Shawano Leader Sports Headlines

Eastern Division

Clintonville 9, Menominee 0

Pat Van Daalwyk earned the win while Alan O’Kimosh took the loss.

Dean Muthig was 3 for 5. Jared Westphal was 2 for 4, and Jake VanAllen was 2 for 3.

Lowell Chevalier was 2 for 3 for Menominee.

Neopit 18, Gresham 2

Wil Corn and Alex Peters combined on a one-hitter as the Chiefs beat the Gophers in seven innings.

Jordan Corn was 4 for 4 for Neopit. Dustin Peters was 3 for 3 with a double. Brandon Frechette was 3 for 4. Anthony Leeman and Nick Corn were both 2 for 3.

Peter Carroll had Gresham’s only hit. Kenny Casper took the loss.

Clintonville 7, Marion 2

Jansen Van Daalwyk earned the win, as Cody Reimer took the loss.

John Dunlavy was 3 for 5 for Clintonville. Dean Muthig was 2 for 3 with a double and a triple. Aaron Everts was 2 for 5.

Cody Reimer and Dave Jueds each had doubles.

Western Division

Tigerton 12, Caroline 5

Paul Sellner earned the win pitching and went 2 for 5 for Tigerton. Brad Breaker was 2 for 3. Neil Hoffman was 2 for 3 with a double.

Adam Weatherwax was 2 for 3 for Caroline. Mark Maas had a double.

Mike Weatherwax took the loss.

Little Falls 6, Bowler 1

Ryan Gullixon was 2 for 5 with a triple and three RBIs for Little Falls. Jeremy Bauer and Pete Radies each had two hits.

Andy Pierzchalski and Pat Provoast each had two hits for Bowler.

Jeremy Bauer earned the win while Paul Murphy took the loss.

Tigerton 6, Leopolis 2

Eric Gendusa earned the win, as Hunter Hoffman took the loss.

Paul Sellner led Tigerton with three hits. Eric Kroening and Shawn Much each had two hits.

Hoffman was 3 for 4 to lead Leopolis. Tyler Dillenberg and Ky Schmidt each had two hits.

Caroline 13, Tilleda 8

Mike Weatherwax earned the win and went 4 for 5 for Caroline. Mike Fischer had two hits including a double. Mark Maas had a double.

Doug Brei and Andy Brei were each 2 for 4 for Tilleda. Curt Brei had a double and took the loss pitching.

Other divisions

Northern: Hatley defeated Eland 2-1, Wittenberg edged Elderon 5-4 and Aniwa beat Polar 7-0.

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By: 

Scott Owen, Special to the Leader

Tim Rothe has now accomplished something that few in racing have ever done, especially in recent years. Rothe raced to his first career Late Model feature Saturday at Shawano Speedway, and has now won feature races in a dirt Late Model and an asphalt Late Model.

Travis VanStraten, meanwhile, won his third IMCA Stock Car race in a row, and Tracy Wassenberg won his fourth feature in IMCA Sport Mod action.

Also, Eddie Muenster made a pass on lap 19 to win his first IMCA Modified feature this season, and Joshua Slewinski secured his first win in Mighty Four competition.

Late Models

Rothe dominated the competition, leading all 20 laps. He survived numerous restarts with the likes of Aaron Holiday and Ron Berna on his back bumper, but was virtually unchallenged on his way to victory lane.

Berna finished second, Paul Parker took third, Brett Swedberg was fourth and Nick Anvelink finished fifth in the race after restarting 18th on lap three.

Rothe led every lap he raced in his heat race and the feature.

IMCA Modifieds

Tom Schaal led the first five laps of the IMCA Modified feature before Matt Oreskovich snuck underneath Schaal to take over the lead on lap six.

Oreskovich was quickly joined by Muenster and Jerry Wilinski out in front. After a lap seven caution for debris, Wilinski utilized an outside pass to get around Oreskovich.

Wilinski continued to race the high line of the track and looked to have the car to beat. Muenster, meanwhile, tried multiple grooves to stay with the leader.

On lap 19 Wilinski got too high in turn four and kissed the wall, breaking his momentum. Muenster capitalized on the mistake and grabbed the lead and went on to win.

Wilinski recovered to finish second. Marcus Yarie, who had taken the challenge to start last, passed 15 cars to finish in third.

IMCA Stock Cars

Rookie Trent Nolan paced the first six laps of the IMCA Stock Car feature, but Travis VanStraten began pressuring Nolan by lap four.

VanStraten took to the inside of Nolan exiting turn two on lap seven and secured the lead. VanStraten led the rest of the way for his third straight feature win.

Mike Schmidt finished second in the race. He has finished no worse than forth in a feature this year. Nolan held on to take third in the race. Justin Jacobsen took fourth.

IMCA Sport Mods

Lucas Lamberies shot from fourth into the lead on the first lap of the IMCA Sport Mod feature.

On lap five, Tracy Wassenberg moved to the second position to begin a high-speed chess match.

Lap after lap, Wassenberg tried to get inside of the leader. Wassenberg showed his nose to the Clintonville teenager numerous times, and Lamberies showed great poise staying in the lead.

Wassenberg kept trying to get inside of Lamberies until lap 18, when he tried the outside of Lamberies.

As the white flag waived the duo was still side by side but Wassenberg held a slight advantage.

Wassenberg pulled ahead on the final lap and scored his fourth win of the year. Lamberies took second. Jordan Bartz started last by taking the challenge and finished third.

Mighty Fours

In the Mighty Four feature race, Grant Kastning led the first seven laps before mechanical woes ended his night. Matt Hatterman assumed the lead, but held it for only one lap before Slewinski grabbed the lead on lap nine. Slewinski held off Jeff Behm to score his first win of the year.

This week

Saturday night is family night at the track. Mom, Dad and kids 16 and younger get in for $15 and get four free Sun Drop Slushies.

Races begin at 6:30 p.m.

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Bieber to focus on middle school programBy: 

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Adam Bieber

After 10 seasons as the Shawano Community High School wrestling coach, Adam Bieber is stepping down, but he’s not stepping away from Shawano wrestling.

Bieber, who took over the job in 2003 when Tim Mayer left to become the SCHS athletic director, plans to expand his role at the middle school and youth levels.

