PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Track—Saturday, at Aberdeen invitational; Tuesday, at Black Hills Classic, Sturgis.
Boys tennis—Monday, at Mitchell quadrangular (with Yankton and Vermillion).
Girls golf—Thursday, at Aberdeen invitational.

Track: At the Pierre Legion Relays Mackenzie Rath’s first in the girls discus was Pierre’s only gold medal. She threw the disc 123’0″ and also placed second in the shot put at 41’5″. Jessica Lutmer as third in the 800 in 2:35.10 and third in the 1600 in 5:30.22. On the boys’ side Jack Maher was second in the shot at 50’9″ and third in the discus at 143’9″. Paul Adam was second in the high jump at 6’4″. Tucker Berens was fourth in the 1600 in 4:46.36 and fourth in the 800 in 2:06.23. The Pierre boys medley team of Josh Strand, Jack Walsh, Clayton Alban and Isaak Rombough placed fifth in 4:03.29. The Governors and Lady Govs both placed eighth among 19 teams. Watertown’s boys won the meet followed by Brandon Valley and St. Thomas More. The Brandon Valley women were first, followed by Watertown and Sioux Falls Washington.

Girls golf: At the Raider Invitational in Rapid City the Lady Govs won with a 367 score followed by Stevens at 403. The Pierre scores: Halle Gronlund 89, Jessa McTighe 91, Annabelle Simpson 92, Kaitlyn Swenson 93, Ellie Jo Simpson 93, Anna Otto 97, Haley Madeau 114. On Tuesday the Lady Govs hosted their invitational and placed second with a 343 score, behind Aberdeen Central’s 325 and ahead of Stevens’ 351. Annabelle Simpson placed fourth with an 81, Gronlund 10th at 84 and Swenson 15th at 88.

Boys tennis: After defeating Aberdeen Roncalli last week, 7-2, the Governors won two more duals Tuesday, 9-0 over Spearfish and 7-2 over Huron. In the latter dual Jace Wernsmann, Matt Hanson, Grant Judson and Luke Leingang won in singles and the Wernsmann/Ryan Warne team, the Grant Judson/Hanson duo and the Cole Nelson/Spencer Davis team won in doubles. Against Spearfish all of these players won as well as Blake Judson and Warne in singles.

Football: Three graduating seniors from Pierre’s state championship football team will play for the Blue squad in the South Dakota all-star game in Vermillion June 8. Selected for that team are Zane Schuchard, Jack Maher and Gage Gehring.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: huckleberry.
Friday-Sunday: black cherry.
Monday-Tuesday: apricot.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Golf—Thursday, at Faulkton invitational.
Track—Thursday, at Lyman invitational, Presho; Saturday, at Battler invitational, Gettysburg; Tuesday at Miller invitational.

Football: Brady Hoftiezer, graduating SCHS senior, has been selected to play for the Red team in the South Dakota all-star game in Vermillion June 8.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

This week’s schedules:
Golf—Next meet May 2 at YTC conference meet, Gettysburg.
Track—Thursday, at YTC conference meet, Gettysburg; Saturday, at Battler invitational, Gettysburg; Tuesday, at Miller invitational.

Track: At the Legion Relays in Pierre the Chargers’ places came in the field events. Angela Guthmiller was third in the discus at 107’0″, Lauren Wittler third in the shot put at 38’11 1/4″ and Jett Lamb third in the shot put at 49’9 1/2″.

DID YOU KNOW?

Laziness and inactivity kill just as many people as smoking does.

WEDDING DAYS

June 8: Frank Turner/Jasmin Fosheim.
June 8: Joseph Rezac/Brittanie Blaseg.
Aug. 17: Lane Severyn/Anne Marie Holter.
Aug. 31: Devin Maki/Karlie Warne.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Northern Michigan women’s golf (Karissa Guthrie): The Wildcats placed fifth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet at Augusta, Mich. Karissa placed 14th with a scorecard of 79-80=159. The NMU team now awaits a possible NCAA East Region tournament bid.

Augustana women’s golf (Natalie Young): The Vikings’ own invitational tournament was cancelled by weather. Augie plays in the NSIC conference meet at Morton, Minn., Friday through Sunday.

South Dakota Mines track (Theron Singleton, Erick Colman): Idle last weekend, the Hardrockerrs host the RMAC conference meet in Rapid City Friday through Sunday.

Black Hills State track (Allan McDonnell, Kelsey Van Den Hemel): At Dickinson State’s Blue Hawk Games, Allan placed second in the high jump at 6’8 1/4″ and placed fourth in the triple jump at 44’7 1/2″. The Yellowjackets compete in the RMAC conference meet at the School of Mines this weekend.

