09/07/10
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. No, I’m not talking about a tale of two cities, but a tale of two halves for Milbank Bulldog football so far this season. On Friday night, the squad visited Hartford to take on West Central. Things started roughly, falling behind 13-0 in less than six minutes of play, but the Bulldogs battled back and tied the contest at 20 apiece going into the half. In the second half, however, Milbank was outscored 34-0, dropping to 0-2 on the season with a 54-20 loss to the Trojans. Bulldog QB Nick Mears highlighted the offense with a 10/14 night passing, racking up 181 yards with a 69-yard TD strike to Tanner Folk and one interception. Mears also ran for 60 yards, but lost two fumbles and got sacked five times by the pressuring Trojan “D”. Folk led all receivers with three grabs for 87 yards, and Colin Porath matched Mears’ 60 yards of rushing. Mears and Porath each ran it into the end zone for scores as well. West Central controlled the clock and wore down Milbank’s defense with a powerful ground game. Tim Weber piled up 251 yards on just 22 carries and found pay dirt six times to lead the way. Next up for Milbank is a trip to Aberdeen this Friday night to take on Roncalli. Don’t forget, if you want to listen to last Friday’s game during the week, it is archived in the news/sports section of the KMSD website at BigStoneRadio.com.
In other regional football action, Roncalli evened their record at 1-1 with a 27-7 handling of Groton, Britton-Hecla skunked Webster 27-0, Sisseton crushed Deuel 55-0, Wilmot shut out Florence/Henry 46-0, and Waverly-South Shore v. Grant-Deuel lived up to the hype with Waverly-South Shore getting it done in overtime 38-32. Taylor Zemlicka had the big play there, tossing a fourth TD pass of the game for the “W”, connecting with Andrew Thyen for the difference-maker.
The Bulldog volleyball team was also in action over the weekend, taking part in the Sioux Falls Christian Tournament Saturday. Milbank started off well, getting past Pipestone, MN in the opening match 25-18, 26-28, and 25-18. Next, they took on the other team in their pool – the host squad. SFC got it done in straight sets, 19 and 22, to put Milbank in the #2 spot for the pool and setting up a match against Northwestern. Northwestern used a powerful hitting attack and relentless defense to dominate Milbank’s final match of the tourney, winning 12 and 15. The Bulldogs slip to 3-2 on the season with the 1-2 performance. Kendra Snaza led the team in kills for each match, piling up 27 through the three contests. Rachel Wollschlager was next, putting away 12 shots in the tourney. Next on the schedule for the girls is a road game against Deuel this Thursday.
And in other area volleyball from Saturday, Summit beat the host team to take third place in an eight-team tournament at Redfield/Doland.
The Milbank Cross Country squads went for a run in Aberdeen over the weekend as well, taking part in a meet at NSU. On the boys’ side, Jalen Snaza finished in second place in the 5k run, just nine seconds behind Jared Noyes of Redfield with both runners finishing about a minute ahead of third place. Austin Berens came in sixth and grabbed Bulldog of the Week honors with that performance and with his running in Milbank earlier in the week. Other Bulldogs included Jordan Jungers and Jordan Redmond in 12th & 13th respectively, Michael Frevert in 19th, and Joe VanDover took 21st giving the team a 2nd place team finish in the event. Other notables on the guys’ side included Noble Karels grabbing sixth in the 3k, and Carter Foell & Dylan Johnson ending up 6th and 7th in the 2000m run. Moving to the girls, Cori Redmond was the top Milbank runner in the 4k taking the 15-spot. In the 3k, Bulldog of the Week Shauna Pauli ended up in 3rd place, while Lauren Whitlow, Brandi Buescher, and Corinne Kastrup finished 9th through 11th, Allie Christensen grabbed 14th, and Brenna Rausch took 19th. Next up for the cross country squad is the Hardee’s Invite here in Milbank this Saturday.
As for today, a couple of Bulldog teams are in action as the boys’ golf team visits Redfield and the girls’ tennis squad hosts the Watertown JV team.
In MLB, the Twins’ Jason Kubel hit a go-ahead homer and the red hot Jim Thome launched his 585th career home run moments later, powering Minnesota past Kansas City 5-4 on Monday. The fifth-inning shots by Kubel and Thome kept the Twins 3½ games ahead of Chicago in the AL Central, as the White Sox beat Detroit to win their 7th straight game. Thome sure didn’t get cheated on his blast, hitting a shot off the top of the American flagpole beyond the right-field bleachers at Target Field. He is now just one round-tripper shy of Frank Robinson for eighth all-time. Kevin Slowey lasted just four innings in a return from the disabled list, throwing 77 pitches and surrendering two runs on seven hits. Five relievers secured the victory with Jeff Manship getting the win. The two teams do it again tonight at Target Field with Francisco Liriano dueling Brian Bannister just after seven o’clock. After the game, the team recalled relievers Glen Perkins and Pat Neshek from Triple-A Rochester. The side-winding Neshek was 5-1 with a 3.89 ERA in Rochester. He has also appeared in six games with the Twins, allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings. Perkins was 4-9 with a 5.81 ERA for Rochester. In four games with the Twins, he is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA.