“Two years ago when I took over the (Shawano Wrestling Club) president spot, we made some changes that I thought would be more beneficial to our youth wrestlers as a whole,” he said. “Now we need to work at the middle school level. We’re going to continue what we’re doing at the youth level.”

Bieber plans to lengthen the middle school wrestling schedule, which goes from mid-January to February.

“Other schools run a little bit longer than that,” he said. “That is what I’m going to focus on, getting our middle school schedule near our youth schedule.”

Bieber, who is running for Shawano County sheriff, said he has been eyeing the transition for a while.

“This has been part of the plan for about a year or two, that I would step down and work more with the youth group,” he said.

SCHS has not named Bieber’s replacement, but he has endorsed Mike Homan, who coaches wrestling at Shawano Community Middle School, and former SCHS wrestler Jordan Kust, who graduated in 2008 and went on to have a successful college career at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

“Now that Mike Homan is ready to step up and we have Jordan Kust coming back from college, it just worked out perfectly,” Bieber said. “I can step back and let those guys take over and I can focus more on the youth.”

Bieber said his best coaching memories include guys who reached the state tournament as well as some whom he recruited to the sport that had never wrestled before.

“Today, they’re still sticking with the sport, they love the sport, like Nick Stellato, who is coaching over at (Green Bay) Preble High School,” Bieber said. “He’s one of my wrestlers that just started when he was a sophomore. Those are special moments that I’ve been able to experience the last 10 years. Hopefully, I’ve made an impact on their lives and they continue to teach wrestling and love the sport like I do.”

Bieber said he will miss certain aspects of coaching at the high school level, but he expects to still be around.

“I’m not going to disappear,” he said. “I’m not going to be one of those coaches that just falls off the face of the earth and you don’t hear from them again. I’ll still be around, I’ll still volunteer my time. Obviously, I’ll respect whatever coach takes the job and how he handles situations.

“I’m going to give time to the kids. If they want to learn from me or take any advice from me, I’ll still be there to give them help in any way they want.”

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By: 

Scott Owen, Leader Columnist

Former Shawano Speedway hot shoe Ben Banaszynski stopped at the track during Saturday’s prep session and spent some time telling old stories to his future grandson-in-law, Bobby Reiter.

Banaszynski, at 76 years young, shared the story of how he bought his first race car for $600.

He said the car was fast but not fast enough. Times have certainly changed since the track’s early days in the 1960s when Banaszynski got his start.

The sport and the track alike have greatly evolved. Superb driving talent and the ability to adjust to changing track conditions have been, and will always be, a huge part of winning.

In the 1960s, though, drivers primarily built their own race cars, and ingenuity on the part of the racer reigned supreme. Money certainly helped a racer win, but winning was much more dependant back then on the ability to out-engineer your opponents.

Today’s racing is more about picking up a parts catalog and ordering the right combination of parts to go on your race car.

In the track’s early days, all of the cars had stock bodies that looked just like the cars driven on the street. Even the early versions of Late Models were built from Chevelles, Torinos, Camaros and Monte Carlos.

Today, the IMCA Stock Car class and the Mighty Fours still look like street cars, but the other divisions are all custom built aluminum racing bodies.

The track itself has evolved a lot since the early days as well. The wooden covered grandstands and steel bleachers have been replaced by the concrete and aluminum construction, which by the way isn’t the best acoustic design.

The track surface has been widened and banking has been added to the corners. Originally there was not a guardrail on the back straightaway of the track. Then steel barriers made up the outside wall of the track.

Nowadays concrete blocks serve to keep the race cars inside the racing surface. The tower used to be just one level. It looked very much like a gazebo way back when. Today it stands three stories high and gives a great vantage point to watch the races.

The haulers have evolved, too. From flat-towing race cars with street cars, to trucks and open trailers, to today’s toterhomes and enclosed rigs.

The race fan has evolved, too. It used to be you needed to read the Shawano Evening Leader to stay abreast of the racing gossip. Now it is all available online at your fingertips.

Through the ages, though, the food has stayed tasty, the on-track action has been exciting, and the ravenous fan base is still the best around.

See you at the track.

Scott Owen is the track announcer at Shawano Speedway.Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

By: 

[email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano pitcher Taylor Prey winds up during Thursday’s game against Clintonville at Memorial Park in Shawano. Shawano won 11-5.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Clintonville slugger Turner Doornink, center, is greeted at home plate by teammates after hitting a home run during a game against Shawano Thursday at Memorial Park in Shawano. Shawano won the game, 11-5.

The Shawano Community Legion baseball team pulled away with a five-run sixth inning to beat Clintonville 11-5 Thursday at Memorial Park.

“In the first couple of games of the season we’ve had here, we’ve kind of fallen behind and didn’t battle back,” Shawano coach Will Gillis said. “We got on top, they came back on us and we battled back.”

Shawano (1-4, 0-2 Fox River Valley) wasted no time getting runners on, loading the bases in the first inning and getting three runs in on a single by Taylor Prey, a walk of Mason Boogren and sacrifice fly by Jaryd Wilber.

Clintonville (3-2, 3-0 Central Wisconsin Legion) loaded the bases in the second, but stranded all three runners.

Turner Doornink hit a two-run home run over the center field fence in the third to cut the Diamond Cats’ deficit to 3-2.

“He’s a stud,” Gillis said. “He crushed the ball out of here. It was a big-timer, no double shot.”

Boogren hit a triple in the bottom of the frame and got home when Doornink overthrew first baseman Jansen VanDaalwyk on a Wilber ground ball. Jon Koth then hit a ball into center field to score Wilber.

In the top of the fifth, Clintonville’s Hunter Vollmer reached on a Shawano error, stole second and got to third when Shawano had trouble fielding a Doornink shot to left field.

VanDaalwyk then hit a two-run double to put Clintonville within one, 5-4, but that was as close as the Diamond Cats would get.

Shawano scored one run in the bottom of the fifth on a Koth sacrifice fly.

“The score, 11-5, it wasn’t really that type of game until we got to late in the sixth,” Clintonville coach Jeremy Schoenike said. “We had a couple clutch hits to get us there. Turner hit the ball well tonight, VanDaalwyk hits the ball well. We were knocking right on the door.”