South Dakota track (Madason Tessier, Maddy McClure): At the Red Raider Relays in Orange City, Iowa, Madason placed second in the 100-meter hurdles in :14.52 and fourth in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:08.72. At the USD twilight meet Tuesday Madason was fourth in the 200-meter dash in :26.34 and fourth in the 100-meter hurdles in :14.95. USD sends athletes this weekend to the Drake Relays in Des Moines.

South Dakota State baseball (Landon Badger, Quinn Reimers): The Jacks took two of three over Western Illinois in league play. In an 11-3 win Landon went 1-for-3, scoring once and driving home two runs on a second-inning triple. He was 0-for-5 in an 11-9 win. In a 7-6 10-inning loss Landon was 0-for-4. On Tuesday SDSU beat USF, 11-7, and Landon went 1-for-3, scoring twice. Now 19-16 overall and 11-7 in the Summit, SDSU plays three games this weekend at Omaha.

South Dakota women’s golf (Katie Bartlett): At the Summit League championships, the USD women placed fourth of nine teams with a 944 score. Denver ran away with the team title with Oral Roberts second at 931 and SDSU third at 931. Katie tied for 24th place with a 244 score.

South Dakota State track (Rachel Propst, Riley Sears, Addy Eisenbeisz): At a meet in LaCrosse, Wis., Rachel placed eighth in the 1500-meter run in 4:45.95. At meets in California Riley tied for 13th place in the high jump at 6’7″, and Addy tied for 13th in the high jump at 5’5 1/4″ and placed 23rd in the long jump at 16’11 1/4″. At the USD twilight meet Tuesday, Rachel as fourth in the 800 in a personal-best time of 2:19.30. Addy won the high jump event at 5’8 3/4″ and is now tied for third on the all-time SDSU high jump list. Riley was third in the high jump at 6’4 3/4″. This weekend Coyote athletes go to the Drake Relays in Des Moines and to Simpson’s meet in Indianola, Iowa.

Minnesota baseball (Nolan Burchill): The Gophers went 1-2 in a non-conference series against Oklahoma, winning 8-1 and losing 2-1 and 5-2. Now 17-20, Minnesota returns to Big 10 play with three games at Indiana this weekend, then hosts North Dakota State Tuesday.

South Dakota women’s soccer (Joana Zanin): The Coyotes’ spring season ended with a record of 6-1-2. Joana is completing her freshman year at USD so will be a sophomore when the regular soccer season begins this fall.

Augustana baseball (Peyton Zabel): The Vikings took three of four against Winona State, winning 4-2, 10-5 and 16-11 and losing 10-7. Now 30-12 overall and 23-4 in the NSIC, Augustana hosted Minnesota State for two last night, then plays three at Wayne State this weekend.

Northern baseball (Spencer Sarringar): The Wolves took two out of three from Bemidji State over Easter weekend. In a 6-5 loss Spencer was 1-for-1 at the plate. In a 10-3 win he was 2-for-5 and had two hits, one of them a grand slam homer in the first inning for four RBIs. In a 7-4 win Spencer homered again, hitting a solo shot in the second inning as he went 1-for-4. Now 17-20 overall and 12-14 in the NSIC, Northern played Minnesota-Crookston twice yesterday and goes to St. Cloud State for three games this weekend.

WORDS OF WISDOM

The ripest peach is highest in the tree.

— James Whitcomb Riley

COUNTDOWN

1 day: Pierre Players’ “Born Yesterday” (April 26-28, May 2-4).
4 days: Pierre Youth Orchestra concert (April 29).
4 days: Stanley County elementary concert (April 29).
6 days: Riggs High band trip to Denver (May 1-5).
11 days: Stanley County High activities banquet (May 6).
12 days: Stanley County middle school/high school concert (May 7).
18 days: Riggs High/Georgia Morse Middle School chorus concert and art show (May 13).
19 days: Riggs High/Georgia Morse Middle School bands concert and art show (May 14).
21 days: State boys tennis tournament, Sioux Falls/Brandon (May 16-18).
24 days: Stanley County High graduation (May 19).
24 days: Riggs High graduation (May 19).
29 days: State track meets, Sioux Falls (May 24-25).
29 days: Pierre Trappers season opener (May 24).
34 days: Post 8 season opener (May 29).
37 days: Casey Tibbs Match of Champions bronc ride (June 1).
39 days: State girls golf tournaments, ‘B’ Mitchell, ‘A’ Aberdeen, ‘AA’ Watertown (June 3-4).
42 days: South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, Vermillion (June 6-9).
43 days: Women’s soccer World Cup begins (June 7-July 7).
50 days: Black Hills Playhouse’s “Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood” (June 14-30).