In the NFL, the Vikings have not ruled out cornerback Cedric Griffin playing this week in New Orleans. Griffin blew out his left knee in the NFC championship game against the Saints last January, an anterior cruciate ligament injury that typically requires about nine months of recovery. Griffin recently returned to practice, but he was listed as a limited participant on the injury report released Monday by the Vikings. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Monday that Griffin has already done far more than expected since deciding to include him on the active 53-man roster. In other knee injury notes, rookie Chris Cook did not practice Monday because of a hurt knee, leaving the team with only three fully healthy cornerbacks against the pass-happy Saints.
On offense, Adrian Peterson says he believes he has a better grasp of how to better grasp the ball. The All-Pro running back has had a fumbling problem over his otherwise-brilliant three-year career, and the aggressive New Orleans Saints are sure to be trying this week to force Peterson into another turnover or two. Peterson said Monday he's taught himself to carry the ball high and tight. He also said an extensive offseason video review has revealed he's more vulnerable to fumbling when he tries to brace himself during a tackle. Perhaps just as important for Peterson against the Saints are his blitz pick-ups in pass protection, an area where he's struggled in the past. Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell says Peterson has come a long way.
09/03/10
There was a full slate of Bulldog sports going on in town yesterday with cross country, volleyball, and girls tennis all taking place. Starting outdoors, the speed of the boys cross country squad was very impressive on Thursday with Milbank taking five of the top six spots! Jalen Snaza won his second event of the season, outdistancing himself from the second place finisher from Tiospa Zina by over a minute and a half. Bulldogs took third through sixth with Austin Berens, Jordan Jungers, Joe VanDover, and Jordan Redmond taking those spots. Michael Frevert rounded out the Milbank squad with a twelfth place showing. On the ladies’ side, Cori Redmond led the Bulldogs, coming in runner up to Chelsey Lehrke of Sisseton. Claire Kastrup, Bailey Slaby, and Melissa Lenards took 9th, 10th, and 11th respectively. The Cross Country runners will go off-roading again tomorrow in Aberdeen.
At the Armory, the Milbank volleyball squad pummeled Webster in straight sets; 15, 13, and 13. Next up for the team is a tournament in Sioux Falls tomorrow.
Checking other regional volleyball scores, Grant-Deuel won a back and forth match over Great Plains Lutheran 3-2, Groton got by Britton-Hecla 3-1, Deuel dropped their match with Sioux Valley in three sets, Sisseton swept Redfield/Doland, Summit took down Waverly-South Shore in three, and Wilmot out-scored Waubay in three sets as well.
In action on the Cantine Courts, the Milbank JV squad took a 5-1 win over Lac qui Parle yesterday. Kirsten Biersbach and Britta Waletich grabbed victories in the lone singles matches that got in before the downpour. The tennis squad swings it again on Tuesday when they host the Watertown JV team.
Of course, the Bulldog football squad is back on the gridiron this weekend as well, when they visit West Central in Hartford tonight for a tilt with the Trojans. You can hear that contest right here on KMSD and online at BigStoneRadio.com with the pre-game getting under way around 6:40 and kick-off set for seven o’clock.