Shawano loaded the bases in the sixth with a walk, a perfect bunt down the third base line by Grant Wainio and a base hit by Prey. Clintonville walked in one run, and another scored on a wild pitch. A double by Wilber brought in two more runs. Wilber scored on a Koth double a few batters later.

“We gave away way too many things, whether it was an error or a leadoff walk,” Schoenike said. “We’re not a good enough team to do that.”

After Vollmer walked in the seventh, Doornink hit a double. Prey then struck out Parker Mindel. VanDaalwyk hit a sacrifice fly out in right field to score Vollmer, but Damon Lorge was put out at first after an uncaught third strike to end the game.

Prey allowed eight hits and five runs in seven innings, striking out eight and walking three. He was 2 for 4 at the plate with a RBI.

“He really did a great job tonight,” Gillis said. “He’s a guy that sometimes you have to push the right buttons. He went out there and was just phenomenal. It was his game the entire time, he knew it.”

Wilber finished 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. Boogren was also 2 for 4 with a triple and a RBI.

Doornink pitched the first four innings, allowing four hits and five runs, striking out five and walking four before giving way to Parker Mindel. Mindel walked two, struck out one and allowed six runs on six hits.

Doornink had a home run and a double and two RBIs. VanDaalwyk went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs.

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SCHS golfer shoots 164By: 

Leader Staff

Braden Mueller shot a 164 Tuesday and Wednesday at the Wisconsin PGA Junior Championship at Brown Deer Park and Dretzka Park golf courses near Milwaukee.

Mueller, a junior on the Shawano Community High School golf team who made a trip to state earlier this month, finished tied for 93rd of the 269 boys that competed in the two-day event. He was tied for 71st among the 16- to 18-year- olds.

Mueller shot an 81 on Tuesday at Dretzka Park. At Brown Deer for day two, Mueller came in at 83.

Thomas Longbella, of Chippewa Falls, had the best score of the event at 142. He shot 70 the first day and 72 on the second day.

Longbella, along with Eau Claire’s Gabby Curtis, who won the girls event, qualified for the national PGA Junior Championship from July 29-Aug. 1 at Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas.

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Second player in SCHS history to earn honorBy: 

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School catcher Courtney Ainsworth was named first-team all-state by the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.

After overcoming a knee injury, putting in 8½ months of hard rehab and finishing a successful softball season, Courtney Ainsworth last week earned recognition from the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association for her hard work.

Ainsworth was named to the group’s all-state first team.

“It kind of just surprised me,” said Ainsworth, who just concluded her junior year at Shawano Community High School. “I thought maybe I could possibly get it, but it was just a shock that it all came true.”

Ainsworth was one of the Bay Conference’s most dangerous catchers, throwing out seven runners despite teams rarely trying to steal on her.

At the plate, Ainsworth averaged .444 for the season and had 31 RBIs.

“It’s always great to see hard work get rewarded,” SCHS softball coach Kevin Isaacson said. “While Courtney is a very talented young lady, she’s also an incredibly hard worker. It’s fun to see that get the respect it deserves.”

Ainsworth is only the second player in the program’s history to earn first-team all-state honors. SCHS Hall of Famer Emily Hertzell Rogers was the first to earn the honors in 1999.

“Thinking back to see all the good players we’ve had throughout the program and everything, to see that I’m only the second one to get that honor is pretty cool,” Ainsworth said.

Isaacson said two things set Ainsworth apart.

“She’s an exceptional defensive catcher,” he said. “Great instincts. She’s able to call the game and has a remarkable throwing arm. Secondly, I think the state coaches really respected her for how hard she worked to come back from a really tough knee injury last summer. That was nine months of very focused effort to get back for her first softball game.”

Ainsworth tore her an ACL playing in a basketball tournament last summer. Following surgery, Ainsworth did 8½ months of rehab at the clinic and daily with SCHS athletic trainer Sally Buckett-Egan. Ainsworth was cleared for contact just before the beginning of the softball season.

“Sally Buckett-Egan, our school’s athletic trainer, did just an incredible job of working with Courtney,” Isaacson said, “motivating her, challenging her. I’m sure Courtney would say that Sally’s leadership and guidance was a big driver in her being able to come back.”

Once back on the diamond, Ainsworth said it was a bit scary, but she had no problems.

“Coming back was just fine,” Ainsworth said. “It felt just like any other year.”

Ainsworth also plays tennis and basketball, and she is looking forward to her senior year.

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By: 

Leader Staff

The Shawano American Legion baseball team lost 13-6 to Kaukauna in a rain-shortened game Monday in Kaukauna.

Kaukauna got seven runs in the first inning to take control of the Fox River Valley West Division game early.

Chase Henning was 3 for 3 with a double to lead Shawano (0-1) at the plate.

Alex Frechette was 2 for 3 with a double. Grant Wainio took the loss.

Alex Meyerhofer earned the win for Kaukauna (2-0). Logan Burton was 2 for 2.

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By: 

Scott Owen, Special to the Leader

Nick Anvelink scored his fourth consecutive Late Model feature win of the year Saturday at Shawano Speedway.

Travis VanStraten won his second straight race and took home $700 for winning the IMCA Stock Car feature after a disqualification.

Jordan Bartz (IMCA Sport Mods) and Kasey Gross (Mighty Fours) won their first features of the season. Jerry Wilinski won his second IMCA Modified feature this summer.

With all the rain Mother Nature dropped on Shawano last week, the racing surface was lightning fast for Hammond’s Farm and Greenhouse Night at the races.

Late Models

The Late Model feature began with pole sitter Robert Cullen taking the lead. Meanwhile, Anvelink began working his way through traffic from his 11th-place starting position. Anvelink had raced his way up sixth on lap No. 6 when the race was stopped after Jeff Curtin had a rollover.

On lap No. 8, Anvelink moved into second place and began to track down Cullen. Anvelink pulled to the outside of Cullen entering turn one on lap No. 11 and took over the top spot exiting turn two.

Anvelink led the rest of the way to win his fourth consecutive feature race. Troy Springborn raced his way around Cullen in the closing laps to finish second. Doug Blashe also got around Cullen to take third. Cullen finished in fourth.

