THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.”
— Corrie Ten Boom

LEGION BASEBALL REGIONAL: PIERRE AT RENNER

Game #1: The first game of the best-of-three series to determine a state tournament spot began with Bennett Dean on the mound for Post 8. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Jett Zabel in the first inning put Pierre ahead, 1-0. With the score tied at 1-1, Jayden Wiebe’s double in the third made it 2-1. Dean escaped a bases-loaded, nobody-out situation for Renner in the bottom of the third. The game turned in the top of the fifth, starting with a two-run home run by Lincoln Kienholz. Later in the same inning a potential double-play ball off Zabel’s bat drove in one run as Renner tried to complete the double play, but a throw toward second base caromed off the helmet of a Pierre runner and went into the outfield, allowing another run to score. That 6-1 lead didn’t last long as Renner plated two in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-3. Dean finished six full innings with four strikeouts, two walks, three runs and eight hits. Zabel went to the mound for the bottom of the seventh, and after striking out the first batter, he gave up a walk and a run-scoring double. With the score now a nervous 6-4, Kiennholz was brought in to pitch, and he struck out two batters to end the game and give Post 8 a 1-0 lead in the series.

Game #2: It was an ominous start for pitcher Jackson Edman on Saturday afternoon as Renner scored one in the first and two in the second for a 3-0 lead. After that Edman settled down and cruised after his teammates put up a 9-run inning in the bottom of the second. That massive explosion started with Bennett Dean’s solo home run. After three straight singles loaded the bases with no outs, Brecken Krueger’s sacrifice fly brought Pierre to within 3-2. Two walks, the latter one with the bases loaded, tied the game. Matt Hanson’s infield hit made the score 4-3 for Pierre. Dean, batting for the second time in the inning, slugged a three-run double that cleared the bases. Immediately thereafter, Dean himself scored on the front end of Gary Nedved’s home run to complete a 9-run inning. Neither team scored in the third through the sixth innings. Edman, completing six innings on the mound, walked two, struck out seven, gave up four hits and three runs. Aaron Booth made his season debut on the mound as the final half-inning began with Pierre still on top 9-3. He struck out the first batter; a walk and a home run cut the lead to 9-5; then came a ground ball for the second out, a walk and a double. With things starting to get shaky, Jack Merkwan was brought in as a second reliever. The first batter hit a come-backer to him, and he flipped the ball to first to end the game and the series and send the Eights on to the state tournament.

LEGION BASEBALL: STATE ‘A’ TOURNAMENT

Wednesday’s opening-day scores:
* Brookings 6, Pierre 5 (8 innings).
* Mitchell 4, Rapid City (Post 320) 1.
* Sioux Falls East 14, Brandon Valley 2 (5 innings).
* Rapid City (Post 22) 4, Harrisburg 2.

Thursday’s schedule:
* Pierre vs. Brandon Valley, 10 a.m. (elimination game)
* Rapid City (Post 320) vs. Harrisburg, 12:30 p.m. (elimination game)
* Brookings vs. Sioux Falls East, 4 p.m.
* Mitchell vs. Rapid City (Post 22), 7 p.m.

* Pierre vs. Brookings, Game #1: It was as disheartening loss as possible for Post 8, which led 5-0 through 3 1/2 innings yesterday morning. A run-scoring hit by Jett Zabel and a bases-loaded walk gave Pierre a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the second with the bases loaded and nobody out, Matt Hanson drove in two runs with a single. Lincoln Kienholz hit an RBI double in the top of the third to make it 5-0. Meanwhile Brookings stranded the bases loaded in the second and left two more on base in the third against Kienholz on the mound. In the bottom of the fourth the game turned around. With Brookings runners on every base and nobody out, the Bandits got a run on a sacrifice fly, another run on a passed ball, another run on an RBI hit and yet another run on another hit. Neither team scored in the fifth, and Pierre did not score in the top of the sixth. Kienholz was relieved after five innings of work, allowing seven hits, four runs and a walk while fanning four. Jack Merkwan went to the mound in the bottom of the sixth. A walk gave Brookings a baserunner, who stole second base and scored on an RBI hit to tie the game at 5-5. To start the seventh Post 8 got its first batter on base via an error, but three successive outs followed. In the bottom of the inning Brookings advanced the winning run to second base but failed to score. In the top of the eighth Kienholz singled with one out. The next batter struck out, and batter’s interference was called as Kienholz tried to steal second base, so the inning ended. Brookings got a leadoff single followed by a double, so the winning run was in position at third with no outs. Bennett Dean relieved on the mound and got two outs, but a hit to the outfield which just eluded a diving Merkwan’s glove gave the Bandits the win, setting up Pierre in the unenviable position of having to face Brandon Valley or Sioux Falls East in an elimination game today (Thursday) and having to win five games in four days to win the state title.

