Laker athletes play in All-Star series
Sports | Published on August 22, 2022 at 11:49am CDT
Dylan Alexander (right) and PJ Johnson (left), students at Minnewaska Area High School, were among 60 players from around the state selected to play in the Minnesota Legion Prospect All-Star Series, Aug. 5-7. The All Stars were divided into four teams with Dylan playing with the Blue team and PJ competing with the Gold team. The weekend kicked off with a Prep Baseball Report skills showcase Friday, Aug. 5, followed by team practices and a dinner meet-and-greet Friday afternoon and evening. A much-needed rain, Saturday, pushed the All-Star Series games to Sunday and also reduced the series from a 4-team tournament to two nine-inning exhibition games on the turf at Minnetonka High School. As luck would have it, the new format matched the Blue team against the Gold. The Gold team jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the early innings only to have the Blue team slowly chip away, eventually coming back to tie it up, 7-7, in the bottom of the ninth, ending the game. Alexander, who played catcher, was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and run scored, and also threw out a potential base stealer in the eighth. Johnson had a great at-bat for the Gold team, eventually lining out to deep left center field, and also pitched an effective inning in relief and made a couple great defensive plays at third base. The Minnewaska Baseball Program, Starbuck VFW Post 4582, Glenwood Legion Post 187 and Lowry Legion Post 253 were well-represented all weekend, according to local organizers who attended the event.