IMCA Modifieds

Chad Olson grabbed the lead on the first lap of the IMCA Modifieds feature. The second-year pilot fended off the charges of Eddie Muenster and Wilinski.

Wilinski, who started in ninth, was able to make the pass for the lead on Olson on lap No. 12. Wilinski led to the end while Olson, Muenster, Marcus Yarie, Cody Hudson and Mark Weisnicht waged a great battle for the next five spots on the track.

At the end it was Wilinski, Muenster, Yarie, Hudson, Weisnicht and Olson making up your top six.

The race went green to checkered without a yellow flag.

IMCA Stock Cars

Extra money was on tap for the IMCA Stock Cars as the winner would pick up $500 to win and bonus money for laps led in the 25-lap main event.

Pole sitter Nate Michonski looked to have the car to beat in the early stages of the race.

After eight laps Michonski was leading with VanStraten, Kyle Frederick, Harley Simon and Trent Nolan rounding out the top five.

Coming into turn three on the next lap, Michonski’s car erupted in flames, bringing out a red flag. Michonski coasted to pit lane and the fire was put out.

While stopped under the red flag, Trent Nolan’s car also had flames under the hood. The odd turn of events eliminated both drivers from the race.

On the restart, VanStraten became the leader with Frederick on the chase. Frederick pulled even with VanStraten on lap No. 24 and held the lead as the white flag waved with the duo side by side.

VanStraten pulled ahead of Frederick coming out of turn two on the final lap.

Entering turn three for the final time, Frederick dove to the inside of VanStraten. The two cars raced side by side coming through turn four and were still door to door down the frontstretch.

At the line it was Frederick by a whisker over VanStraten.

In the post-race inspection, though, Frederick was disqualified for a rules infraction, handing the win to VanStraten.

IMCA Sport Mods

Brandon Nygaard led the first two laps of the IMCA Sport Mod feature before Bartz took the lead on lap No. 3.

It would be all Bartz for the rest of the race. Joey Taycher tried to track her down, but Bartz was uncatchable.

It was the first win of the year for the second-generation racer.

Mighty Fours

Gross won a time-shortened, caution-marred Mighty Four feature after passing Brad Weede on lap No. 4. Wedde held on to finish second.

Racing will continue Saturday at 6:30 p.m. More information is available online at www.shawanospeedway.net.

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Contributed Photo The Badger Amateur Baseball Association East Division alumni team poses for a photo before the 2013 alumni game in Gresham. Pictured are, from left, back row, Jed Carroll, Bruce Carroll, Steve Acra, Brian Carroll, Sam Carroll, Alex Peters and Dan Brandenburg; front row, Paul Wilke, Joey Neumeier, Wade Waukau, Greg Carroll, Charlie Tourtilott, Wendell Waukau and Warren Grignon.

The Carroll family may be royalty when it comes to the Gresham Gophers of the Badger Amateur Baseball Association.

Brian Carroll, 58, of Gresham, his five brothers and their sons have all played in the league.

“It’s pretty much a family affair,” Carroll said. “We all played high school and continued on to play in the BABA. My mother and my father, before he passed away, were at every game.”

He, and at least three of his brothers, will get another chance to round the bases Saturday, as the BABA holds its annual East-West alumni game in Caroline.

It’s a chance for Carroll to catch up with old friends and remember long-ago summers.

“Thirty years ago, there wasn’t anything else going on in the area. On Sundays, everyone played baseball, so you made friends up on Menominee County, down in Clintonville and Shawano,” Carroll said. “You were competitors on the field, but after the game everyone hung around and talked to each other. If you see each other on the street, you had a common thing.”

The alumni game started four years ago as the 68-year-old league began highlighting its history.

“There was a lot of interest in the older fan base,” said Craig Brei, BABA commissioner. “They come to our parks and support us all the way through. … It was strictly out of requests from the older players that we try something like this.”

Caroline is hosting the game this year and it rotates between the home parks of East and West division teams, which results in a rotating group of alumni players that show up.

“Every year that we do it, we get a different set of players,” Brei said. “When we did it in Leopolis, we had a pile of Leopolis guys.”

Last year, the game was held in Gresham, and five Carroll brothers played in the game.

The current BABA All-Stars will play a game following the alumni game, a new tradition started this year.

Throughout the day, a collection of historical photos and equipment will be on display.

“We try to find quality photos of every person that ever played,” Brei said. “It started in 1946, so a lot of the fans now, their fathers played at that time. Their gloves, old bats, pictures are coming our way, which is really cool.”

Carroll isn’t doing a lot to prepare, preferring to get ready the day of the game.

“When you get to be our age, you just hope you don’t pull anything,” he said. “It’s all that day. You don’t want to get hurt ahead of time.”

Brei says even if the alumni are past their prime, they still can play.

“These guys still spike them up,” he said. “They go out there, and they hustle. It’s a good time.”

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: BABA Alumni and All-Star games

WHEN: 12 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Caroline Ballpark, Caroline

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By: 

Scott Owen, Leader Columnist

With five weeks of racing complete, the 2014 racing season is nearly a third over. Now is a great time to take a look back and also a look forward.

In Late Model action, Navarino racer Nick Anvelink has already scored three wins, including last week’s 40-lap, $2,000-to-win feature race.

Shawano racer Troy Springborn has two wins.

In the point standings, though, defending track champion Ron Berna is again leading the way.

The veteran Abrams racer is the track’s only eight-time track champion. Berna has won three titles in IMCA Modified competition and has won five titles in the Late Model class.

Rookies Rob Krull, Kurt Moeller, Jeremy Kazynski and Steve Petri Jr. are also off to good starts.

In IMCA Modified racing, Wausau racer Marcus Yarie has two feature wins and holds a four-point edge over Seymour’s Jerry Wilinski. Wilinski, Lance Arneson and rookie Cody Hudson each have one win on the year.

Look for another rookie, Mitch Stankowski, to pick up his first career IMCA Modified win this season.

Up until this past weekend, Kyle Frederick had been undefeated in feature racing in the IMCA Stock class. Travis VanStraten has made a return to racing this summer after taking a few years off and put an end to Frederick’s streak.

Frederick, with his hot start, sits atop the point standings, but Shawano racer Mike Schmidt has finished no worse than fourth in a feature this year and is only six points behind Frederick.