BASEBALL UPDATE

Pierre high school baseball: The Governors overpowered Rapid City Stevens, 15-7 and 16-0, then split a doubleheader with Mitchell, winning 1-0 in nine innings and losing 7-5. In the opener at Stevens, the teams combined for 16 walks and 16 errors. Pierre had two six-run innings. Josh Rowse was winning pitcher, and Garrett Stout earned the pitching save while going 3-for-5 as a hitter. The second-game shutout was thrown by Jacob Mayer, who allowed four hits and no walks. Grey Zabel and Matt Lusk each had four hits. The extra-inning win over Mitchell in the home opener came about when the Mitchell threw wildly to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, allowing the game’s only run to score. Zabel pitched seven innings, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out 11. Lusk also walked none and allowed two hits in his two innings on the mount, striking out one. Andrew Coverdale had two hits. In the nightcap Pierre took a 5-4 lead into the seventh and final inning, but Mitchell scored three times. Zabel had two hits, and Stout, Coverdale and River Iverson each had RBIs in a four-run fifth. Pierre plays at Brookings at 3 p.m. Friday, then plays Watertown at 5 p.m. in Brookings.

Minnesota Twins:
Friday: Baltimore, 7:10, FSN.
Saturday: Baltimore, 1:10, FSN.
Sunday: Baltimore, 1:10, FSN.
Monday: Houston, 6:40, FSN.
Tuesday: Houston, 6:40, FSN.
Wednesday: Houston, 7:10, ESPN.
Thursday: Houston, 12:10, FSN, MLBN.

Chicago Cubs:
Thursday: Los Angeles Dodgers, 1:20, MLBN.
Friday: at Arizona, 8:40.
Saturday: at Arizona, 7:10.
Sunday: at Arizona, 3:10.
Tuesday: at Seattle, 9:10.
Wednesday: at Seattle, 5:40.

Colorado Rockies (times MDT):
Friday: at Atlanta, 5:20.
Saturday: at Atlanta, 5:20.
Sunday: at Atlanta, 11:20.
Monday: at Milwaukee, 5:40.
Tuesday: at Milwaukee, 5:40.
Wednesday: at Milwaukee, 5:40.
Thursday: at Milwaukee, 11:10, MLBN.

PONDER THIS

It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.

— Oscar Wilde

FOOTBALL UPDATE

Sioux Falls Storm: Trailing 32-29, the Storm scored on a miracle deflection and catch in the end zone with one second left to hand Iowa its first loss, 36-32. Now 6-1, Sioux Falls is home Saturday at 7:05 p.m. against Arizona.

HOCKEY UPDATE

Sioux Falls Stampede: The Stampede completed the best-of-three opening-round playoff series over Sioux City with a 3-2 win in the fourth overtime. Sioux Falls won the series, two games to none. In the conference semifinal series vs. Waterloo, Sioux Falls won the first game in overtime, 3-2. Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Stampede lost Game #2 of the best-of-five series, 6-0. Sioux Falls won Game #3, 6-2, Tuesday to take a 2-1 series lead. Game #3 was to be played last night.

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): At the Mitsubishi event in Duluth, Ga., Tom tied for 46th place and earned $6,660 with his scorecard of 77-74-72=223, 7-over-par. In six tour events this season, Tom has earned $98,562. The Champions Tour goes to Ridgedale, Mo., this weekend for the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf event.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted.

— Percy Bysshe Shelley

SOCCER UPDATE

Sioux Falls Thunder: The Thunder’s season opener is at Duluth FC May 5.

Minnesota United FC: The Loons lost to Toronto, 4-3. Minnesota hosted Los Angeles last night and is home vs. D.C. United Sunday.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, April 25:
Evan Jarvis, Amanda Olson, Betty Jones, Stephanie (Magedanz) Bartsch, Cameron Sass, Lola Hollingsworth, Helen Jane Paxton, Greg Lakner, Peggy Hofmeister, Jodie (Hickman) Anderson.
— 33rd anniversary, Bob/Laurie Gill.
— 6th anniversary, Trevor/Jackie Fisher.
— 10th anniversary, Justin/Holly Artz.
— 10th anniversary, Chase/Joanie (Flottmeyer) Blair.

