SPORTS WRAP

Sometimes a good idea simply drops right into the cup.

Thus was the case for the Misfits Par Three Challenge. The second edition is Saturday, July 26 at Havana Hills, benefitting the Owatonna Golf Boosters.

The concept popped into the head of Jon Weisbrod of The FAN/Owatonna’s ‘Mic’d Up Misfits’ radio show. He and host Jon Partridge talked about it. “Neither of us could find a reason not to do it, so we went to management, and they approved it,” said Weisbrod.

The tournament partners an adult with a youth. “To me, the fun comes in seeing younger golfers interact with more experienced golfers. It’s all about celebrating the game we love and bringing generations of golfers together for a great cause,” said Weisbrod.

Go to OwatonnaGolf.com to register. New this year is a cornhole tournament to benefit the Owatonna Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund. Sign up at Owatonna.gov.

Havana Hills owner, and former OHS head boys golf coach, Mark Langlois is happy to host the event. “They created their own format. I love that about those guys. It was really well attended last year for a first year… They did a great job of running that event,” said Langlois.

He helped form the booster organization a few years ago. “There was a group of us that got together and said, ‘We need to find ways to support junior golf, and the high school programs a little bit better, both the boys and the girls.’”

An indoor site was a goal, which led to the facility inside the old high school. “We (needed) to be able to find a way to be in an indoor space. The springtime the weather’s not very good. A lot of other teams are practicing in the gyms,” Langlois pointed out.

“To make that happen has just been an amazing thing and a great accomplishment for the board. So much support from around the town, previous players and alumni… So we’ve got an indoor putting green there now. We’ve got a simulator, a hitting bay, a chipping area… There’s nothing like it in the Big Nine Conference.”

Ken Bey

Golfers packed Brooktree Golf Course on Saturday for the Ken Bey Classic to support Owatonna High School football. It’s more than a fundraiser according to Huskies’ Head Coach Jeff Williams. “It’s just a great way to keep our alumni connected to the program. I get the opportunity to stand out on No. 12. So, every cart that comes by, I get to talk to all these former players for (a few) minutes… Give them the opportunity to give back and help out which we appreciate. But it’s really a giant social event. Owatonna football has become such a big family. There’s so many former players that come back every year,” said Williams.

I would like to thank my teammates Jon Weisbrod, Matthew Hughes and Conner Henderson for a fun afternoon and their patience during my efforts to contribute. It was nice to play alongside the foursome of Kyle Melcher, Matt Vargason, Casey Johnson and Taylor Steinbauer.

Aces Baseball

Community Pathways Executive Director Dom Korbel grew up an amateur baseball fan. That made the Owatonna Aces’ Strike Out Hunger Night even more special. “It’s about connecting to people to help hear our story and make sure they know it’s pretty easy to help,” said Korbel.

He appreciates all the groups that help. “When I talk to my peers across the state and I discuss with them how many people we partner with, and how many of them come to us and ask what they can do, my answer is this is a special community that takes care of each other.”

In 3.5 years, Korbel has seen the number of families assisted by Community Pathways go up four-fold.

The Aces beat Waseca 8-4 that night. Mitch Seykora went three-for-four with a solo homerun. Two nights later he struck out 11 batters in seven innings in a 3-0 loss to the Stewartville-Racine Sharks. Owatonna hit into three double plays in the first four innings.

The team hosts Teen Activity Night with the United Way of Steele County on Friday, July 18 when Dodge Center comes to Fuller Field for a 7:30 p.m. game.