Underway

I am back again as things are now "Underway" this season. It is a song by Fleetwood Mac.

I had one baseball game that I knew about last week, so I have  a few pictures to share from that. I should have some more baseball as well as softball and golf pictures next week.

I am keep thing post short, because I'm going to be off to Westhope shortly to snap some pictures for softball.

Here are the pics:

Still lots of snow just off the field at this May 2 baseball game.

Garrett Lynnes swings at a pitch against Harvey-Wells County on May 2.

Lynnes catches the ball on a throw from Parker Engelhard (near).

Andrew Hill about to smack a single.

Engelhard flips the ball to second against the Hornets.

Second baseman Kellen Lagerquist catches a flip and tries to turn a double play.

Hill steals second base.

Lee Schneider fouls off a pitch.

Schneider releases a pitch.

Schneider awaits a bunt attempt from a HWC player.

Lynnes tags out a Hornets baserunner.

Garrett Pollman loses a fly ball in the sun.

Steal My Sunshine

This week I chose the one-hit wonder from 1999 "Steal My Sunshine," because it's been nice and sunny lately, but with much rain in the forecast that could be getting stolen away soon.

This past week I've been super busy covering golf, baseball and softball. In the upcoming week I'll be doing those three sports and adding in the region track meet as well. Going to be busy for the next few weeks.

Other than that I don't have much else. I'm still hoping my Bulls can somehow win three straight from the Heat, but it doesn't look good. Too many injuries.

Here are some pictures from the past week:

Westhope-Newburg's Hunter Ballantyne tees off the seventh hole last Friday in Bottineau.

Bottineau eighth grader Dalton Barbot strikes a chip last Friday.

Bottineau freshman Levi Pollman tees off on the second hole.

Another Braves freshman, Ethan Jensen, puts on the fourth green.

Bottineau junior Tanner Bickford hurls a pitch off the mound last Saturday against Belcourt.

Bickford has an unique finish after tossing a pitch.

Westhope-Newburg Sioux eighth grader Hannah Tofteland delivers a pitch.

Tofteland flips the ball toward home to try and get a Minot JV player out last Tuesday in Westhope.

A Minot JV player collides with Tofteland at home plate.

Junior Amber Hall smacks a pitch for a hit last Tuesday.

Lauren Mach delivers with a big hit.

Tofteland tosses to first to get out the player on a bunt.

Freshman Shelby Grenier leaps to make a catch in foul territory.

This Sioux player struck with a big pinch-hit to start a rally.

When Will This End

This week I chose the Korn song "When Will This End" in regards to the winter weather that is here. Just when it appears that it will end, it snows, and they extend the warmup another few days. The light is at the end of the tunnel with 62 the advertised high on Saturday. Pretty please make that be the case.

In the mean time I've been continuing to find other stories to fill up my time. This past week I interviewed and wrote a story about a BHS graduate who ran in the Boston Marathon. I also covered Dakota College at Bottineau's 5k. I did a DCB recruit and wrote a story about an All-American. I also photographed the Bottineau school's choir concert entitled "Time Warp."

This week I should be going down to Minot to catch the DCB softball team (weather permitting), but beyond that I still don't see any home games in the are for another week at least.

I have a few pictures to share.

Maria Diepolder (left) and Alberto Moncera (right) perform during the opening number of Time Warp last Saturday at BHS.

Members of the BHS Choir sing during the '60s portion of the show.

More flower children.

Halie Haakenson sings a solo during the '70s portion of the show.

The Village People made an appearance.

Billy Engel (near left) teaches a group of youngsters about ball handling.

Jadyen McMillin works with a group of young ladies on rebounding.

Colby Boyes looks on as the kids practice layups.

Cory Fehringer barks instructions during a box out drill.

Back in the Saddle

Aerosmith's hit "Back in the Saddle" accurately depicts this comeback blog after a month's hiatus. I have been without anything of significance to share for the past month, so I just haven't posted in that long. There is still feet of snow on the ground outside, so this might be the only post in April as well.

I have a few pictures to share.

Westhope-Newburg-Bottineau senior Rylee Lodoen catches for pitcher Ashlyn Huber during warmups last Thursday.

A herd of deer stare at me down the road where they searched for food last Thursday near Roth.

Sioux players practice in the Westhope gymnasium last Thursday.

