Rockin' Down the Highway

This week I picked the Doobie Brothers song "Rockin' Down the Highway," because I traveled many miles around north central North Dakota to cover stories this past week.

The Section 5 legion baseball tournament took up a the majority of my road time. I had to drive the nearly 40 miles to Rolette on three separate occasions.

I also drove to the International Peace Garden's for a flag ceremony.

Lastly I hit up the Lake Metigoshe are for the annual Metigoshe Ministries quilt auction.

This week I have Class B state legion baseball to cover, which will be here in town.

Here are my pics for this week:

Bottineau Post 42's Julius Baker raps a hit in the section championship game against Velva last Saturday.

Bottineau pitcher Andrew Hill about to deliver a pitch against Velva last Saturday in Rolette.

Hill unleashes a nasty curve ball.

Shortstop Devin Bercier calls off teammates on a pop fly last Saturday.

Walker Braaten has taken over the duty of bat boy for Bottineau. He even has a matching uniform with his older brother Hunter.

Baker fires to first to try and turn a double play in the championship.

Baker again makes contact with the ball last Saturday.

Hunter Braaten throws out a Velva runner as he tries for third base.

Erik Blada (Kramer) takes the checkered flag in the 20-lap feature race last Sunday at Thunder Mountain Speedway north of Bottineau.

Racers round turn one during the first heat of sport stocks last Sunday.

Jarett and Kyle Lovcik spin each other out in the heat race of Wissota Midwest Modifieds last Sunday.

Brady Soland smacks into Kevin Smith after Smith was spun out.

Jamie Smith (left), Kevin Smith (center) and  Soland (right) all spin out during last Sunday's feature race.

Soland and Cody Smith avoid Byron Lesmann (near) who was spun out by Waylon Poitra.

Hill knocks down a grounder last Thursday in Bottineau's 3-1 win over Cando in the Section 5 playoffs in Rolette.

Taylor Milbrath delivers a pitch in last Thursday's game.

Milbrath about to deliver out of the stretch last Thursday.

Hill guns out a Cando runner in the second round win.

Bottineau catcher Mark LaCroix attempts to catch a foul fly, while the camera man tries not to get stomped.

Braaten dives for a fly from his center field position last Thursday.

Hill smacks a single last Thursday.

LaCroix hits the final stretch for home to score Bottineau's third run in last Thursday's round two win.

Heat Wave

This week I picked the Martha and the Vandella's song (Your Love is Like a) "Heat Wave" because it has been very hot and humid throughout the Midwest, including Bottineau.

I can't imagine it was much fun for the legion baseball players or especially the racers up at Thunder Mountain Speedway. I covered both baseball and the races this past week.

Next week should be a busy one, as I have lots of stuff planned. Hopefully it cools off.


Here are my pics for the week:

Bottineau shortstop Devin Bercier guns a New Rockford player out last Tuesday.

Taylor Milbrath about to deliver a pitch in last Tuesday's game in Bottineau.

Third baseman Logan Millican fields a ground ball.

Millican again with a great stab at third.

The umpire calls the New Rockford runner out after Mark LaCroix heaved a toss from home to Bercier.

Millican fields a bunt late in the game Tuesday.

Andrew Hill about to uncork on a fastball.

Millican bare hands a bunt during Wednesday's game. 

LaCroix about to smack one of his multiple hits in the game.

(From left outside of the car) Abriana Lesmann, Amber Getchell and Charlie Lesmann and Treyton Lesmann (inside car) get a ride from their favorite driver Byron Lesmann last Sunday night at Thunder Mountain Speedway's Kid's Night.

Old Glory as well as the Canadian flag fly prominently near the track last Sunday.

Bottineau's David Pederson runs into some bad luck as he had engine problems during last Sunday's race.

The sport stock division feature racers lineup for the restart.

The feature resumes after the caution, as the drivers get a green flag.

Dust in the Wind

This week I picked the Kansas hit "Dust in the Wind." I chose that because it was a dusty night last Sunday up at the Thunder Mountain Speedway.

The dusty conditions made it tough for the drivers to keep their cars under control and on the track. I also covered legion baseball last week.


I have pictures from both events:

Bottineau's Mark LaCroix pitches in relief in the seventh inning last Wednesday in Bottineau.

Bottineau starting pitcher Devon Bercier winds up last Wednesday in a double header win over Rolette.

Bercier, from Dunseith, delivers a pitch in last Wednesdays game.

LaCroix makes a play on a foul pop behind the plate.

Andrew Hill slides safely into second base after stealing it.

Hill about to connect with a pitch.

Rusty Kollman (back) and Shawn Nostdahl (middle) trail Norm Reitan (near) in last Sunday's feature race at Thunder Mountain Speedway north of Bottineau.

Julius Baker (left) watches as Bottineau center fielder Hunter Braaten (right) hauls in a fly ball.

LaCroix slides safely into home, scoring from first base on a sac fly.

Bottineau's Logan Millican swings at a pitch late in game one against Rolette.

Reitan (near) and Rick Blaine (far) slide around turn one last Sunday in the Wissota Midwest Modified heat.

Track manager Jeff Smith tosses candy to awaiting kids last Sunday during race intermission.

The moon peaked out over the crowd during the beautiful race night.

The sport stock cars throw up quite a bit of dust while on the first straightaway.

Shadows of onlookers from the observation deck at the race Sunday.

Ryan George (right) takes the checkered, edging out Matt Hunter (left) in the 20-lap feature.

Nick Monson (left) manuevers around the outside of Jamie Smith (middle) and Kevin Smith (right) during the feature race last Sunday.