On the Bench with Byron Higgin
Hard to believe it’s already playoff time and the summer is nearly gone. The Wynston Boe Memorial Golf Tournament is already approaching on Sunday, as the American Legion, Junior Legion Vultures and Minneota Mudhens are all getting ready to make a push in the playoffs.
The Legion opens Friday at Madison — which is a tough draw, and the Jr. Legion opens Friday at home against Canby.
They’ve defeated them twice. The Mudhens finish the season with a game Wednesday at home with Montevideo and play two on Sunday, at 3 p.m. at Cottonwood, and at 7:30 p.m. at home against the Madison Mallards.
Sunday also brings the golf tournament. Last year’s champion, as he has been so many times, was Jesse Larson, grandson of Wynston Boe. No word if he’s returning to defend his title.
But one thing is new, Wynston Boe’s daughter Robin Traen is now running the golf club, which her father Wynston did for so many years. When she hung up the banner at the club advertising her father’s tournament, his smiling face on the banner was a bit much for Robin to handle. “It made me sad because I miss him so much,” she said. I can understand.
Wynston was a friend of mine, and I toured many of the final tournaments in a golf cart next to Wynston.
I’ve missed him since he passed away. Plus, I miss him calling me, “Sid,” after “Sid Hartman” of the Minneapolis Tribune. And he and I had many good, “re-live the past in sports” talks at the Roundup in Minneota. It was amazing how we remembered many of the same events — especially in baseball. Yes, I too miss Wynston Boe. But it is comforting to have his family around and to have the golf tournament in his name.
As for the American Legion and Jr. Legion, it has been a tumultuous season with the loss of friend Donnie Schuelke. And there have been some crazy games along the way. As for the Mudhens, their season has kind of fallen on tough times — but wins over Montevideo, Cottonwood and Madison this weekend could go a long way to resurrecting the season and vaulting them into the playoffs.
Right now they are in a scoring slump — not so much a hitting slump ... but they can’t seem to score runs. Maybe they’ll break out of it and come on strong in time to make a strong pitch in the playoffs.
The dream for a berth in the state tournament is not over yet. Even the summer recreation kids are starting to wind their way into the end of the summer season. I’ve asking myself, “Where did it go?” Summer is just TOO SHORT around here. But I don’t think there’s much we can do about it.
Good Luck teams!