What an interesting story by Journal sportswriter Padraic Duffy on Dana Hill’s interesting year in Sunday’s Journal.
Hill, a catcher for Post 22, was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS, after a series of fainting spells last fall and early winter.
“I wasn’t getting enough blood and oxygen to my head and I was having some passing out,” Hill said in the story. Still, he kept it to himself until he was headed to basketball practice one day and something happened that made it impossible to keep the fainting spells a secret any longer.
“I was going to basketball and I passed out down the stairs,” Hill said. “I sprained my wrist and stuff, so that was when I kind of knew (that I had to go to the doctor).”
At one point, it wasn’t clear whether Hill would be allowed to suit up for Post 22 this season, or ever again.
After the issue cut short his junior year for Rapid City Central, Hill is making the most of the chance to get back on the field.
Andrew

St. Thomas More should be congratulated for winning the state title yesterday in Freeman - and in Yankton.

In only the second year of the team’s existence, the Cavaliers won two games yesterday. Even more remarkable: The Cavaliers had to switch towns and fields in the fifth inning of the championship game because of the rain. This was during a run in which Nolan Johnson, Tyler Richardson and Spencer Braun each had RBI hits.

It seems that in a season that was already shortened quite a bit by weather, that weather would have a part in the final game.

The Cavaliers had a remarkable run to end the season. To earn a trip to the state tournament, St. Thomas More won Region 4B by defeating the three teams that handed them defeats in the regular season. And, they did so while earned double-digit hits in each game, and by good pitching from Braun, Jeremy Kudrna and a talented bullpen.

- Russo

Spring is here and that means BASEBALL.
What better time than to  check out this site.

http://www.maxpreps.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=ecc2af44-c624-de11-a973-001cc494dda6

As with any (best of) lists come the debates. Do you agree or disagree with these choices?

And then as Padraic pointed out, “Didn’t Dave Collins play pro ball?”  

Which of course he did.  California Angels 1975-76; Seattle Mariners 1977;  Cincinnati Reds 1978-81; New York Yankees 1982;  Toronto Blue Jays 1983-84; Oakland Athletics 1985; Detroit Tigers1986; Cincinnati Reds (1987-89; St. Louis Cardinals 1990.

The Rapid City Rabbit  led the AL in triples in 1984 with 15 and still ranks in the top 100 in all-time stolen bases.

According to the Baseball Almanac there were 39 players that played in the majors at some point from South Dakota! Including eight with ties to Rapid City.

So much for lists. Play Ball.
-Lenn

My man Jeff Budlong didn’t waste any time really introducing himself to the Hills readers with a column suggesting Post 320 could finally beat Post 22 this season. I guess he knows how to stir the pot, or else he’s just missing that Iowa-Minnesota wrestling vibe and is hoping somebody shoots a double-leg takedown on him the next time he’s out and about.

It looks like 22 could be a little vulnerable (maybe, I guess, but I also know Watertown thought they had a good shot at the hardhats before Sam Wolff perfect-oed ‘em). Post 320 has a nice, experienced nucleus in the middle of the field with Lindemann, Starkey and Jacobson, but I can hear the (entirely plausible) argument now … “Sure, 320’s numbers might look a little better now but that’s because 22 plays tougher opponents.”

Honestly, I don’t care either way, but it would be nice to see a game like the one about five years back where Blaine Linster had to hit a bomb to beat the cross-parking lot “rival” in the regional tournament (if my memory serves). 

Anybody got any thoughts? Can 320 beat 22? Will it be a close game? Do you even think they’ll meet? Will Sturgis or Spearfish be spoiling things?

Or, more likely, is Budlong just crazy?  

- Padraic

What more has to happen for coaches involved in baseball to wear some kind of protection on thier noggins when coaching in either the first or third base box while on the field?
Last July Mike Coolbaugh, a coach in the Colorado Rockies minor league system was struck and killed by a line drive.
Just recently Osewego College (N.Y.) manager Frank Paino was coaching third base when he was struck in the side of the head by a line drive, after some quick actions by the opposing mangager, Paino {thankfully} will be able to coach again.
Coolbaugh’s death has led to a new rule requiring all base coaches in Major League Baseball and the minors to wear a helmet, but no such rule exists in high school or college.
Paino was not wearing a helmet.
Why in the world would one want to coach in the field in either high school or college where they use aluminum bats and not wear a helmet?
It makes no sense to me.
I know how hard a ball comes off an aluminum bat in slow pitch softball, but we are talking young athletes coming into thier prime here using a weapon (aluminum bat) with most often an older coach out in the field.
We all want to emulate the major leagues growing up, so why not follow thier lead on this matter.
Why I bet even Chuck Norris would wear a batting helmet!

-Lenn

Summer is officially here for me when the Firecracker Invitational hits Fitzgerald Stadium. The field is always great and the atmosphere is summer time. That tournament and the Heritage Festival let me know that summer is completely upon us.

The tournament has created plenty of memories for everyone over the years. I was wondering if any stood out over the rest for anyone.

- Padraic

Rapid City West hit four home runs Saturday, however, it was Rapid City East that won the battle on the scoreboard, 20-7, in a high school game Saturday.

It was the first-ever game for West, while East is in its second year.

What do you think about high school baseball in Rapid City? How will it affect the legion teams? How will the high school teams fare this year?

 

(Rapid City West)

 

–Sean Welsh

The two most beautiful words in all of sports are about to be spoken once again come Sunday.

“PLAY BALL”

Yes baseball is back!!! With it’s grass manicured to perfection, the stadiums all shined up and pimped out and the thrill of waking up to boxscores in your morning paper…

Nope….There is nothing quite like opening day. 

The look on a youngsters face as he or she takes in their first big league game with their dad.

Whether you are there live, listening to the radio or catching the game on HDTV, it’s all good…

Your team is tied in the standings with everbody else, 0-0. 162 games to go. Hopes and dreams spring eternal because deep down you know this will be the year.     

If those hot shot rookies can only play and that grizzled old veteran can saddle it up one more time and your manager can spread a little magic dust in the clubhouse you’ve got a chance.    

27 outs later your team is now 0-1… What happened? If only we could have scored a run, gotten a hit, made a play…

Oh well there is always next year!!!    

So get out and take in a game… From a Little League game in your town  or a vacation spent hitting as many big league parks as you can… Play Ball!!! 

Lenn Davis

 

I have to admit, I have a hard time getting terribly excited for baseball season. As a couple of my particularly baseball-crazy friends say, I am un-American in that regard. I’ve never played a game of organized baseball or softball in my life and don’t feel like I missed out on much. Although, I must say, I think the game of baseball missed out mightily on this 170-pound, power-packed string bean (not really).

Still, like any competitive endeavor, it can get my juices flowing every now and again (later in the year). I’m just wondering what thoughts are on the game in this always interested town.

High school? West versus East, who’s better? How are the Legion programs going to be? Is there yet another state title waiting to be won by Post 22? Do they have some competition in the region? How are things in the Northern Hills?

I wonder how some of the Montana and N.D. teams are going to be?

Will I be able to stay conscious for a full seven-inning game?

- Padraic