Former track champions Nate Michonski and Shawn Wagner returned to action last week, and it should make for great IMCA Stock Car racing with big money on the line this week.

The IMCA Sport Mod class has had some great racing this season, and things should stay the same for the duration of the year.

Shawano pilot Tracy Wassenberg has won three features, while Mackville’s Joey Taycher and Shawano’s Jason Jach each have one win each.

Third-generation racer Lucas Lamberies holds the lead in the point standings. The Clintonville teenager almost certainly will make a trip to victory lane soon.

Lamberies is followed in the standings by Jach and second-generation Shawano racer Jordan Bartz.

In the Mighty Four class, Shawano’s Scott Blanke has won two features while Jasper Drengler, Calvin Chapin and Dalton Nelson have one win apiece.

Blanke holds a single point advantage over Nelson, but Blanke had engine problems a week ago and might not be back out this week.

Other names poised to pick up their first Shawano Speedway wins include Brock Saunders, Josh Moesch, Trent Nolan, Tristan Peebles, Derek Jahnke and Carl King.

Throw in the Spectator Eliminators and one thing is certain: the rest of the season should be very interesting.

See you at the track.

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Menominee pitcher Richard Corn pitches against Marion/Tigerton on Thursday in Keshena. Menominee won, 9-2.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Menominee third baseman Michael Pecore snags a ground ball during Thursday’s game against Marion/Tigerton in Keshena. Menominee won, 9-2.

Richard Corn pitched a shutout into the seventh inning, Michael Pecore had three hits, and the Menominee American Legion baseball team beat Marion/Tigerton 9-2 Thursday in Keshena.

Three quick scores in the first inning set the tone for Menominee. By the fifth inning, Menominee was ahead 5-0.

Meanwhile, Corn held Marion/Tigerton scoreless until the seventh inning.

“Getting those runs early in the game helps you on the mound,” said Menominee coach Brandon Frechette. “I think he felt real comfortable out there.”

Corn allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked none.

“He had a heck of a day,” Frechette said. “I think he kept them off balance most of the day. He’s picked up right where he left off in high school.”

Menominee padded its lead with RBI singles by Brady Hoffman and Ty Latender in the fifth. Menominee scored two more runs in the sixth on Ty Latender’s RBI single and a ground out by Walker Miller.

With a 9-0 lead, Menominee had a chance to end the game early by the 10-run rule, at one point loading the bases. Marion/Tigerton got of out the jam, however, to send the game into the seventh.

“You’d like to end it there early if you can,” Frechette said. “We didn’t want to rush it, but the boys were having fun. They were playing loose; that was what was most important. Sometimes they are a little too hard on themselves, and we remind them to have fun. That’s what they were doing there at the end of the game.”

Andrew Cunliff led off the top of the seventh with a single for Marion/Tigerton, followed by a double by Ben Cunliff. A single by David Stenson brought home Andrew Cunliff.

Ben Cunliff scored on a double-steal attempt but Stenson was caught in a rundown trying to go to second. Menominee then forced two groundouts to end the game.

Pecore had three hits, including a double, to lead Menominee. Dallas Madosh added a pair of hits.

Tyler Marquardt allowed seven hits, two walks and struck out one in five innings of work for Marion/Tigerton. Hayden Harris came in for relief and allowed a hit and walked three.

Marquardt, Stenson and Harris each had two hits for Marion/Tigerton.

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Clintonville gets 15 hits in Legion winBy: 

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel American Legion pitcher Jacob Springborn tags out Clintonville’s Parker Mindel at home during Monday’s game in Bonduel. Bonduel lost, 12-2.

The Bonduel American Legion baseball team gave up 15 hits Monday in a 12-2 loss to Clintonville at home.

Bonduel (2-2) managed just five hits on Diamond Cats pitcher Turner Doornink, who struck out six and walked four in seven innings.

“It was a bummer of a game,” Bonduel coach Jason Luepke said. “That wasn’t the way we were playing ball the last three, that’s for sure.”

Doornink also had a pair of hits off Bonduel’s Jake Luepke, who gave up 10 hits and nine runs in five innings. He struck out three and walked one, before giving way to Jacob Springborn, who allowed three runs on three hits, struck out one and walked three in the final two innings.

Clintonville got a pair of runs in the first off a Bonduel error and a Jake VanAllen single.

An RBI triple by Connor Rosin, who would also hit a double in the game, cut the Clintonville lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first.

“We got out of a jam in the first inning,” Clintonville coach Jeremy Schoenike said. “Pitching was a little wild, but Turner settled down and managed to hold them to just five hits.”

VanAllen led off the top of the fourth with a single, advanced to second on a Zac Riemer hit and scored on a Nick Hogen single. With two outs and runners on third and second, Bonduel chose to intentionally walk Doornink, loading the bases for Parker Mindel, who hit an RBI single and would finish the game with three hits and three RBIs.

Jansen VanDaalwyk, who also finished with three hits and three RBIs, then hit a double to score three more runs before Bonduel managed to get the final out on a grounder by Damon Lorge.

Clintonville added another pair of runs in the fifth on a sacrifice fly and a Bonduel error.

Springborn walked the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but Bonduel picked off Mindel trying to steal home on a wild pitch. Springborn then struck out Lorge, and VanAllen lined out to the shortstop.

Doornink and Mindel combined to drive in three runs in the seventh to go up 12-1. Bonduel managed only one run in the seventh.

“We had guys in scoring position and we had big hits,” Schoenike said. “That’s what it takes to win some games.”

“It was a tough team, you have to give it to them,” coach Luepke said. “They hit the ball well.”

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East-West Divisions

Caroline 5, Shawano 2

Mike Weatherwax earned the win as Ben Scheidermayer took the loss.

Rob Umland Jr. led Shawano with two hits.

Ryan Brietenfeldt and Mark Maas each had two hits.

Leopolis 17, Menominee 10

Bryce Rodriquez had a home run, Tyler Dillenberg was 3 for 6, and Kyle Hoffman was 3 for 5 with a double for Leopolis.

Hunter Hoffman earned the win. Austin Paiser was 2 for 5 with a double.