Moving to pro sports, the Tigers avoided a Target Field sweep last night, fighting back to take the thrilling finale to their three-game series with the Twins 10-9 in 13 innings. Gerald Laird hit a solo home run in the 13th for the game-winner. Detroit’s Ryan Raburn added three hits and two RBI after entering the game in the sixth inning for an injured Miguel Cabrera, and Jose Valverde pitched a career-high three innings of relief for the win. Laird, who entered the game in the 11th inning, hit a 1-1 pitch from Nick Blackburn into the bullpen in left-center field. Blackburn was scheduled to start the series opener against Texas on Friday night, but the team not only put Blackburn on the bump late, but had Brian Duensing toss two innings of relief in extra innings as well. The decisions weren’t made by Ron Gardenhire, however, after the manager got tossed after arguing a call by the infamous Joe West at second base. The Twins blew three double play chances with Gardy getting tossed on a play that appeared to be a missed transfer at second by Alexi Casilla. Instead, West said the runner was safe at second and nobody was retired. The Tigers weren’t able to take advantage and score in the inning, though, and (oddly enough) Jon Rauch, who was on the mound at the time, was the lone Twins pitcher not to surrender any runs in the game. At the dish, Michael Cuddyer scored three times and Danny Valencia had three hits and knocked in two for the Twins, who led 7-3 going into the eighth and 9-8 in the ninth only to let both leads slip away. Scott Baker got the start, but lasted only two innings due to some right elbow pain. Baker received a cortisone shot after the game, the second time since early July that he’s done so to help with the tendonitis in that elbow. With Baker’s injury plus Duensing and Blackburn being used last night, look for at least one spot start in the coming week from someone – most likely Jeff Manship. As for tonight – when Blackburn was expected to start – the team is trying to find an arm or two in Triple-A to bring up. Blackburn will probably start for Duensing on Sunday since Duensing started the opener against the Tigers just two days earlier. The blown lead in the ninth went against Jesse Crain who surrendered a long-ball to Casper Wells to lead off the inning. It was the first big league home run for the Michigan native. Brian Fuentes and Matt Capps were unavailable due to injuries. With the White Sox taking Thursday off, the Twins now lead the division by 3 ½ games. Tonight, the team welcomes Texas into town for a contest just after seven o’clock. The Rangers hand the ball to Derek Holland while Minnesota works on their pitching problem.
In the NFL, the Vikings picked up a 31-24 win over the Broncos in their preseason finale last night, as heard here on KMSD. Joe Webb got some extended playing time, going 5/9 for 100 yards a score and a pick while Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson combined to go 3/12 for all of a dozen yards. Webb also racked up 48 yards on the ground with four carries. Javon Walker made four grabs for 87 yards and a TD, but most of the offensive starters took the night off. On Denver’s side, Tim Tebow was 12/16 through the air for 167 yards, a TD, and an interception. He also had four rushes for 21 yards and a fumble that Erin Henderson ran back 35 yards for a score. Meanwhile, Brady Quinn finally looked good, going 14/21 for 149 yards passing and six points. The Vikings will open their season next Thursday night in New Orleans.
09/02/10
No local high school sports to speak of from last night, but things get going again today for the Bulldog student-athletes. The Milbank volleyball team will get its second contest of the season in with a home bout against Webster. First serve is slated for 6:30 this evening. Also in action here in Milbank, the girls tennis squad swings it against the Lac qui Parle JV team starting at 4:30. Finally, the Bulldog cross country runners will be strutting their stuff at home as well, hosting the Milbank Invite starting at five o’clock.
At Target Field last night, the Twins’ Danny Valencia picked up the second-ever walk-off hit at the new ballpark with a one-out single in the 10th inning to drive in Michael Cuddyer from second base and give the Twins a 2-1 victory over Detroit. Francisco Liriano got the start for the home squad, throwing seven innings of scoreless ball while allowing five hits, a walk, and whiffing seven. Liriano left with just a 1-0 lead, though, and reliever Jesse Crain let that lead disappear in the top of the eighth. Jose Morales hit a sac fly double play in the fifth inning that gave Minnesota its first run of the game. Jhonny Peralta answered with an RBI single in the eighth. Things got going for the Twins in the tenth when Cuddy singled off Ryan Perry and then stole second base while Delmon Young struck out. The late inning dramatics helped Jon Rauch pick up his third win of the season, tossing a perfect tenth for the victory. Max Scherzer pitched a solid nine innings giving up just four hits while striking out nine but got no decision for Detroit. Minnesota grabbed 18 wins in August, their most in a month since September of ’06, and they are still four games up on the White Sox who came back to beat Cleveland 6-4. Tonight, the Twins & Tigers wrap up their series just after seven o’clock with Scott Baker facing off with Justin Verlander. Meanwhile, the ChiSox take the night off.
On the injury front – which is becoming a big front when it comes to the Twins – Jim Thome was slated to DH yesterday, but was a late scratch with tightness in his back. Catcher Jose Morales replaced Thome in the lineup. Morales and shortstop Trevor Plouffe were brought up from Triple-A before the game.
Finally, the Vikings will be back on the gridiron tonight finishing off their preseason with a home game against the Broncos. You can hear that contest with the pre-game starting at six o’clock and kickoff set for seven here on KMSD.
09/01/10
In local sports Tuesday, Milbank’s boys golf team headed west to Aberdeen for the Hub City Invite. The Bulldogs ended up in sixth-place out of the ten teams that took part in the competition. Watertown led the way with a 315, followed closely by Aberdeen’s 318. Milbank carded a 340, finishing 25 strokes off the pace, but 22 shots ahead of Sisseton in seventh. Leading the way for Milbank were Justin Ackerman and Ryan Patnoe who each shot 81 and finished in 9th and 10th respectively. Brock Gomer and JP Lindquist entered the clubhouse with 89’s, Brandon Berens took a 97, and Brady Gomer shot a 105. Josh Weismantel of Watertown had the low round of the day with a 73, with Sisseton’s Ryan Medhaug shooting a 75 for second-place. The boys get a week off now, getting back on the course next Tuesday in Redfield.