Friday, April 26:
Jane Candler, Ellis Mangan, Penn Williams, Beth Simon, Jean Easland, John Wellhouse, Julie Miller, Matt Mitchell, John Bradley, Nathan Ellenbecker, Susan (Van Camp) Wendelbo, Sheryl Nielsen, Susie (Gloe) Hansen, Sarah Gloe, Brian Chicoine, Rebekah (Hartmann) Hlavacek.
— 5th anniversary, Tyler/Nikki (Koenig) Sullivan.
— 5th anniversary, Will John/Kylee (Lamb) Johnson.
— 16th anniversary, Dennis/Jackie (Thorson) Richey.
— 5th anniversary, Andrew/Ashley Tople.
— 16th anniversary, David/Ann (Beemer) Candler.

Saturday, April 27:
Daulton Mercer, Gene Weischedel, Isaac Denke, Sarah Olson, Matt Blake, Melinda Christiansen, Lacey Hepker, Leo Sengos, Morgan Lindekugel, Lavin Stoeser, Carol (Ebert) Newcomb, Mona Oehlerking, Mike Leidholt, Cora Bartsch, Allyson (Friez) Kreyucik.
— 12th anniversary, Forrest/Susan (McNeely) Foster.

Sunday, April 28:
Ryker Custer, Allen Goodman, Ada Mae Stofferahn, Casey Ahlers, Aaron Mentele, Lane Severyn, Steph Paluch, Brittney (Witte) Hunsley, Benjamin Lechtenberg, Eric Tilberg, Barron Kafka, Boyer Mikkelsen, Henry Bridge Hansen.
— 12th anniversary, Matt/Carly Heard.
— 7th anniversary, William/Lynnette Coolidge.
— 18th anniversary, Mike/Erika (Snow) Andreas.
— 1st anniversary, Chris/Morgan Pope.
— 1st anniversary, Josh/Kelsie (Brandlee0 Williams.
— 1st anniversary, Connor/Amanda McKittrick.

Monday, April 29:
Blake Rose, Terri Johnson, Jeremy Jorgenson, Hollis Eschmeyer, Cindy (Bourk) Bowden, Morrigan Cardwell, Brittany Rausch, Josiah Severson, Brian Rausch, Ryan Kelley, Joey Boyer.

Tuesday, April 30:
Eileen Dean, Adam Calkins, Juleana Enright, Tyler Merriam, Jake Mortenson, Diana Heymans, Dave Knudson, Frank Whitebird, Paula (Darger) Gunderson, Jason Rumpca.
— Anniversary, Rob/Amanda (Chick) Deelstra.
— 3rd anniversary, Troy/Kelsey (Hanson) Roth.

Wednesday, May 1:
Connor McKee, Ryan Swartz, Mark Senftner, Connor McKittrick, Dianne Wegner, Scott Swenson, Elsie Lynn Fuchs, Parker Reid Knox, Emilie Oltman, Michelle (Young) McCullough.
— 9th anniversary, Jeremy/Christine (Gors) Ellwein.

Thursday, May 2:
Ross Vander Vorste, Jared Vermundson, Debra Bollinger, Josh Joel, Chris Henrichsen, Stacy (Zeigler) Cwach.
— 16th anniversary, Murray/Jennifer Thompson.
— 10th anniversary, Mat/Bre Ripperger.
— 10th anniversary, Mike/Terri Mehlhaf.

THOUGHT FOR THESE TIMES

Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

— Mark Twain

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

— So now that the NFL has released its schedule for this fall’s season, you know the dates around which to plan your trips to Minneapolis for Vikings home games. Here they are:
Sept. 8, Atlanta, noon.
Sept. 22, Oakland, noon.
Oct. 13, Philadelphia, noon.
Oct. 24, Washington, 7:20 (Thursday).
Nov. 17, Denver, noon.
Dec. 8, Detroit, noon.
Dec. 23, Green Bay, 7:15 (Monday).
Dec. 29, Chicago, noon.

— We out here in the West find it easier to get down to Denver for NFL games, so here are the Broncos’ home dates and opponents:
Sept. 15, Chicago, 2:25.
Sept. 29, Jacksonville, 2:25.
Oct. 13, Tennessee, 2:25.
Oct. 17, Kansas City, 6:20 (Thursday).
Nov. 3, Cleveland, 2:25.
Dec. 1, Los Angeles Chargers, 2:25.
Dec. 22, Detroit, time to be determined.
Dec. 29, Oakland, 2:25.