LEGION BASEBALL: CENTRAL PLAINS REGIONAL

The national regional will begin next Wednesday at Fitzgerald Stadium in Rapid City and continue through the following Sunday when the champion will advance to the Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C.

If Rapid City Post 22 wins the state tournament this weekend, then the runner-up will advance for the Central Plains Regional as South Dakota’s “champion” because Post 22 will be in already as the host team.

The schedule for next Wednesday:
* 9:30 a.m.: Nebraska champion vs. Iowa champion (Moville).
* 12 noon: Minnesota runner-up vs. Nebraska runner-up.
* 3:30 p.m.: South Dakota champion vs. North Dakota champion.
* 6:15 p.m.: Post 22 vs. Minnesota champion.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: coconut.
Friday-Sunday: cherry.

COUNTDOWN

6 days: Legion baseball Central Plains Regional, Rapid City (Aug. 3-7).
8 days: Sturgis motorcycle rally (Aug. 5-14).
13 days: Black Hills Playhouse’s “Something Rotten” (Aug. 10-20).
13 days: MLS all-star game, Minneapolis-St. Paul (Aug. 10).
14 days: Sully County Fair, Onida (Aug. 11-14).
14 days: Field of Dreams game (Cubs vs. Reds), Dyersville, Iowa (Aug. 11).
15 days: Trader Days, Fort Pierre (Aug. 12-14).
21 days: First day of school in Pierre (Aug. 18).
22 days: Central States Fair, Rapid City (Aug. 19-27).
30 days: BluntFest (Aug. 27).
34 days: South Dakota State Fair, Huron (Aug. 31-Sept. 4).

WORDS OF WISDOM

Beware those who claim to know the mind of God and are prepared to use force, if necessary, to make others conform. Beware those who can’t tell God’s will from their own.
— The Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• This year’s recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors to be bestowed in a televised special in December will be George Clooney, Amy Grant, U2, Gladys Knight (and the Pips?), and Cuban-born American composer/conductor Tania J. Leon.
• A couple weeks back I wrote that for Twins fans at least we don’t have to worry about the Twins having to face the Yankees in the playoffs. That was then; this is now. With the Yanks barely hanging on to a better record than Houston, the fact is that, if the Yanks finish with a worse record than Houston, they would be the #2 seed. In that case the Twins, if they win their opening series in which they will have all games at home, would indeed have to play the Yanks in the second round. The way it is this year is that, in the second round #1 plays the #4-#5 series winner, and #2 plays the #3-#6 series winner. The Twins, if they win their division, would be #3. If they don’t win their division, they probably won’t be in the playoffs as a wild-card team anyway.
• Just as this year when the Central Plains Regional in Legion baseball will be in Rapid City, so it was 28 summers ago in 1994. That year the state tournament was in Pierre, and it ran from Saturday through Wednesday back then. By Tuesday night when Pierre eliminated Mitchell, only Post 8 and Post 22 remained. That set up the first championship game that Wednesday afternoon, and it proved to be perhaps the most memorable Post 8 game ever played. Post 22 had won the national championship just the year before, and in those days they won the state tournament every year. But Post 8, already assured of advancing to the Central Plains Regional as state runner-up, defeated Post 22, 2-1. That mandated another championship game that evening. Mark Ellis, who went on to a major league career, hit a home run for Post 22 in the first inning, and the Hardhats never trailed in winning another state title. But we will never forget that afternoon game! At the Central Plains Regional, Post 8 showed it belonged, eliminating the Minnesota champion (New Brighton) and the Iowa champion (Cedar Rapids) but losing twice, the final time at the hands of the Omaha team that would go on to the Legion World Series.
• Speaking of Mark Ellis, he will be the featured speaker next Tuesday night when all of the Central Plains Regional teams will gather for a pre-tournament banquet the night before the games start.

