Tuesday, May 22, 2012

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going

The timeless Billy Ocean classic "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" was a perfect song choice for this week as only the toughest in the state survive region playoffs, which went on this past week.

Two Bottineau golfers, one boy (Zack Monson), and one girl (Ashley Blue) made it to their respective state tournaments. The Bottineau Braves baseball team is one win away from making it to state and the track and field team is sending 11 athletes down to state in Bismarck this weekend.

It is sure to be an exciting next couple of weeks.

As for pictures this week I have several from region golf in Rugby last Thursday, as well as a few from the Bottineau/Bishop Ryan game on May 14.

Just as an aside for all those who are fans of either the Thunder thugs or Lebron's Heat, there is no chance that the Spurs don't win the title this year. They are playing far too well and are too deep a team to not win the title this year.

As for the NHL playoffs I'm cheering for the Rangers, but if I were to put money on it I'd probably take the Kings.

Pictures this week:

Bottineau senior Justin McCloud hurls a pitch toward home last Monday against Bishop Ryan.

Sophomore Andrew Hill about to catch a pop fly last Monday.

Hill slides safely into third base.

Westhope-Newburg senior Trevor Hulse follows through after hitting a tee shot last Thursay at the region meet in Rugby.

Sioux sophomore Hunter Braaten finishes his swing last Thursday.

Bottineau freshman Brock Hiltner watches the hole after he strikes a putt on the ninth green.

Bottineau junior Zack Monson hits a chip from off the ninth green.

Westhope-Newburg's Chase Conway strikes an approach shot on the fourth hole.

Braaten watches as his putt creeps closer to the hole.

Bottineau junior Jesse Klebe hits a chip on the ninth hole.

Klebe taters a drive on the No. 1 tee.

Sioux golfer Dylan Stratton watches his chip travel toward the hole.

Bottineau freshman Luke Amsbaugh finishes his swing on the fifth tee.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Settle for a Slowdown

Dierks Bentley's "Settle for a Slowdown" perfectly encapsulates my thoughts on the spring thus far. Spring sports and activities are running away really quickly. I can't believe I'm nearly through another sports year in Bottineau. My schedule is as busy as a rattle snake in a pickle jar, and with the second of three weddings (and a bachelor party for the third wedding) this weekend, it isn't slowing down--though I'd settle for one.

This past week I was able to jet over to Westhope to photograph some girls golf, travel along with to Rugby for boy's golf and spend a day with the Dakota College at Bottineau baseball team as they hosted the NJCAA Region XIII baseball tournament.

This week I will be heading to the boy's region golf tournament on Thursday and then making the trek back to Central MN for my cousins wedding and my second-cousin/good friend's bachelor party (neither will be too crazy, I promise).

I have pictures from last week's events:

Westhope-Newburg Sioux eighth grader Chase Conway tees off on hole No. 7 last Thursday in Rugby.

Conway watches a putt travel toward the hole on the fifth green at the individual qualifier in Rugby.

Lane Berenston tees off on the ninth hole last Thursday.

Bottineau junior Taylor Parisien smacks a tee shot.

Jacks sophomore Wade Haight about to tater a ball in last Friday's Region XIII tournament game.

Sophomore Hayden Johnson digs a ball out of his glove after fielding a ground ball at his second base position.

DCB sophomore Cody Benson flips to second base to try a double play last Friday.

Tyias Huck delivers a pitch in last Friday's first game against Bismarck State.

Freshman Tyler Storseth fields a bunt down the first base line against Williston State last Friday.

Johnson extends to make the play.

Sophomore Zachary McBeain fires toward first on the run.

JJ Dukes makes a diving catch last Friday.

Williston first basemen Zac Smith catches a foul pop fly.

Johnson tries to turn two.

Huck checks the runner at first.

DCB first baseman Chad Miller snags a foul pop fly.

Drew Allan smacks a base knock.

Sioux girls golfer Lexi Wyman hits a tee shot on the seventh hole last Tuesday in Westhope.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Pop Bottles

This week I chose the song "Pop Bottles" by Birdman featuring Lil' Wayne. I did so because the Bottineau girl's golf team definitely had reason to celebrate (with sparkling cider) after a first place finish last Tuesday at the home meet. I have several pictures from the tournament.

Also I took pictures at the Dakota College at Bottineau baseball game last Saturday. A couple more weeks and spring sports will wind down.

Anyway, without further ado, the pictures from this week.

DCB freshman and former BHS center fielder Taylor Milbrath fires a throw toward third last Saturday.

Zack McBeain rips a single last Saturday against Williston State College.

Right fielder Wade Haight calls off teammates and makes a catch behind first base.

JJ Dukes winds up on the mound.

Dukes delivers a pitch.

DCB catcher Drew Allan is unable to handle a throw to home plate as a Teton slides safely into home.

Haight fires the ball into the infield.

Second baseman Hayden Johnson makes a throw to first.

Haight attempts a bunt.

Haight fouls of a two-strike pitch.

Bottineau junior Ashley Blue hits a drive off of No. 1 last Tuesday.

Seventh grader Abby Bristol chips on to the green at No. 5.

Senior Morgan Klebe hits a pitch shot on the fifth hole.

Jacie Ceglowski, a freshman, hits a chip.

Seventh grader Alicia Monson lines up a putt last Tuesday at Bottineau Country Club.

Monson watches her putt crawl toward the hole.

Westhope-Newburg's Jade Teske slides a putt toward the hole.

Teske tees off on the sixth hole.

Bailey Neubauer begins her down swing.

Neubauer swings through the shot on the first hole.