Division 2 Sub-Sub State Playoffs in Springfield
Game Stats – 7/6/23 Wabasso Legion vs Sleepy Eye Legion
Box Score
WABASSO LEGION (1) AT SLEEPY EYE LEGION (14)
WABASSO LEGION AB R H BI SLEEPY EYE LEGION AB R H BI
Adrian Tietz 2 0 1 0 Austin Uecker 4 1 3 1
Kaysen Harms 2 0 0 0 Cody Schultz 2 1 0 0
Noah Andersen 2 1 1 0 Kaleb Wait 2 2 1 0
Joe Liebl 2 0 1 1 Arian Saenz 1 0 1 2
Jaxson Wagner 2 0 0 0 Kaleb Butenhoff 2 1 0 0
Jayden Remiger 2 0 0 0 Caden Evers 3 1 1 1
Garret Marotzke 2 0 1 0 Mark Anderson 2 1 0 0
Preston Remiger 2 0 0 0 Winsten Nienhaus 2 0 0 0
Calvin Haana 2 0 0 0 Owen Weiss 0 2 0 1
Talan Helget 2 1 1 1
Brandon Tauer 1 1 1 3
Jon Petermann 3 2 2 3
Blake Wales 3 1 1 0
TOTALS 18 1 4 1 TOTALS 27 14 11 12
WABASSO LEGION 100 00 -- 1
SLEEPY EYE LEGION 419 0x -- 14
LOB--WABASSO LEGION 2, SLEEPY EYE LEGION 6. ERR--Garret
Marotzke (2), Zach Skoblik, Jaxson Wagner, Calvin Haana (2),
Preston Remiger, Adrian Tietz (2). 3B--Joe Liebl, Brandon
Tauer. HBP--Owen Weiss. SB--Cody Schultz (2), Jon Petermann.
WABASSO LEGION IP H R ER BB SO HR
Adrian Tietz (L) 1.00 2 4 1 1 0 0
Ethan Jenniges 3.00 9 10 5 3 0 0
SLEEPY EYE LEGION
Nick Mielke (W) 4.00 3 1 1 0 7 0
Kaleb Wait 1.00 1 0 0 0 3 0
WP--Adrian Tietz. SO--Garret Marotzke, Noah Andersen, Jaxson
Wagner, Calvin Haana, Kaysen Harms (2), Preston Remiger (2),
Jayden Remiger (2). BB--Owen Weiss (2), Caden Evers, Arian
Saenz.
Glenn Carlson Distinguished Service Award
The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Board is pleased to announce the inductees for the Glenn Carlson Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to individuals whose work, actions and continued promotion have brought outstanding positive recognition to Minnesota Amateur Baseball.
The Glenn Carlson Award winners are the umpiring twin brother combination of Wayne Cook of Redwood Falls (grew up in Sleepy Eye) and Warren Cook from Sleepy Eye.
The Induction Banquet will take place on Saturday, September 16 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud – the home of the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Museum.
The late Dean Briunkman was selected as one of 2023’s inductees into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. Dean’s illustrious and respected career and involvement in his community on and off the field will be acknowledged on the third weekend in September in St. Cloud.