HOMECOMING DATES

Riggs High coronation: Sept. 12.
Stanley County High coronation: Sept. 13.
Riggs High homecoming parade: Sept. 15.
Riggs High homecoming day: Sept. 16.
Stanley County High homecoming day: Sept. 23.
Trojan Day at Dakota State: Sept. 24.
Swarm Day at Black Hills State: Sept. 24.
“M” Day at School of Mines: Sept. 24.
Cougar Day at USF: Sept. 24.
Homecoming at NDSU: Oct. 1.
Homecoming at Northwestern (Iowa): Oct. 1.
Homecoming at Nebraska: Oct. 1.
Homecoming at Minnesota: Oct. 1.
Gypsy Day at Northern: Oct. 8.
Viking Day at Augustana: Oct. 15.
Dakota Day at USD: Oct. 22.
Lancer Day at Mount Marty: Oct. 29.
Hobo Day at SDSU: Oct. 29.

SOCCER UPDATE

Minnesota United FC: The Loons seem never to lose a match. They won at Houston, 2-1, Saturday, and are 10-8-4 for the MLS season, standing in third place in the Western Conference with a playoff spot currently in hand. Minnesota is home vs. Portland at 1 p.m. Saturday on ABC.

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): Tom did not play at the Senior Open. Next on the Champions Tour schedule is the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary Aug. 5-7.

MUSIC ON THE RIVER

The music is performed each Friday at the new events center along W. Missouri Ave. The summer’s last performers this Friday will be Riverbank.

BLACK HILLS PLAYHOUSE

“Cinderella” concludes at the Playhouse this weekend with 7:30 p.m. shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday. The last show of the season, “Something’s Rotten,” opens Aug. 10 and runs through Aug. 20.

SUNDAYS AT THE LEGION

Upcoming performers on the deck at the American Legion cabin on late Sunday afternoons:

— July 31: Barstool Boys.
— Aug. 7: Hank Harris.
— Aug. 14: Lance Spears.
— Aug. 21: Hidden Timber Band.
— Aug. 28: The Valentines.
— Sept. 4: Ham & Cheese.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Twins schedule:
— Friday: at San Diego, 8:40 p.m.
— Saturday: at San Diego, 6:15 p.m.
— Sunday: at San Diego, 3:10 p.m.
— Monday: Detroit, 6:40 p.m.
— Tuesday: Detroit, 6:40 p.m.
— Wednesday: Detroit, 12:10 p.m.
— Thursday: Toronto, 6:40 p.m.
(Note: In August the Twins have 20 home games and 8 away games.)

Four Corners: We know Four Corners played three games in the district tournament this week, but finding their scores is like searching for a needle in a haystack. However, we know the team did qualify for the state amateur tournament with a win Monday over the Plankinton Gold Sox.

Little League: At the four-team state tournament in Rapid City, a Sioux Falls team won the state title for the third year in a row and advances to the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis. The Capital City Little League all-star team won its opening game over Rapid City Youth Baseball, 7-6, scoring four runs in their dramatic last at-bat. Capital City trailed 6-3 going into that final bottom of the 6th. Kaden Goodlander got the game-winning walkoff hit. He, Porter Hunsley and Will Eilers each had two hits in that game. The Pierre team then lost to Sioux Falls, 13-4. In that game Brecken Fuhrman had two hits and two RBIs, but five Pierre errors complicated things. Capital City was then eliminated in an 8-3 loss to Harney LL. They rallied to within 3-2 and 4-3 but gave up four in the top of the final inning.

Sioux Falls Canaries: The Birds lost the finale of a series against Fargo-Moorhead, 5-1; lost to Kane County by 4-3 and 9-8, and beat Kane County, 6-1. Sioux Falls through Monday stood at 24-36. The Canaries finish a series against Kansas City on the road tonight, then will be home against Kansas City Friday, Saturday and Sunday and against Winnipeg Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Other state tournaments: Besides the Post 8 varsity which will be in Rapid City at the state “A” Legion tournament, three other Post 8 ballclubs will be involved in state tournaments this weekend. In each case they are in pool play, and the teams surviving pool play go on to Sunday semifinals and championship games. The other three tourneys:
* 16U tournament at Watertown: Pierre’s pool opponents are Brookings, Harrisburg Gold and Sioux Falls East.
* 14U tournament at Pierre: Pierre’s pool opponents are Sioux Falls East (7:30 Thursday), Yankton (6:00 Friday), Mitchell (8:00 Saturday).
* 13 U tournament at Brookings: Pierre’s pool opponents are Harrisburg Maroon, Aberdeen and Renner.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The moral crisis of our age has nothing to do with gay marriage or abortion. It’s insider trading, obscene CEO pay, wage theft from ordinary workers, Wall Street’s continued gambling addiction, corporate payoffs to friendly politicians and the billionaire takeover of our democracy.”
— Robert Reich

