To play or not to play...Mother Nature answers the question

Play Ball! (?)

The Ogilvie Lions softball team will open the home portion of its schedule on Thursday, April 20, against the East Central Eagles, in a game that could be the season opener for both squads. The Lions struggled to a 1-15 record last year, including two late-season home losses to the Eagles. East Central had a tough season, too, posting a 3-13 mark with its only two regular season wins being the victories at Ogilvie. This Great River Conference matchup begins at 4:30 p.m. at Ogilvie High School.

History could be made in Mora on Saturday, April 22, if the Mustangs varsity baseball team is able to host Nashwauk-Keewatin for the first game on the relocated home diamond. When construction on the new high school began in May of 2021, the baseball field alongside North 9th Street was one of the earliest casualties of the process. Now accessible from North Grove Street, the new Mustang field features lights, an evergreen batter’s eye in center field, and covered bleachers behind home plate. An added bonus of the new digs is the junior varsity field being located right next to the varsity field, with a small parking area in between. First pitch for the contest against the Spartans is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Playing for Love

Weather won’t stop the Mora boys tennis team from hosting two more matches in the next week. With the ultimate back-up plan for an outdoor sport - advantage, Welia Center indoor courts - the Mustangs can write their home tennis schedule in ink each year. So while the rest of east central Minnesota’s sports teams have piled up the postponements, the tennis boys have served and volleyed their way through three home matches already.

On Thursday, April 20, the Crusaders of St. Cloud Cathedral will arrive on the Mora Schools campus for a 4:30 p.m. match. The Mustangs disposed of SCC last season by a 6-1 margin. With a forecast leaning heavily towards a cold, rainy afternoon, the match will likely be an inside affair. Head coach Pete Balmer doesn’t favor one location over another, but did note “Our players like playing outside better since they don’t have to worry about the roof when outside.”

The North Branch Vikings will come to town on Monday, April 24, for a 4:15 p.m. start to the fifth home match of the season for the Mustangs…and possibly the first outdoor match, weather permitting. Like Cathedral, North Branch proved no match for the Mustangs last year, getting swept in all seven pairings. Coach Balmer isn’t putting the cart before the mustang, though, in either contest. “I know that both teams will come out and give their best to give us a tough match,” he said.

As always, fans should check the conference websites for same-day postponements or changes. Mora Schools’ sports schedules can be found on graniteridgeconference.org, with greatriverconference.org being the site of choice for Ogilvie schedules.

Darren Lukenbill teaches math, science and social studies to fifth-grade students at Mora Elementary. He also has 27 years of coaching under his belt, with 22 years in Mora.