All Conference (L to R) Lacey Mathiowetz, Adelinde Hoffmann, Allie Labat, Isabella Hoffmann, Kallie Zarn
Team Awards: Most Improved-Alexa Pelzel, Team Leadership-Lacey Mathiowetz, Co-MVP-Kallie Zarn and Lacey Mathiowetz
1st Team-Lacey Mathiowetz, 2nd Team-Kallie Zarn
All State Academic (GPA of 3.75 or above needed and a senior): Isabella Hoffmann and Lacey Mathiowetz
All Section: Lacey Mathiowetz, Alexa Pelzel, Allie Labat, Kallie Zarn and Isabella Hoffmann
Senior: Lacey Mathiowetz, Gracie Sellner, Kallie Zarn, Isabella Hoffmann, Allie Labat, Kenadi Steffl, Samantha Ibberson(stats)
Academic All Conference (GPA of 3.75 or above) Lacey Mathiowetz and Isabella Hoffmann
Tomahawk Player/Coach of the Year: Lacey Mathiowetz and Kayla Mathiowetz
Boys Class A – Minnesota Golf Coaches Assn. All-State
Ryan Engel (Ada-Borup), Cole Witherow (New Life Academy), Parker Brock (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley), Evan Villagomez (Heritage Christian Academy), Jake Fishbaugher (Filmore Central), Ethan Finseth (Fertile-Beltrami), Carson Boe (Lakeview), Carson Erickson (Sleepy Eye United), Sawyer Drent (HLOF/WWG), Tony Carlin (Fosston), Hunter Schmidt (Martin County West), Brady Schwinghammer (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa), Carson Besonen (Lac qui Parle Valley), Nathan Kueny (HLOF/WWG), Masen Nowacki (Fertile-Beltrami), Caiden Swenby (Fertile-Beltrami), Jaxon Janousek (Badger-Greenbush-Middle River), Isaiah Aulie (Pine River-Backus), Tanner Doeden Park Christian), Maverick Reed (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley.
By Travis Rosenau, Journal Sports Editor
SLEEPY EYE – Dedicated, humble and always improving was Sleepy Eye United’s Carson Erickson throughout his high school golf career.
After making it to the Class A state tournament for the third year in a row at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker last week, Erickson improved again from the prior season as he cracked the top 10 and finished tied for 10th place with a two-day score of 155.
Two years ago when the SEU boys golf team went to state together, Erickson finished with a 159, good enough for 21st overall. Last year when Erickson made it back to state individually, he shot a 157 to take 11th.
While taking home a state medal was always the goal for Erickson, he wasn’t upset with his improvements and getting into the top 10.
“It’s a little different now being done, but I was pretty happy with that top 10,” he said.
Erickson’s state tournament success and success all season, a season that saw him medal in 13 meets, earned him another repeat award as he finished his senior year as the All-Journal Boys Golfer of the Year for the second year in a row.
“It’s nice always being acknowledged for what you do,” Erickson said. “So you know everything you do, the time you put in gets acknowledged just kind of dedicates you to keep it going.”
SEU head coach Bryant Mages said Erickson’s continued success came from much dedication to the sport.
“Carson’s so deserving of what he’s accomplished over the last couple years,” Mages said. “He pretty much grew up on the golf course from sixth grade on. I remember when his mom would drop him off at the course in the morning before he was even able to drive and he would literally be up there from sunup to sundown.”
After last season, Erickson had a goal in mind to work on his driver. This year, he said the work he put in over last summer paid off.
“I think it definitely got better this year than it was last year,” Erickson said. “Overall, it was just a little longer this year, but a little bit of work in the offseason helped out. … Go out to the course a lot, hit driver, play the game, it kind of happens naturally.”
Mages said Erickson has impressed him with his continued improvements over the years.
“I think when you get to where he’s at, it’s kind of easy to plateau when you get to that level,” Mages said. “But for him, he’s been in the top 10 scoring average in the state the last three years. But even with that, he’s been improving by a stroke or so every year for nine holes, so that’s been pretty impressive to see.”
This season Erickson shot a 69 at North Links Golf Club against Springfield on May 24, an 18-hole low score. He also shot a nine-hole low of 34 on two different occasions this year and was named an All-State golfer for the third year in a row.
Erickson also finished this season as the Tomahawk Conference champion and Player of the Year for the second year in a row, turning in a nine-hole average of 37.7 to lead the Tomahawk Conference.
“It was just nice to go out, senior year, have a pretty good year,” Erickson said. “It could have been better, but its always fun to end senior year on a good note.”
Erickson said his favorite moment from his high school career was during his sophomore year when he went to the state tournament with his teammates Toby Weiss, Logan Netzke, Jack Nelson, Jacob Schultz and Allen Arneson. The SEU boys finished third in that 2021 tournament.