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, July 28:
Karsten Withers, Kendra Kuiper, Ellis McKittrick, Dave Dulas, Mary DeVany, Taylor Becker, Kessler Decker, Stuart Jones, Joni Boub, Melissa (Luers) Hansen, Nick Neuhauser, Alex Allison, Tiffany (Winkler) Carr, Feleica Pullman, Allison Zuercher.
— 15th anniversary, Jesse/Rachel (Hermanson) Knutson.

Friday, July 29:
Joshua Dykstra, Alyssa Bump, August Mortenson, Megan Farris, Mariah Fuchs, Miranda Panzer, Jace Anderson, Aaron Hoelscher, Sheila Clark, Carson Knudson, Jeff Garrett, Twila (Larson) Reding, Libby Thorne, Cole Kayser.

Saturday, July 30:
Karla (Richards) Blemaster, Pat (Caldwell) Miller, Meara Hauck, Kent Skrondahl, Dave Koenig, Linda (Kern) Anderson, Mark Zabel, Dan Barringer, Barbara (Thomas) Kinder, Keith Garrigan.
— 17th anniversary, Tim/Kristi (Kunsman) Lloyd.
— 17th anniversary, Matt/Daisha (Seyfer) Finke.
— 11th anniversary, Matt/Amanda (Kusser) Mitchell.
— 12th anniversary, JD/Megan (Rapp) Deal.

Sunday, July 31:
Rhett Miller, Makenna Nystrom, Laficia Leftsich, Jeanine Maskovich, Gabriella Herbert, Adalynn Gustafson, Pat Parlin, Linda Geraets, Julia (Guhin) Yach, Sarah (Zinter) Detwiler, Jeremy Ripperger.
— Anniversary, Lance/Nicole (Rathbun) Kuper.
— 12th anniversary, Trent/Brandi Barth.
— 17th anniversary, Luke/Jennifer Steece.
— 51st anniversary, Dennis/Judy (Metzinger) Pullman.
— 12th anniversary, Kyle/Kayla (Prince) Kusek.
— 1st anniversary, Chad/Ann Grunewaldt.
— 1st anniversary, Jack/Leesa (Johnson) Carpenter.

Monday, Aug. 1:
Craig Eichstadt, Charlotte Hofer, Brooke Bjorneberg, Camden Vogel, Ryan Merriam, Dustin Bonnett, Otis Rosenau, Loni Shoup, Galen Stolp, Kevin Hall.
— 7th anniversary, Hunter/Cait Johnson.
— 18th anniversary, Eric/Danielle (Scott) High Bear.
— 19th anniversary, Jay/Ann (Schroyer) Schwartz.
— 7th anniversary, Sam/Morgan (McLain) Willard.
— 13th anniversary, Blake/Randi (McQuistion) Norman.
— 1st anniversary, Seth/Kim (Hipple) Hastings.

Tuesday, Aug. 2:
Matthew Hardwick, Parker Linn, Rachel (Lundeen) Bailey.
— 19th anniversary, Matthew/Kayla (Crawford) Fisher.
— We respectfully remember Rapid City police officers Nick Armstrong and Ryan McCandless, who were fatally shot while on duty 11 years ago today.

Wednesday, Aug. 3:
Eric Titze, Scott Bailey, Brad Urbach, Robyn Thorpe, Faun Van Bockel, Karen (Strickland) Jones.
— 37th anniversary, Guy/Kim DiBenedetto.
— 20th anniversary, Rob/Jan Kittay.
— 20th anniversary, David/Jennifer (Lomheim) Sieveking.
— 20th anniversary, Richard/Lynn (McQuistion) Siedschlaw.
— 48th anniversary, Chuck/Kathy Anderson.

Thursday, Aug. 4:
Laurel Holcomb, Mike Powell, Jessica Olson, Sadie Lund, Kayla Trebesch, Karen Palmer, Kellen Casanova, Kimberly (Bartels) Malone.
— 10th anniversary, Luke/Kristen Edwards.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Jason Dodson is moving his Leisure Palace Pool, Spa and Patio business from its long-time location at the corner of Euclid and Capitol avenues, across from the St. Charles Hotel, down to West Sioux Avenue where it will occupy the former location of Karl’s TV & Appliance. Karl’s moved up to the Northridge Plaza mall last year.

