The fourth time was the charm for Bangor baseball under Todd Grant in the sectional final. The Cardinals' 9-3 win over Pecatonica in this year's Division 4 sectional finals was a welcome relief for a program that couldn't quite seem to clear that final hurdle to reach state. In fact, it has been an issue that's plagued the Scenic Bluffs Conference in general for the past quarter century.
The Bangor Cardinals have been knocking at the door of the state baseball tournament for a while now. Thanks to an unconventional pitching strategy, excellence on the mound and a timely offensive explosion, that door has finally been forcefully broken down.
High school sectional baseball day in Wisconsin presents a dilemma for coaches: How do you best utilize your pitchers when, ideally, you'll be playing two do-or-die games in the same day in your bid for state?
It wasn't Bangor's ace pitcher dealing on the mound and it wasn't the heart of their order driving in runs at the sectional semifinals. But it's those sorts of contributions — from those outside a team's top stars — that can be just what the doctor ordered in the playoffs.
I like baseball. I really do. I think that most people truly do enjoy the sport of baseball, despite all reports that folks have moved on to other things that don't baseball.
Elijah Brown wasn’t satisfied with his freshman season of track and field. In his first year as a member of the Tomah track team, Brown's overall performance didn’t sit right with him. So, he decided to spend the offseason doing something about it.
Despite having nearly a month’s worth of possible competition dates available so far, the spring sports season’s start feels anything but official yet. Once again, due to our regularly scheduled spring weather, our area sports teams have struggled to properly get into a groove thus far this season with most teams canceling or postponing more contests than playing anything.
I enjoy my birthday each year. I do still get excited to know which day of the week it falls and how close I can get to Easter. Oh, my birthday is April 16. And, as a kid, I thought having your birthday on Christmas was better than winning the lottery. What seemed like the second-best holiday to fall on was Easter, and it didn’t take me long to realize that every so many years, I get my day on, what I thought, was the second-best gift getting holiday.
Behind a slew of first-place finishes, the Brookwood girls managed to nab the top spot in the final team standings at the 2022 Royall Early Bird Invitational Tuesday, April 12 in Elroy.
Though this year’s spring weather hasn’t been favorable for the start of the 2022 high school boys’ tennis season in Wisconsin, the Tomah Timberwolves did manage to get their first dual under their belts — securing a decisive win in the process.
The Cashton baseball team was able to pick up their first conference win of the season thanks to a victory against Brookwood. No player had a bigger hand in it than Bowdy Dempsey.
The Tomah softball team was able to rally back late with nine runs in the seventh inning of their game against La Crosse Central. As a result, the Timberwolves were able to come away with a 15-7 victory Monday, April 11 in La Crosse.
There are dominating pitching performances, and then there’s what Bangor senior Ashton Michek did against Melrose-Mindoro. Michek was nearly untouchable against the Mustangs, throwing a no-hitter while striking out 18 batters in seven superb innings of work.
Sparta softball was back in action this past Monday, April 11. The squad welcomed Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau to Memorial Park for a non-conference bout, where the Red Hawks secured a big win.
La Crosse Logan visited Sparta on their home turf Tuesday afternoon with hopes of snagging their first conference win of the year. Sparta had other plans for the Mississippi Valley Conference opener.
Behind a six-run outburst in the fourth inning, the Cashton softball team tallied its first conference win of the season against Brookwood early this week.
The Sparta baseball team started the week with back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday. The team’s first opponent was Altoona on Monday, April 11 with a game against Richland Center the following day.
The Timberwolves were able to secure a close victory against Holmen on Monday, April 11 behind a five-run rally in the seventh inning that set up a pivotal eighth inning. A single run in the eighth was the difference as Tomah earned its first MVC victory of the year 7-6.
There is no question that we’re currently living in the golden age of Bangor boys’ basketball. A sustained run like Bangor’s is a product of a whole host of contributors over the years, but there has been one particular constant that has served as a thread line woven through each team during this incredible run: the presence of the Reader brothers.
The Cashton Eagles and Brookwood Falcons are both moving onto the offseason after seeing their seasons end in the opening round of this year’s high school girls’ basketball playoffs.