A deer stares at the camera last Thursday near Roth.

Several deer graze.

Wrap up

Samiyam's "Wrap Up" signifies beautifully the end of the winter  sports season for me. The final sports finished their seasons this past week, and now I'll have to find a few stories for to keep me busy until the snow melts.

Last week I covered the postponed final day of the District 11 girl's tournament. I also wrote stories about a couple of recruits, the Dakota College at Bottineau Ladyjacks District F game and a touching story about a DCB basketball player who the college raised funds to give to his parents so they could visit while he recovered from a severely broken leg.

This week will be pretty light for stories, and apart from the Jaycee's Fishing Tournament on Saturday, I'm not sure what I'll be writing about.

There are only a few pictures and I apologize in advance for their quality. The sensor on my camera went out this past week and my back up camera is an ancient Nikon D1. The good news is I may be getting a new Nikon D7000 with video. So look forward to videos of things in the near future on the Bottineau Courant Facebook page.
Here are the pics:

Westhope-Newburg senior Hadlee Schell puts up a shot last Tuesday against Dunseith.

Stars junior Courtney Gallagher weaves her way into the lane against Rugby last Tuesday.

Senior McKenzie Jensen fakes a pass before going to the hoop.

Livin' on a Prayer

The Bon Jovi super hit "Livin' on a Prayer" can perfectly encapsulate what happened this past week for Bottineau area teams as they made their way through the playoffs.

Last week I took in a Region 6 Championship runner-up finish by the Westhope-Newburg boy's basketball team, as well as a  Region XIII Championship victory by the Dakota College at Bottineau Ladyjacks. I also witnessed a grueling loss in the 19U State Championship by the Bottineau Stars. Lastly, I took in the second round of the District 11 girls basketball tournament in which both Bottineau and Westhope-Newburg participated.

For this week I'll be heading out to Dunseith for the district's final games for the girls. Other than that I have a couple features that I'm working on and closely following the Ladyjacks game this weekend in Nebraska.

Only two weeks until March Madness descends on my life. Here are many pictures from the past week:

Bottineau Stars senior Ashley Blue nabs a puck from a Richland defender in last Sunday's 19U title game.

Stars junior Bailey Neubauer attempts a shot over an outstretched defender.

Natalie Bahr is muscled off the puck by a big Rangers defender.

Bahr hustles down the ice with the puck.

Blue streaks down the ice.

From left: Neubauer, Blue and Karlee McCloud celebrate after Blue's first period goal.

Stars goaltender Jacie Ceglowski knocks down a high shot.

Blue finds the back of the net in the first period.

Blue looks for a teammate.

Dakota College at Bottineau fans hold up their hands as a Ladyjacks attempts a free throw.

McCloud tries to handle a puck inside the offensive zone last Sunday. 

Neubauer blazes down the ice with a defender chasing her.

Ladyjacks head coach Wayne Johnson talks to Megan Green during last Monday's 73-71 victory over Gogebic College.

Fans and players celebrate after the Ladyjacks narrow victory.

Fans and players unite at center court after the big win.

Fans celebrate at center court after the Ladyjacks won by two.

Junior Megan Saville lobs a pass to break a press last Saturday in the second round of the district tournament.

Courtney Gallagher eyes the ball shortly before going up for a layup.

Kennedy Olson fights for a loose ball with a Raider player last Saturday in Dunseith.

Megan Fix looks to pass.

Westhope-Newburg sophomore Lauren Mach fights with Paige Brabandt in last Saturday's loser-out game.

Sioux guard Ashlyn Huber strips Myrena Denselbeck in the first half.

Mach attempts to save the ball before sliding out of bounds.

Mach eyes the hoop before sinking a jumper.

Sophomore Molly Lodoen calls out a play.

Senior Bailey Tofteland fights with Sawyer's Madilyn Kraft.

Sioux junior Hunter Braaten pokes the ball away from Chris Hamilton during last Thursday's region title game.

Both Kodie Hancock (left) and Hunter Braaten (right) look on after the opening tip is batted down court.

Braaten flips up a pass in the first half.

Junior Ethan Miller tries to shoot for two with hands in his face.

The Sioux fans cheer during a time out.

Miller wrestles with Rugby senior Kyle Lovcik for possession.

Hancock launches a three ball.