Travis Rosenau
SLEEPY EYE – For the third year in a row, Sleepy Eye United’s Liz Schwint punched her ticket to the Class A State Girls Golf Tournament at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker.
With Schwint’s experience and ability came the label of captain, something the team’s younger players have benefited from.
“If every athlete was like Liz, coaches would have a pretty easy job,” SEU head coach Bryant Mages said. “I mean, it’s kind of cliché to say things like, ‘She always gives 110%,’ but honestly, Liz never lets a single day of practice go to waste. And I think some of the younger ones see that and it motivates them to be productive at every practice, too.”
One younger SEU golfer in particular that has benefited from Schwint’s senior leadership this year was freshman Sam Price.
“She’s always been super coachable,” Mages said of Price. “She’s like a sponge. Everything you tell her, she takes it to heart and she tries to put it into practice. Like I’ve said before, we always struggle with our mental game, and that’s really where she’s developed a lot this year, I would say, and it really paid dividends for her.
“Also, I think golf really came naturally to her, and it doesn’t to some people. But, personally, I don’t think I’ve ever seen another high school girl golfer hit driver as far as she does, which is mind-boggling because she was only a freshman this year.”
Schwint and Price’s blend of youth and experience made for a real one-two punch on courses in the area this year, and their seasons also saw them finish as the 2023 All-Journal Girls Co-Golfers of the Year.
“Not only to myself, but I think it’s just a good testament to how much the Sleepy Eye United golf program has changed,” Schwint said. “We’re really strong, have a lot of good talent and a lot of potential. It means a lot that golf is so noticed now.”
Price’s strong season and awards she’s picked up during her freshman year, including being the Tomahawk Conference Girls Golfer of the Year, will certainly increase expectations from her over the next several years.
“It’s going to put a lot of pressure on me for the next couple of years, but it’s really nice to have that confidence going into the season next year and my junior year and senior year,” Price said.
Price and Schwint both made an impact for the SEU girls golf team last season as the program made its first state tournament appearance, but this year was another step forward for the team. Price finished first in this year’s Section 2A Golf Tournament at North Links Golf Club with a two-day score of 187, while Schwint was right behind her in second with a 189.
In addition to strong scoring from the rest of the team, SEU cruised back to state this year as a team. There, Price finished 29th with an 18-hole record round of 92 on the second day of the tournament for a 187 total score. Schwint finished tied for 40th with a 193, rebounding from a 101 on Day 1 with a 92 on Day 2.
Many times in high school, an older student won’t care to make friends with a freshman. But that’s not the case for Schwint and Price.
The two have developed a bond over golf that has led them to being two of the area’s best prep golfers.
“Looking back on my golf career, I would say that, overall, my favorite part has been getting to play with Sam,” Schwint said. “I didn’t know Sam before golf and now she’s one of my best friends. Seeing her succeed and seeing us both have so much success this last season has been the best part of high school golf.”
Price, who averaged a 49.1 this year over nine holes and was a seven-time medalist, said Schwint helped her out early in her career.
“As a seventh-grader, Liz kind of took me under her wing,” Price said. “And we’re really good friends and this year, it was just amazing, both of us playing really good. And her leadership really guided me seventh, eighth and freshman year.”
Schwint, who led the Tomahawk Conference with a nine-hole average score of 48.3 and was a nine-time medalist this season, said she was happy with how her career with SEU came to a close.
“I’m very happy that I ended with a really nice round for myself, a 92’s a really good score,” Schwint said. “The first day, I shot 101, which is higher than I wanted to, but I’m just very happy that I ended my career on kind of a high note – at the state tournament, our team taking sixth compared to eighth last year was a big improvement.”
Schwint will play college golf this fall with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls women’s golf team and pursue a degree in environmental science.
Price has a long way to go in her SEU golf career before she thinks about college, but she’s already looking for how she can improve next season.
“Obviously I want to improve my average score,” she said. “And I would love to take first in the conference again and first in the section again and then maybe, I don’t know how it’s going to work out next year, but hopefully top 20 at state next year.