— In our opinion there’s no reason to schedule your Thanksgiving feast around this NFL football schedule: 11:30 a.m., Chicago vs. Detroit; 3:30 p.m., Buffalo vs Dallas; 7:30 p.m., Atlanta vs. New Orleans.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Pierre native Stephanie (Arne) Davison is on a tour of the Upper Midwest to promote her not-for-profit Creative Animal Foundation, which she co-founded in 2015 to advance wildlife education and conservation. Stephanie will present a program at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Riggs theater, telling her favorite conservation stories from traveling the world as a wildlife educator, guide and host of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” television program. Admission to Sunday’s program is free, but donations to benefit the Creative Animal Foundation will be accepted.

A retirement celebration in honor of Mike Oakland was held at the downtown BankWest Tuesday afternoon. Mike is retiring after 12 years at the bank.

Ruth Ann Johnson, 85, died April 20 at Avera Maryhouse after a brief illness. Services were held Wednesday at First United Methodist Church. She grew up on a farm near Iroquois and graduated from Iroquois High School in 1951. She earned a two-year teaching degree from Huron College and taught at Miller. On a blind date she met a U.S. Marine, Gerald Johnson, who was home on leave. They were married in 1955 and settled in Blunt. The Johnsons lived there until moving to Pierre in 1991. She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years, Gerald Johnson; her son, Gary Johnson and his wife Carol of Fort Pierre; her daughter, Paula Barber and her husband Ken of Onida; six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Among those who preceded her in death was another daughter, Barbara (Beaba) Terca, who passed away in 2002.

Tonight (Thursday) is Opening Night for Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible: at the Rogue Theatre in Tucson, Ariz. Ryan Parker Knox plays the role of the Rev. John Hale. Ryan is completing his seventh season as a member of the Rogue’s resident acting ensemble. “The Crucible” runs through May 12.

Earning Athlete of the Week recognition from the Pierre Athletic Coaches Association last week were Jace Wernsmann of the tennis team and Addy Smith of the track team.

Our sympathy to Kim and Bruce Easland and all of their family. Kim’s father, Robert Norfolk of LeMars, Iowa, died at the age of 68 April 16 at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 23 in LeMars. Mr. Norfolk worked in the medical lab field for 45 years. Among his survivors are his wife, Lisa; seven children, six grandchildren and four brothers.

First United Methodist Church announced last week that the new head pastor beginning this summer will be the Rev. Greg Kroger. Pastor Greg and his wife, Joyceann, have been serving First United Methodist Church in Rapid City for the past five years. The Krogers have two sons—Karl is pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Piedmont and Caleb lives in the Washington, D.C., area—and four grandchildren.

Matt Blaseg is president-elect of the Southern College of Optometry’s Optometric Private Practice (OPP) Club. He is completing his first year of school there in Memphis, Tenn. His wife, the former Taryn Wolf, teaches in an elementary school in Memphis.

When Robyn Starks Holcomb’s Roosevelt High School choirs and other music groups in Sioux Falls presented their showcase concert at the Washington Pavilion, one of her concert choir’s numbers was “Ain’t No Grave,” a piece that included a silent segment during which the singers all performed only in sign language. The soloist in sign language throughout the song was Addison Miller, son of Pierre native Scott Miller, who was a childhood friend and fellow Pierre Swim Team member with Robyn back in their Pierre growing-up years. Scott is a civil engineer technician with HDR who attended South Dakota School for the Deaf and Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C. The concert choir was thrilled to surprise Scott and his family with the performance of this song using sign language.

And speaking of Robyn Starks Holcomb, while she was accompanying one of her Roosevelt choirs at their regional large-group contest earlier this month, a sheet of her music flew out of her binder and landed face-up on her lap. As any good accompanist worth her salt would do, she continued to play without interruption, reading from the music on her lap, turning the page over on her lap and eventually returning to the music that was still in her binder. All six Roosevelt choirs received superior ratings at the large-group contest.

Travis and Elizabeth (Lamb) Salmonson of Mitchell revealed on Facebook this week they are expecting their second child in October. The Salmonsons have a son, Dax.

Also expecting a baby in October—their first—are Cody Coppess and his wife, Mandi, who live in Minneapolis.

Pierre Players’ spring show, “Born Yesterday,” opens this weekend with 7:30 p.m. curtains Friday and Saturday and a matinee at 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for students and senior citizens. The play continues with 7:30 shows next week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

The Twin Cities-based National Lutheran Choir, of which Tim Schmidt (’92) is a member, will livestream its spring concert at www.NLCA.com at 4 p.m. CDT Sunday, May 5. The concert will take place at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis.