June Heatwave 2021
Hello again from the underground Braves office located on Chieftain Ave.
When did Osceola, Wisconsin and Phoenix, Arizona switch places? The feels like temperature was over 100 degrees last week. Summer is in full swing - post pandemic. People are venturing out and renewing a normal summer after a year of social distancing and masks. Things are happening!
In conference action - the Braves are 3 wins and 4 losses, which is pretty respectable since its college players just recently returned to the fold. The Braves took the defending state champs to the wire, but Osceola fell in a thriller 5-4 at the Aquarium. The grass there is plastic and robins land in the outfield with puzzled looks looking for worms. But hats off to the Fish - the park and the show they put on rivals any professional minor league team.
The Braves will get another crack at the Fish in Osceola later in July and hopefully another game against River Falls during the league tournament. The Braves stumbled in Spring Valley and fell 7-0 but then rebounded in Hudson. The Braves, after trailing by 7 runs, came all the way back to beat the Rats 9-8 in a steamy windy day at Grandview Park - AKA The Rats Nest. After the game the Rats planned a little grilled brat/beer party but perhaps the Braves comeback delayed that party? Both teams battled well and Hudson will get another shot at the Braves in Osceola in July.
The Braves have an exciting squad this year - with the Hronski family tree of Hondo, Mark and Nick in the heart of the lineup. There are many faces in the outfield but recently its been speedsters Aaron Schmidt and Brandon Rolf and a combination of others. The Schultz brothers typically cover shortstop and third base with Tommy Grygienc at second base. Noah Wenberg and Luke "Eagle" Lundgren have handled all the catching duties thus far. Pitchers - there are quite a few this year - and I don't want to list them all for fear of forgetting someone - but they're legit and we'll talk more about them as the season moves along.
Oakey Park is one of the six district sites for the WBA playoffs in mid-August so there's plenty of baseball this summer in Osceola. Braves games feature great brats, burgers, hotdogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn and all your favorite beer flavors. Ricky Fehlen and Bull Schmidt do amazing work on the field and keeping the grass trimmed and watered all summer.
PLAYOFFS?!?
Never too early to start our power 7 rankings of the WBA! Let's kick this debate off right now and see who's who among the elite.
WBA Rankings.
River Falls Fish - won state last year. Enough said.
Eau Claire Cavaliers - deep roster and they play a lot of ball.
Prescott Pirates - any WBA list that doesn't have Prescott in the top 5 is a list worthy of dismissal.
Sparta Miller - I have no clue how good Sparta is but I bet money they're friggin good.
Marshfield Chaps - I saw these guys at state last year. Looked like a team destined for great things.
Hayward Hawks - Hawks made it to the Final Four last year. They're a dangerous team. Silent killers type.
Brill - they never get respect but always seem to be there when it matters. You sleep on Brill, you pay the price.
Now let's all do a collective rain dance - Mother Nature needs to help out the farmers and the playing fields.
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