“For me, I just hope to be more consistent with all of my clubs … I struggle with my putter sometimes, I’ve just really got to get the feel for the greens and then just be more consistent.”
Travis Rosenau
SLEEPY EYE – While the Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s Knights’ unbeaten dream season came to an end a win away from the state tournament, it didn’t take away the memories and many accomplishments the team shared throughout the season.
After defeating New Ulm Cathedral twice in the regular season and once in the Section 2A semifinals, the Greyhounds got payback out of the elimination bracket by defeating the Knights twice in the Section 2A finals to advance to the Class A State Softball Tournament.
“My first couple thoughts after, I think it was almost surreal, to be honest,” Lacey Mathiowetz said of the season-ending loss. “It was just a tough blow for a lack of better words. Bouncing back from it, though, just recognizing it was a great season and it sadly didn’t end the way we wanted it, too, but it doesn’t diminish the fact that we were unbeaten to that point.
“I think even though it was a tough ending, our team was still really solid. We did amazing things and I’m just going to have to remember how much fun it was to be a part of that team. We were a strong force and I will always remember the never-giving-up mentality we had up until that last night. It was just so good to be a part of it.”
Lacey Mathiowetz, who ended her senior year with a 1.19 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings of work, was named the unanimous All-Journal Softball Player of the Year as voted on by The Journal’s sports staff.
While a season highlight for Lacey Mathiowetz was topping Cathedral in the Section 2A semifinals and proving the Knights were deserving of being where they were at, she credited the Greyhounds for their comeback at the end of the section tournament. She also said she’s played in the summer on the Sleepy Eye ASA team with Greyhounds second baseman Alexa Hornick and has a lot of respect for her.
Greyhounds outfielder Jenna Hotovec also got a tip of the hat from Lacey Mathiowetz.
“Every time she stepped in the box, I knew it was going to be a battle,” Lacey Mathiowetz said of Hotovec. “I never knew what the outcome of that at-bat would be.”
After a solid 2.32 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings last season, Lacey Mathiowetz’s pitching numbers improved further this year. She credited her improvements in the circle to pitching coach Brian Schuck.
“I would attribute a lot of my success to him as he has taught me everything I know,” she said. “As I stepped onto the varsity field for the first time to where I am now, he has taught me so much.”
While her pitching has improved, her improvement at the plate has been a big difference-maker. As a sophomore, she hit .267.
This season, she saw her batting average climb to .468 with 29 hits, 29 runs scored, 14 RBIs and 13 walks.
“Ever since my sophomore year, hitting has been a battle,” she said. “When I was a sophomore, I was not very good. And it was frustrating. I didn’t like that I couldn’t do it, and I wasn’t going to let that defeat me. And I took the advice and the help from my coaches, the constant critiques, the feedback, and I tried to do my best.”
Lacey Mathiowetz said she tried slap hitting her junior year, and while her average went up to .352, she switched back to the right side of the plate and saw even more success.
In addition to assistant coaches Jill Weiss and Katie Bloedow, the Knights are head coached by Lacey Mathiowetz’s mom, Kayla Mathiowetz.
Lacey Mathiowetz said her mom didn’t go easy on her, however, which was OK with her.
“I think a lot of people would think it’s really different to have your mom as a coach,” Lacey Mathiowetz said. “I think early on she kind of made it clear, ‘Just because you’re my kid does not mean you’re going to get special treatment.’ And I was not upset about that all because I wanted her to be my coach. What it was like to have her as my coach, she was like any other coach I had, it just happened to be that we were related.
“But I think even though sometimes when your mom’s explaining to you how to do a drill, it might get a little bit more heated than if it was just an unrelated coach, I think that’s about the only difference, but I tried to keep it very professional.”
But Lacey Mathiowetz admitted it still meant a lot for her to carry on playing the game of softball at her mom’s side.
One major lesson Lacey Mathiowetz said she learned over the course of her high school career was how much the game prepared her for life.
