (Won’t play in the playoffs)
Here are the teams in the Northwest Sub-state tournament –
NORTH – Alphabetical order
1. Crookston
2. Fertile
3. Fosston
4. Middle River
5. Red Lake County
6. Roseau
7. Stephen-Argyle
8. Thief River Falls
9. Warroad
10. Win-E-Mac
NORTH POD –
1. Middle River
2. Red Lake County
3. Roseau
4. Stephen-Argyle
5. Thief River Falls
6. Warroad
SOUTH POD –
1. Crookston
2. Fertile
3. Fosston
4. Win-E-Mac
SOUTH- Alphabetical order
1. Ada
2. Barnesville
3. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton
4. Hawley
5. New York Mills
6. Park Rapids
7. Twin Valley/Ulen-Hitterdal
8. Wadena
WEST POD –
Ada
Barnesville
DGF
TVUH
EAST POD
Hawley
New York Mills
Park Rapids
Wadena
The tournament schedule is below-
The Northwest Sub-state North tournament will be played in Crookston at Jim Karn Field –
Thursday – July 16
6:00 p.m. – Play-in games (#5 vs #4) at high seed
Friday – July 17 at Jim Karn Field in Crookston
11:00 AM –
1:30 PM –
4:00 PM – loser out game
6:30 PM – winners bracket game
Saturday – July 18 at Jim Karn Field in Crookston
11:00 AM –
1:30 PM –
4:00 PM – loser out game
6:30 PM – winners bracket game
Sunday – July 19 at Jim Karn Field in Crookston
11:00 AM – loser out game
1:30 PM – loser out game
4:00 PM – Third place game (both teams advance to NW Sub-State in Fosston)
6:30 PM – Championship (both teams advance to NW Sub-State in Fosston)
The Northwest Sub-state South tournament will be played in Ulen.
Friday – July 17 at Ulen (First round)
10:00 AM –
12:30 PM –
3:00 PM –
5:30 PM –
Saturday – July 18 at Ulen
10:00 AM – loser out game
12:30 PM – loser out game
3:00 PM – winners bracket game
5:30 PM – winners bracket game
Sunday – July 19 at Ulen
10:00 AM – loser out game
12:30 PM – loser out game
3:00 PM – Third place game (both teams advance to the NW Substate in Fosston)
5:30 PM – Championship (both teams advance to NW Substate in Fosston)
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The 45th Annual Crookston Lions and Get Kids Outdoors Youth Golf Tournament will be held on August 3 and 4 at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston (901 Fisher Avenue).
August 3 –
Ages 13-17 (18-year-olds can golf if they are going to be a senior in high school) – Shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.
Ages 9-12 – start at 9:00 a.m.
August 4 – 8-year-olds and younger start at 9:00 a.m.
AGES – HOLES
Ages 8 and under – 4 holes
9-10 – 9 holes
11-12 – 9 holes
13-14 – 18 holes
15-17 – 18 holes
ENTRY FEE – $20 – lunch included
PARK AND REC GOLFGERS or under 8 years old – $10 – lunch included
Pre-registration is encouraged by July 31, however no golfer will be turned away.
NEW REGISTRATION PROCEDURE – Call 218-281-1970 to speak with Ann or Bailey, or stop by Longtin Agency at 202 South Main Street in Crookston. All Payments will be made by either cash or check. (Make checks payable to – Crookston Lions Club)
Register early for your chance to win a 100 Scheels Gift Card! Every golfer who registers by July 24 will automatically be entered into the drawing.
Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdG93nwVZ33YDUQrI4fuSvZ2zw2rKQ3C_nPp3bRFP9lcJEMyw/viewform
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The Holy Family Knights of Columbus Chapter of Red Lake County will host its annual Junior Golf Tournament at Oak Knolls Golf Course in Red Lake Falls on Wednesday, August 5.
The entry fee is $10 for ages 11 to 17 with all-you-can-eat lunch included.
The entry fee is $5 for ages 10 and under, with all-you-can-eat lunch included.
The tournament will start at 9:00 a.m. with a shotgun start.
AGE GROUPS –
GIRLS (Number of entrants will determine the age brackets)
BOYS (5 age groups)
15-17 – 18 holes
13-14 – 18 holes
11-12 – 18 holes
9-10 – 9 holes
8 and under- 9 holes
Medal play in all age groups with prizes and trophies awarded, along with numerous door prizes. There will be a putting contest and other contests throughout the course.
The entry deadline is preferred by Noon on Sunday, August 2, but you may register the morning of the tournament before 8:45 a.m.