Jared Wilber led Menominee with three hits. Melvin Chevalier was 2 for 4 with a double. Steve Awonopay took the loss.

Little Falls 8, Marion 3

Graham Barden earned the win on the mound for Little Falls, while Kavit Beyersdorf took the loss.

Jeremy Bauer was 3 for 5 for Little Falls. Brandon Huettner had two hits, including a double. Mark Radies was 2 for 5.

Dave Jueds was 4 for 5 with a double. Ryan Mortenson was 2 for 2.

Gresham 22, Tilleda 7

Mitch Pleshek earned the win, while Curt Brei took the loss.

Nate Ejnik was 3 for 4 with a triple for Gresham. Aaron Larson was 3 for 5.

Steve Reinke led Tilleda, going 4 for 5. Andy Brei had two hits.

Neopit 7, Bowler 1

Alex Frechette was 2 for 5, and Alex Peters earned the win for Shawano.

Sasweon Waukechon added a double for Neopit.

Paul Murphy took the loss for Bowler. Rainer Shooter was 2 for 4.

Other divisions

Northern: Elderon beat Polar 6-4, Birnamwood smashed Wittenberg 14-5, Aniwa edged Hatley 5-4.

South-Central: New London topped Manawa 7-6

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Shawano 12, Pulaski 10

The Shawano Lobos baseball team won the Pulaski Tournament with a 12-10 win over Pulaski in the championship game Friday in Pulaski.

Bryce Szymanski earned the win. Grant Bystol was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. He went 6 for 10 with a home run. Eric Stenson had a home run and a triple in the championship game.

Shawano 8, Pulaski 6

Kurt Blythin hit a grand slam home run in the top of the 12th inning to give Shawano a 8-4 lead.

Pulaski earned two runs in the bottom of the frame, but the Lobos held on to get the win.

Ben Bystol earned the win pitching for Shawano.

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VanStraten ends Frederick's winning streakBy: 

Scott Owen, Special to the Leader

Nick Anvelink left the Shawano Speedway a bit richer after topping a field of 36 Late Models and taking home the $2,000 top prize that went with it Saturday on Seubert Calf Ranches Night.

Travis VanStraten put an end to Kyle Frederick’s winning streak in the IMCA Stock Car class. Lance Arneson (IMCA Modifieds) and Dalton Nelson (Mighty Fours) secured their first wins of the season, while Tracy Wassenberg (IMCA Sport Mods) raced to his third victory.

Late Models

Troy Kuyoth led the first four laps of the Late Model feature before succumbing to mechanical woes. Justin Hirt inherited the lead from Kuyoth, but Paul Parker put the pass on Hirt on a restart on lap No. 5.

Parker’s time out front only lasted for two laps, though, as Anvelink raced inside of Parker on lap No. 7 to take over the lead.

Anvelink led for the remainder of the 40-lap feature to win his third feature of the year. Parker and Troy Springborn had a spirited battle for second with Parker winning out.

IMCA Modifieds

Craig “The Tiger” Bartz was back on the prowl early on in the IMCA Modified feature. Bartz led the first 12 laps of the race.

On lap No. 13 Bartz slipped just high enough to open the door for Arneson and Marcus Yarie to slip past and into the top two spots.

Yarie continued to pressure Arneson as the race ran on, but Arneson was up to the challenge and scored his first win of the year.

IMCA Sport Mods

In the IMCA Sport Mod feature, Wassenberg led the final 19 laps on the way to his third win of the year after taking the lead from Tristin Peebles.

Jordan Bartz pursued Wassenberg the entire race, but could not muster a pass. Joey Taycher held off Jake Solin for third.

IMCA Stock Car

The IMCA Stock Car feature saw Vern Stedjee race into the lead on the first lap.

Stedjee would stay there until lap No. 5, when hard-charging VanStraten took the lead with an outside line pass coming out of the second turn.

Aside from a restart on lap No. 16, VanStraten was virtually unchallenged. Mike Schmidt passed Stedjee to finish second. Stedjee took third.

The win by VanStraten ended Frederick’s four-race undefeated streak to start the season.

Mighty Fours

Tanner Westphal shot into the lead on the opening lap of the Mighty Four feature and led the first six laps of the race.

Nelson powered into the lead on lap No. 7 and went on to score his first victory at the track.

This week

Racing will continue Saturday with a 6:30 p.m. start time.

The IMCA Stock Car feature will pay $500 to win, plus lap leader bonus money. Also, the challenge money will be up to $300 for IMCA Modifieds and $150 each for IMCA Stock Cars and Sport Mods.

More information is available online at www.shawanospeedway.net

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Team played together on SCHS varsityBy: 

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano American Legion’s Alex Frechette takes a swing during batting practice Friday at Memorial Park in Shawano.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Clint Dallas throws during Shawano American Legion baseball practice Friday at Memorial Park in Shawano.

Coach Will Gillis had a tough start to his Shawano American Legion coaching career. His team was 2-10 in the Fox River Valley League Western Division last year.

Gillis says Shawano will win more games in his second year.

“It wasn’t a real cohesive group,” Gillis said. “This group is a lot more cohesive; they’ve played together all year round. Last year, we kind of had to piece things together between a couple of varsity guys, a couple of JV guys and a couple of guys who didn’t even play high school ball.”

The team is made up of Shawano Community High School athletes, most of whom played on varsity this season.

“I anticipate us performing much better than we did last year,” Gillis said. “We’re still in a tough league, some of those Valley teams that we play are really good. We were competitive in the bulk of our games last year. A lot of those close games, I see us sneaking a few out.”

One reason for optimism is Shawano’s bullpen.

“Our pitching staff is a lot deeper than it was last year,” Gillis said. “We have three varsity starting pitchers, which wasn’t the case last year.”

Taylor Prey took most of the innings a year ago, with an inexperienced Grant Wainio and mix of other guys getting the rest of the innings.

“Wainio pitched, and he was a junior varsity kid last year,” Willis said. “He did a great job for us.”

Prey and Wainio, who got seasoning during the high school season, are back. Clint Dallas, who also spent time on the mound during the high school season, is also in the mix.

Center fielder Chase Henning returns after leading the team with a .393 average a year ago and making the FRV All-Star team.

“Chase is a big stick, for sure,” Willis said. “He crushes the ball.”