“I would say the biggest lesson was learning just how much you learn about life through a sport,” Lacey Mathiowetz said. “I remember hearing when I was younger, ‘Sports teach you life.’ And I used to think, ‘Yeah, whatever, that’s just some saying that everybody has.’ It’s a sport, you’re competitive, you play, obviously you’re out there to win. But as I got to the varsity level, I was slowly starting to learn lessons.
“And I look back and when this year came and I really had to start reflecting on my past seasons, I just realized how much I had learned from softball about life. I mean, how to be good person to people, how to let mistakes go because mistakes are going to happen and, obviously, that’s a huge part of sports. It literally did, it taught me so much about life and I just hope that those lessons can stick with me the rest of my life.”
Lacey Mathiowetz will begin her next chapter academically and on the softball field at Mayville State University in North Dakota. She will be looking to major in English education and obtain a coaching minor while competing with the Comets softball team.
Class A State Golf Meet
June 13th & 14th
at
at Pebble Creek
Girls Team Results
Lac qui Parle Valley 350 346 696
2 Fillmore Central 342 355 697
3 Legacy Christian Academy 356 347 703
4 Park Christian 378 368 746
5 Pine River-Backus 399 386 785
6 Sleepy Eye United 400 396 796
7 Fertile-Beltrami 438 397 835
8 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 435 406 84
Girls Individual Results
1 Legacy Christian Academy Raquelle Nelson JR 79 82 161
2 Fillmore Central Courtney Hershberger SR 81 83 164
2 B O L D Kenna Henriksen JR 80 84 164
4 Lac qui Parle Valley Isabella Jacobs SR 85 80 165
5 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Kianna Johnson SO 85 84 169
5 Lac qui Parle Valley Molly Halvorson FR 86 83 169
5 Lac qui Parle Valley Kaitlyn Kittelson JR 82 87 169
8 Dawson-Boyd Lindsey Lund SO 87 83 170
9 Fillmore Central Myleigh Scheevel SO 81 90 171
10 Border West Paige Beyer SO 89 86 175
11 Braham Madison Davis JR 94 83 177
11 Legacy Christian Academy Emily Brandt JR 93 84 177
13 Dawson-Boyd Alyssa Swedzinski FR 92 86 178
14 Fillmore Central Chloe Morem SR 88 92 180
15 Park Christian Hailey Frueh FR 92 89 181
15 Legacy Christian Academy Bri Brandt SO 91 90 181
17 Fillmore Central Aubrey Larson JR 92 90 182
18 Park Christian Anika Stromme SO 89 94 183
19 Park Christian Kylee West FR 95 89 184
19 Border West Aspen Beyer JR 94 90 184
19 Legacy Christian Academy Sondra Melby SR 93 91 184
22 North Woods Tori Olson JR 91 94 185
22 Ottertail Central Sophie Hillman FR 92 93 185
22 Hayfield Avery Towey SR 94 91 185
22 Ely Abby Koivisto JR 94 91 185
22 Canby Kara Rangaard SR 88 97 185
27 Pine River-Backus Hannah Barchus SR 97 89 186
27 Lake of the Woods Kenzie Pieper SR 96 90 186
29 Sleepy Eye United Sam Price FR 95 92 187
30 Fillmore Central Lily Miller SO 92 96 188
30 B O L D Tori Osterfeld SR 94 94 188
32 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Shae OLeary JR 98 91 189
32 New Testament Christian Ayla Larson SO 94 95 189
34 Badger-GB-MR Jade Reese SR 101 89 190
34 Adrian/Ellsworth Taya Elias SR 98 92 190
36 Fertile-Beltrami Tyra Burke JR 101 90 191
37 Pine River-Backus Cate Travis SR 95 97 192
37 Heritage Christian Academy Lauren Sawicky 7th 92 100 192
37 Hayfield Carly Bronson FR 104 88 192