Send entries to:
Steve Philion
518 Champagne Ave.
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
(Phone – 218-686-3608)
Email – sphilion@rlfedu.org
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The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer program will host an ID Camp August 16 for students entering grades nine through college seniors. The campers will get a chance to experience life as a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
The campers will be instructed by Minnesota Crookston Soccer Head Coach Danny Burstein and Assistant Coach Breezie Davis. They will get a glimpse of campus. They will be led through drills and observed by the coaches at Minnesota Crookston, and nearby universities. The camp will include technical training, possession drills, small-sided and 11v11 games. The campers and their families will get a tour of campus and have Q&A sessions with current Minnesota Crookston players and staff. Lunch is provided. The camp will be held August 16 at the Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Check-in starts at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $130 with camp being $125 plus $5 in fees. T-shirt and lunch are included.
“I am very excited to have prospective student-athletes on campus for our ID Camp,” said Head Coach Danny Burstein. It will be a great opportunity for interested players to interact with the whole team during our preseason. They will get a real feel for what it would be like to come and play soccer at UMC. This camp can be a real tool for both us and recruits to find future Golden Eagles.”
For more information on the camp and to register visit soccer.umcsportscamps.com or reach out to Head Coach Danny Burstein at burstein@umn.edu or 218-281-8420.
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JOKES
There was a guy on the beach with about 25 gorgeous chicks swarming all around him.
Seeing this, a second guy strolls on up to him and asks, “What’s your secret?”
The guy whispers, “All you gotta do is stick a pickle in your pants.”
In a flourish, the second guy runs off and stuffs a pickle in his pants. But when he returns to the shore, he soon discovers that every single girl who looks his way runs off screaming in bloody terror. Confused, he hurries over to the first guy and desperately asks, “Why are all the girls running away from me?”
The first guy looks up and replies, “The pickle’s on the wrong side.”
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Two women were playing golf. One teed off and watched in horror as her ball headed directly toward a foursome of men playing the next hole.
The ball hit one of the men. He immediately clasped his hands together at his groin, fell to the ground, and proceeded to roll around in agony. The woman rushed down to the man and immediately began to apologize. ‘Please allow me to help. I’m a Physical Therapist and I know I could relieve your pain if you’d allow me, she told him.
‘Oh, no, I’ll be all right. I’ll be fine in a few minutes,’ the man replied. He was in obvious agony, lying in the fetal position, still clasping his hands there at his groin. At her persistence, however, he finally allowed her to help. She gently took his hands away and laid them to the side, loosened his pants, and put her hands inside.
She started to massage the “area: for a while and asked, ‘How does that feel?
Feels great, he replied, but I still think my thumb’s broken.
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An airliner was experiencing engine trouble, and the pilot instructed the cabin crew to have the passengers take their seats and prepare for an emergency landing.
A few minutes later, the pilot asked the flight attendants if everyone was buckled in and ready.
“All set back here, Captain,” came the reply, “except the lawyers are still going around passing out business cards.”
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A man went to the Police Station wishing to speak with the burglar who had broken into his house the night before.
“You’ll get your chance in court,” said the Desk Sergeant.
“No, no, no!” said the man. “I want to know how he got into the house without waking my wife. I’ve been trying to do that for years!”
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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
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College in Moorhead.
Teagen Lubinski is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Parker Kelly is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Addie Fee is a freshman playing tennis and hockey at Wisconsin-Superior.
Kambelle Freije is a freshman playing hockey at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Riley Helgeson is a freshman playing football at Northern State.
Emily Bowman is a freshman playing Softball at North Dakota State College of Science.
Halle Winjum is a sophomore playing basketball at Minnesota Crookston.
Blake Melsa is a sophomore playing soccer and baseball at Alexandria Tech
Jackson Reese is a sophomore playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College.
Naomi Johnson is a freshman playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a sophomore playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a sophomore playing football at Minot State.
Isaac Thomforde is a sophomore playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Halle Bruggeman is a Junior on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Sophomore on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Junior on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Jacey Larson is a Junior playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Senior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Seth Heppner – Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Golf at Jessup University
Brady Heppner – Head Coach of Women’s Golf at UMC and Assistant Hockey Coach
Crookston School District Coaches
Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach.
Colton Weiland is an assistant Pirate Wrestling Coach
Jason Cassavant is a Jr. High Baseball Coach and Head American Legion Baseball coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Marley Melbye is an assistant girls golf coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ben Trostad is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ethan Magsam is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc
Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson is the head Little Falls Volleyball coach.
Tim Desrosier is an Assistant Coach for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony Boys Basketball
Pat Wolfe is the head wrestling coach for Fosston/Bagley.
Austin Sommerfeld is an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Collin Reynolds is the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.
Trent Stahlecker is a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida.
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown.
Josh Edlund is the head football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach at Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is the Head Wrestling Coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
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 North Dakota.
Mike Hastings is the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s head Hockey coach.
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Grand Forks Schools.
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football, volleyball, and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for Bison media relations.
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College.
Chris Myrold is the Director and Fitness at Mission Ranch and Fitness in Camel, California.
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Jaren Bailey is serving our country and is Lance Corporal in the Marines.
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
Philip Kujawa class of 2004, from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
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..