Willis said Prey has really improved at the plate. Versatile slugger Ky Schmidt will also be a factor.

“He can put the ball where he wants to put it,” Gillis said. “He’s got tremendous baseball knowledge. He knows what he’s doing up there.”

The Shawano team has no returning 19-year-olds on the team.

“We filled it up with kids from the high school team,” Gillis said.

There were enough players in the program to have a Junior Legion team this season.

“The freshman kids are pretty much playing Junior Legion,” Gillis said. “There’s not a lot of sophomores. … There weren’t enough kids last year for two teams.”

Gillis hopes that will benefit the program in the long run.

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By: 

Scott Owen, Leader Columnist

ven though last week’s racing was rained out, there seems to be excitement in the air around the Shawano Speedway.

The racing thus far has been fantastic. The car counts have been strong. Most weeks have had beautiful weather. And the stands have had some great crowds.

Bringing back the “challenge” in the IMCA divisions has cranked up the excitement another notch. This week’s racing program should crank the excitement level up to 11.

Saturday’s Late Model payout is doubled. The winner of this week’s 40-lap Late Model main event will go home $2,000 richer.

What makes the payout even more impressive is the pay throughout the field is very strong. Just making the feature will gain you $200.

The race will be a regular points night, so the lineup will be done by point average. Racers with no point average will have to start in the back of the heat race. Using the point average system keeps the top cars from starting at the front of the field. This should lend itself to some great racing.

Along with the weekly racers, out-of-towners Mitch McGrath, Rick Scheffler and Eric Van Iten look like strong candidates to race in Shawano on Saturday.

Also, look for popular Red River racer Jesse Peebles to race a Late Model this week.

Green Bay IMCA Modified pilot Troy Jerovetz is planning to run a Todd Frank-owned car to make his first Late Model start.

Ron Berna, Nick Anvelink and Troy Springborn will lead the local contingent of racers.

The regular feature race is 20 laps; this week’s race is a 40-lapper. A lot can happen in 40 laps.

Aside from the Late Model action, look for former IMCA Stock Car track champions “Nitro” Nate Michonski and Shawn “Lunchbox” Wagner to return to racing this weekend.

Michonski and Wagner will both have their sights squarely set on Kyle Frederick. The Oconto Falls racer is undefeated in feature action this year.

Two weeks ago, though, Frederick won by the slightest of margins over Hortonville’s Tom Riehl.

Travis VanStraten nearly won the challenge coming from the back of the pack to take third.

This week’s challenge money will be up to $200 for IMCA Modifieds, and $100 each for Northern Sport Mods and Stocks.

Who will take home the big money this week? You’ll have to show up and find out.

See you at the track.

Scott Owen is the track announcer at Shawano Speedway.Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Sixth-inning rally falls shortBy: 

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Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Menominee Legion’s Ty Latender tries to beat the throw to Oconto Falls third baseman Derek Zahn after trying to score in Thursday’s game in Keshena. Menominee lost, 4-3.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Menominee American Legion baseball player Ty Latender scores during a game against Oconto Falls on Thursday in Keshena. Menominee lost, 4-3.

The Menominee American Legion baseball team is made up mostly of players from the Menominee Indian High School squad.

Through two games, like the MIHS Eagles this season, Menominee has demonstrated its tendency to keep games close and make them interesting late.

Menominee (1-1) opened the season with an 16-11 win in 11 innings in Manawa on Tuesday, and lost to Oconto Falls 4-3 after a two-run rally in the sixth inning Thursday.

“It is the same thing,” Menominee coach Brandon Frechette said. “They just have to find a way to maybe start a little quicker. They did good, they play hard and they never quit.”

After falling behind Oconto Falls 2-0 after 2½ innings, Menominee cut the lead to 2-1 when Ty Latender got home on a single by Richard Corn.

Oconto Falls (2-0) added runs in the fourth and sixth, before Menominee made a credible threat in the bottom of the sixth. RBI singles by Dallas Madosh and Brian Madosh put the tying run on second. Both advanced a base on a wild pitch to get into scoring position, but Michael Pecore, batting at the top of the order, grounded out to end the frame.

Menominee managed to get two on base in the seventh but went scoreless.

“The bottom of the order gave us a chance to win the game,” Frechette said. “Our No. 2-3-4 hitters came up in the seventh inning. We couldn’t have asked for much more. You don’t want to put the pressure on them, but those are the hitters you want up and that’s who we had up.”

Walker Miller had a double to lead off the fourth inning, but would only make it to third base before the end of the inning.

“We had chances,” Frechette said. “We had chances in the fourth as well. Oconto Falls is a good team. They always come to play. That’s why we enjoy playing them.”

Richard Corn gave up four runs on 10 hits, struck out two and walked one in seven innings.

“I thought he threw great,” Frechette said. “The wind was a factor on the field. It was a factor on the mound. I thought he did real well. He gave us every chance to win the game.”

Dylan Woosman led Oconto Falls, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Luke Truckey had two hits and an RBI. Hunter Magnin allowed three runs on six hits. He struck out six and walked five.

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By: 

The Associated Press

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers appears to have found new contentment and motivation since turning 30 in December.

“I’ve got the 30 drive right now,” Rodgers said during an interview with Press-Gazette Media on Wednesday. “You turn 30, I don’t know, life is exciting again; 30s is when you’ve got it all figured out. You start reaching some of your goals, and achieving some great things.

“The challenge to be the best is what drives me and to just improve my body every day.”

Rodgers said he would like to finish his current contract with the Packers, which extends through the 2019 season, and sign another one if he’s still healthy and productive.

Rodgers also spoke about his new-found peace of mind.

“I’m very comfortable now in my own skin,” he said, “where a few years ago things used to bother me a lot more.”

That extends to the social media scrutiny that someone with his star power must constantly face.

“I still enjoy what little privacy I have but I’m not going to change my entire life to try and hide from the scrutiny or the photographers or what have you,” Rodgers said.

During a wide-ranging interview, Rodgers talked about his fervent desire to help the Packers win more Super Bowl championships, his relationship with coach Mike McCarthy and a time early in his football career when he had doubts about his ability.

Q: How is your relationship with McCarthy and how do you handle times when you don’t see eye to eye?

