Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Dundas Baseball Starts Strong--Then hits an old Bump

The Dundas Dukes started the year with three convincing victories beating St. Louis Park 9-3, Wanamingo 11-0 and Pine Island 7-0.  Then they went to Cannon Falls on Sunday and hit that old speed bump named Keith Meyers.  The Dukes were a little short-handed, but that's the way amateur baseball is played--there is always something going on in the players' lives--and Sunday was mother's day.  The Bears took it to the Dukes 11-3 and all of a sudden the Dukes are 0-1 in the CCVL.  Last year the Dukes were the league champions and they also lost to Cannon Falls at Cannon. 

This makes me think of the 1988 season.  We had an excellent team and we were primed not only to make the State Tournament, we thought we could win it.  Well, we went to Cannon Falls and played the Comets with Dick Jacobson pitching against us.  Jake wasn't what you would call a dominating pitcher but we ended up losing to him and the Comets. 

After the game we were having a couple of beers in the dugout and talking about who we would draft when we went to the State Tournament.  Tom Graupmann, now the A.D. at Northfield High School, who had just played his first game for us after moving from St. Peter, listened for a little bit and got a little hot under the collar.  "We just lost to Jake and you're talking about going to the State Tournament?" was the jist of his comment.  Lew Olson looked at him and told him to settle down and have a beer. Lew patiently explained that it is a long season and we were just getting started.

Tom continued to rant and rave but Lew and the vets would have none of it.  We knew Tom was just a rookie and needed to learn the Duke ways.  The '88 Dukes were indeed fine and went on to win the State Championship. 

The Dukes of 2012 will be just fine too.  They have everyone but Robin Moore back from last year and they added two vets that will fit in.  Steve Loos and Brandon Rolloff have both rejoined the Dukes after being gone for the 2011 season.  Loos thought he was too old and retired--now he knows that you shouldn't even think about retiring until you hit 38.  Rolloff played the '11 season with with Owatonna--recognized the error of his ways and is back to play with the Dukes. 

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