40 Sleepy Eye United Liz Schwint SR 101 92 193
40 Fillmore Central Annika Mensink SO 99 94 193
40 Lac qui Parle Valley Grace Vacek JR 97 96 193
40 Mahnomen-Waubun Cady Clark JR 98 95 193
44 Fertile-Beltrami Katelyn Aakhus SR 96 98 194
45 Wabasha-Kellogg Rachel Smith SR 101 94 195
45 Legacy Christian Academy Hailey Nelson SO 95 100 195
47 Murray County Central Elie Meyer SR 101 95 196
48 Fosston Annika Landsverk SR 101 96 197
49 Breckenridge Kennedy Schuler SR 99 99 198
49 Park Christian Kennedy Masseth SO 102 96 198
2023 Class A Individual Girls Golf State Meet Final Results
51 Community Christian Katrina Velyan SR 102 97 199
52 Heritage Christian Academy Alyson Bormes 7th 107 93 200
53 Alden-Conger Emma Kleinschrodt SR 108 93 201
54 Cedar Mountain Keanna Hultquist SR 100 102 202
54 Sleepy Eye United Jaci Domeier SR 95 107 202
56 Adrian/Ellsworth Madeline Wagner SR 105 98 203
56 Pine River-Backus Lyric Aulie 7th 99 104 203
56 Hayfield Kristen Watson JR 96 107 203
59 Pine River-Backus Kassidy Bristow SO 108 96 204
60 Murray County Central Rachael Huso FR 103 103 206
61 Heritage Christian Academy Lisey Langhus JR 104 104 208
62 Park Christian Wynn Tomlinson SO 105 104 209
62 Cass Lake-Bena Nakomis Mitchell SR 100 109 209
64 United South Central Emma Heggen SO 105 105 210
64 Lanesboro Chloe Schnebly SR 103 107 210
66 Nevis Sofia Anderson SR 104 107 211
67 Lac qui Parle Valley Peyton Sachs 8th 106 106 212
68 Lac qui Parle Valley Kate Ulstad FR 113 100 213
69 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Jenna Gossen SO 112 102 214
69 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Teigyn OLeary FR 110 104 214
71 Heritage Christian Academy Paige Sawicky 7th 112 108 220
72 Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Hope Dimmel SO 115 107 222
73 Sleepy Eye United Kiara Murphy FR 109 114 223
74 Sleepy Eye United Chloe Walter SO 119 105 224
74 Sleepy Eye United Meriden Andres JR 109 115 224
76 Fertile-Beltrami Ella Finseth SO 118 107 225
76 Badger-GB-MR Ava Christianson FR 115 110 225
76 Alden-Conger Ella Riebe SR 111 114 225
79 Fertile-Beltrami Kasia Wilson SR 124 102 226
80 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Izzy Thomas 8th 120 109 229
81 Pine River-Backus Ayla Richards SO 115 115 230
81 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Zoey Williams JR 115 115 230
83 Legacy Christian Academy Greta Casassa SR 120 118 238
84 Pine River-Backus Ava Hansen SO 129 112 241
85 Fertile-Beltrami Macy Petry 7th 123 127 250
86 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Shelby Korman JR 129 127 256
Boys Individual Results
| 1 New Life Academy of Woodbury Cole Witherow SR 69 70 | 139 |
| 2 Fillmore Central Jake Fishbaugher SR 68 73 | 141 |
| 3 Lakeview Carson Boe SO 71 72 | 143 |
| 3 Martin County West Hunter Schmidt JR 71 72 | 143 |
| 5 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Parker Brock SO 71 74 | 145 |
| 6 Park Christian Ryan Nelson FR 75 75 | 150 |
| 7 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Brady Schwinghammer SR 79 72 | 151 |
| 8 Lac qui Parle Valley Carson Besonen SO 75 77 | 152 |
| 9 Fosston Tony Carlin SR 79 74 | 153 |
| 10 Sleepy Eye United Carson Erickson SR 75 80 | 155 |
| 10 Lakeview Lane Arends SO 76 79 | 155 |
| 10 Renville County West Ryan Schrupp SO 76 79 | 155 |
| 10 Ada-Borup-West Ryan Engel SR 76 79 | 155 |
| 10 Fertile-Beltrami Ethan Finseth SR 74 81 | 155 |