Rodgers: “I think it’s been a real good relationship. There have been some ups and downs, but our downs are never really that low and our ups are usually pretty amazing as far as our continuity. I think right now we’re in a real good place. We’re both I think at a good stage in our careers where we’re comfortable with our success, comfortable with each other’s personality. I think it really helped that we started meeting Super Bowl year, we started just being intentional about the time we spent together and our relationship has grown from there. We have a good friendship off the field. It’s gotten better working together. He does a good job of delegating when he needs to but I found myself just wanting him to be more connected the last couple years to the quarterback room because he is calling the plays and he’s responded to that well.”

Q: It’s rare for a head coach and quarterback to spend so many years together.

Rodgers: “I think when you look back, that’s going to be a relationship that definitely has shaped my career. I think about that and how important Mike has been to my success. When I’m frustrated at certain times, I remember that we’ve been through a lot together and that he’s had my back and it’s important for me to do the same for him.”

Q: McCarthy said earlier this year he’s at halftime of his coaching career. Do you see yourself at halftime of your playing career?

Rodgers: “It would be a lot of fun I think to play, to be a starting quarterback with one coach the whole time. I think that says a lot about consistency. That’s always been a word I’d like to associate with my career. A lot to be said about playing with one team for your entire career. I have six years left on my contract. I think we structured in a way that as the salary cap rises, my number doesn’t rise above maybe a number that I think they could handle. As long as I’m playing consistent, I’d love to get through this contract and maybe do one more. As long as my body can make it, it would be fun. Mike and I have actually joked about it, you’re kind of riding off into the sunset together and hopefully that’s with a couple more rings and some more good memories.”

Q: Brett Favre grew to dislike offseason minicamps later in his career. What’s your approach?

Rodgers: “Yeah, for sure, I think you have to realize they’re for the young guys especially. So you need to challenge yourself in different ways. I’ve had a lot of fun with challenging my body the last few years to get in really good shape. That’s eating and doing some smart things off the field, with yoga and better, more-efficient workouts. I look forward to the weight workouts every day and then just kind of take my reps and sit back and watch. Your legacy as a quarterback and a teammate is a lot about how you treat your teammates, and for me it’s how I help out my backups so I try and help those guys out. Love razzing the guys from time to time.”

Q: What is left for you to accomplish in your career?

Rodgers: “Well, I don’t say this lightly but I think I still have a lot left in the tank. I think I still have a lot of really good football in front of me. I’d love to win a few more championships. That’s what we play for every year. It’s a tough division, tough conference but I like the challenge of getting myself in really good shape and beating teams with my mind and continuing to play at a really high level.”

Q: Other people have doubted you. Have you ever doubted yourself?

Rodgers: “Yeah, I was 9 for 34 for 52 yards against Oregon State back in 2003. I said, ‘Wow, I can’t play any worse, but am I going to get a chance to play again after that performance?’ I came back the next week, we played UCLA, I played well, we ended up losing in overtime but threw for 300 yards, threw a fourth-and-10 touchdown to get us into overtime. But after that Oregon State game I was, I had definitely some doubts creeping in a little bit, but I’ve always been confident in myself. When I got to the NFL, I knew I could play in this league but I didn’t really get a chance to show what I could do until the Dallas game (in 2007). Was able to come in and play pretty good. That kind of reassured me about the things I believed about myself could actually be true.”

Q: When you hear people refer to you as the best quarterback in the NFL, what goes through your mind?

Rodgers: “That I want to prove it. I want to prove them right if they say that. Or if they don’t say that, I want to change their mind. But it’s all about winning Super Bowls. I’ve been able to accomplish a lot individually as far as statistics go, with the passer rating, touchdowns, touchdowns to interceptions or what have you. I would trade all of that for some more Super Bowls.”

Q: If you could relive one period of time in your life, what would it be?

Rodgers: “I think it would have to be Super Bowl week because when I think about it now, it’s just such a blur. I remember having an incredible meal there on I think it was Monday night, incredible meal, this pork chop that came out, and it was like on fire, and it was like the start to the week. And then Media Day is a blur, the week of practice is a blur. You remember like bits and pieces, like Robert Francois getting into a fight with Evan Dietrich-Smith on Friday. We had to be in an indoor facility, it had low ceilings, so you couldn’t put some air on the ball. The Super Bowl game is kind of a blur to me as well, other than the cameramen fighting before the game, Christina (Aguilera) mixing up the anthem slightly, I remember just bits and pieces. But to be able to go back and to relive with your eyes wide open, that would be pretty special.”

Q: What did you learn from sitting out for half of last season with a broken collarbone?

Rodgers: “It gives you a greater appreciation for what you do. (Also) how important the little things are to being successful and to being a good teammate and good leader. The energy you bring to practice, the energy you bring in the meetings, the voice and every day being heard by those guys, and talking through things and encouraging guys. And just the presence, it’s hard to not be around it but I think I really hopefully showed guys how important it is to be a good teammate. If you are injured and you feel distant from the team, you don’t feel exactly like 100 percent part of the team, you can still be a great teammate because ultimately when we’re done, the things that stick with you are the relationships.”

Q: At this stage of your life and career, you’ve got it all. Is it hard to stay humble and keep things in perspective?

Rodgers: “I don’t think that part’s easy. I think that part is something you need to remind yourself daily or have people, which I do, remind you daily. I try to remember where I came from. Small town. Junior college. Was a backup at Cal. Things have definitely changed. I have been blessed in a number of ways and enjoy my life. I think I feel good about where I’m at in my career and then also in my life that I’m going to live my life and deal with whatever comes and be comfortable. I think that’s the biggest thing. … Now I’m settling into my place in this league and my place off the field.”

Q: Is the scrutiny in the media and social media hard to deal with?

Rodgers: “It is if you give a lot of credence to some of the voices out there. Everybody has a platform now and has a voice. I do Twitter, I don’t do Facebook or Instagram or any of those, so I don’t see any of the experts on those social media apps. But I think you have to embrace it to a point. You don’t have to give a lot to those opinions but you have to understand it comes with the territory. Like I said, that’s one way I’ve settled into stardom if you will. It’s not what I signed up for. I signed up to play football. But it comes with it.”

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