Milbank’s girls tennis squad was also in Aberdeen yesterday, taking on both Central and Roncalli. The Bulldogs had a tough time of it, getting swept by Roncalli and falling to Central 8-1 with the lone win coming in #2 doubles courtesy of Anna Kurtz & Reba Barlund. Josie Whelan had a nice battle in #1 singles, but couldn’t quite pull out the victory. Milbank’s lady swingers drop to 3-3 on the season with the loss and host the Lac qui Parle JV squad at the Cantine Courts on Thursday.
Looking at some regional volleyball scores, it was Summit over Ortonville 3-0, Great Plains Lutheran swept Wilmot 3-0, Grant-Deuel did the same to Waubay, Deuel got by Florence/Henry 3-1, Groton outfought Ipswich 3-2, and Sisseton cruised past Britton-Hecla 3-0.
In pro action, the Twins’ Delmon Young had two hits, including the go-ahead single in the seventh, to help lift Minnesota to a 4-3 win over Detroit last night. Young's big hit came after Tigers reliever Phil Coke hit two batters to load the bases and Ryan Perry walked in the tying run. Danny Valencia had three hits and an RBI and Brian Duensing gave up three unearned runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. With the “W”, the Twins stay four games ahead of the White Sox in the AL Central. Jhonny Peralta had three hits and an RBI for the Tigers, but struck out with the tying run at third base to end the game. Armando Galarraga gave up two runs on eight hits in six innings and left with a 3-2 lead before the Tigers bullpen lost it. Today, the two teams do it again with Francisco Liriano throwing for Minnesota and Max Scherzer starting for the Tigers. Game time is slated for just after seven. Liriano is a win away from setting a new career high in victories for one season.
In the NFL, the Vikings have placed WR Sidney Rice on the Physically Unable to Perform list, making him ineligible to play in the first six games of the regular season. Rice had hip surgery last week and is expected to need at least two months of recovery time.
08/31/10
The first South Dakota Sportswriters Association high school football poll of the season has been released, and the team that knocked off West Central in the opening week of play is leading the way. Harrisburg received five first-place votes and is tops in the rankings, followed by Sisseton in second. Despite the loss, West Central is tied with St. Thomas More in third. Dell Rapids and Dakota Valley, both of which have yet to play, tied for fifth. Milbank and Canton also received some votes. Meanwhile, in Class 9B a couple of regional teams that meet this week made the board with Grant-Deuel picking up one first-place vote and the number four spot on the list, while Waverly-South Shore also received votes.
On the local sports scene today, Milbank’s girls tennis team visits Aberdeen for a doubleheader against Aberdeen and Roncalli this afternoon. The boys golf team is also in Aberdeen, taking part in the Hub City Invite today.
In the professional ranks, the Twins took Monday off and get back on Target Field tonight when they host the Tigers. Minnesota leads the division by four games over Chicago after the White Sox took a 10-6 win from Cleveland last night in 11 innings. The Twinkies will send Brian Duensing to the mound tonight, with Armando Galarraga going for Detroit. Game time is set for just after seven o’clock. Getting back to the White Sox for a moment, the always interesting Manny Ramirez is set to join the squad today after Chicago agreed to pay the rest of his contract and picked him up off waivers from the Dodgers.
Checking football news, Tarvaris Jackson is entrenched as Minnesota's backup to quarterback Brett Favre, despite sharp play in exhibition games this month by Sage Rosenfels. Coach Brad Childress confirmed Monday that Jackson remains #2 and Rosenfels is still #3. Childress said he's seen "an evolution" and "a growth" in Jackson since the beginning of training camp. Asked if the depth chart could change, Childress said "it would probably be hard for it to change." The Vikings face a difficult decision about how many quarterbacks to keep with the roster cutdown looming this weekend. Rosenfels's $2.6 million salary this season is high for a third-stringer, and in order to put rookie Joe Webb on the practice squad, the Vikings would have to first expose him to waivers. As for the quarterback that’s on the field, he might have a tough time staying upright. With 10 days remaining before their regular season opener, the Vikings have a lot of work to do to get their offense line’s interior settled. Starting center John Sullivan has been held out for most of the month because of an injury to his right calf muscle. He was absent from practice again on Monday, and Childress said the team is "trying to get some of the soreness out" before clearing Sullivan to return. That means regular right guard Anthony Herrera might start at center in New Orleans on Sept. 9. Rookie Chris DeGeare has been working in Herrera's place and could see significant action against the Saints.