Shirley (Crandell) Doyle, 85, died at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital July 21. Memorial Mass was celebrated Wednesday at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Born in Missouri, Shirley moved with her family several times because of her father’s work on dams and highways. They came to Pierre in 1954, and Shirley married Jerry Doyle in 1956. They raised four children. Shirley worked for many years as business office manager at St. Mary’s Hospital, then she operated her own radiology billing business until retiring in 1997. Retirement was not really a reality, however, because Shirley also worked at Electric Beach, J.C. Penney, Rawlins Library and the snack bar at Hillsview Golf Course. She is survived by her son, Patrick Doyle of Sioux Falls; her daughter, Carin (Larry) Hayn of Pierre; seven grandchildren, including Bethany (Justin) Taylor, Jackie Schlaikjer, Mallory (Chris) Kudera, Doyle (Nellie) Holden, Quinn (Erin) Holden, Amanda Doyle and Bridget Doyle; nine great-grandchildren, and a sister, Imogene (Wesley) Atkinson. Among those who preceded her in death were her husband, her parents, and two children, Catherine Holden and Timothy Doyle.

When Dr. Matt Blaseg began his first day of work as one of the optometrists at Central Dakota Eyecare, his first patient was his mother, Darla (Schofield) Mayer. Matt and his wife, the former Taryn Wolf, are making their home in Pierre after spending his optometry school years in Memphis.

Jeff Schlekeway, who has been an assistant boys basketball coach for 27 years, was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the South Dakota Coaches Association.

Rick Heuertz, 69, South Sioux City, Neb., who was the father-in-law of Juliane (Meier) Heuertz of Blunt, died July 19. Juliane graduated from Riggs High School with the Class of 2001.

Ken Shelbourn scored his first-ever hole-in-one last week while playing the No. 12 hole at the Southern Hills course at Hot Springs.

Andrew and Jesse (Willard) Davies are the parents of a daughter, Deni Jean, who was born July 21, weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces. She is named for the late Dennis Davies, her paternal grandfather.

Tyler and Jill Merriam of Brookings revealed on Facebook this week that their son, Joe, will become a big brother just in time for Christmas when the Merriams are expecting their second child.

Similarly expecting their second child in December are Frank and Jasmin (Fosheim) Turner of Hettinger, N.D. They already have a daughter, Josie.

Earlier, Onida’s Chloe Lamb was named USD’s nominee for the honor of NCAA Woman of the Year. Now she has additionally been selected as the entire Summit League’s nominee for that recognition.

Ray Elenbaum, 73, died July 20. Services took place Wednesday at Lutheran Memorial Church. Ray grew up at Langdon, N.D., and served in the U.S. Army in 1968-69 during the Vietnam War. He and Linda Schill were married in 1971. They traveled into five states while Ray worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The family settled in Pierre in 1975, and Ray continued to travel to work with the Corps until 1988. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his daughters, Susan (Jim) Jensen of Minot, N.D., Kathy (Jeff) Arnold of Pierre and Sheri (Ryan) Doolittle of Pierre; five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and two sisters.

Chris and Ashlee Voller’s 3-year-old son, Tristan, who has been battling cancer for 10 months, is done with the intense treatments for awhile at least and will be doing chemotherapy for the next 1 1/2 years, according to the Vollers’ Facebook post this week. Tristan’s appointments will be reduced to only once a month. He and 9-month-old brother Austin will be able to go to daycare. The Vollers live in Billings where Chris is a firefighter.

Landon Badger is an engaged man now, having popped the question to his now-fiancee, Abbi Kitts.

The COVID pandemic is far from over as cases continue to soar in free South Dakota where no one is required to take precautions. Nine new deaths were reported this week along with 1,498 new cases.

The new executive director of Capital City United Way is Holly Wade, who recently moved to Pierre from Hemingford, Neb. United Way’s local fund-raising campaign starts Aug. 11. It annually raises funds which help support 16 agencies that provide services to Hughes and Stanley county residents. (News courtesy of KCCR Radio.)

PONDER THIS

“It’s now up to every American, now and in the future, to stand up for truth, to reject the lies wherever we confront them, in our towns, in our capitols, in our friendships, in our families, at the ballot box and within our own minds and hearts.”
— U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger