Jottings before the long weekend

Tonight is the annual North Star League All-Star game, which pits players from North of State Highway 55 against players from South of 55.

Hutchinson, Howard Lake and Maple Plain (not to mention 12-win Loretto) all are south of 55. South, which lost to the North a year ago to make the series 4-3 in favor of the South, is the clear favorite in my eyes.

Expect the starting lineup to be something like this: Hutch's Corey Ryks (P), Hutch's Justin Juergensen (C), Rockford's Ryan Rassatt (1B), Loretto's Nathan Maher (2B), Howard Lake's Jesse Berg (SS), D-C's Brent Opsahl (3B) and outfielders Dan Birkholz of D-c, Andy Engebretson of Maple Plain and Tyler Maher of Loretto. Adam Gregg of Maple Plain will likely DH.

Expect Opsahl and Engebretson to participate in the home run derby for the South at 6:30 p.m. First pitch is 7:30 p.m.

Should be a fun night at Saints Field in Dassel. The field is among the best in the NSL - just get their early to avoid looking in the sun from the first base side of the stands.

Hutch players also participating will be Brian Meuleners and Adam Padrnos, who threw eight innings Wednesday night.

* Talked with Glencoe native Chris Odegaard's parents this past weekend in Plato - said Chris was enjoying his time playing with Class A Yakima Bears of the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system. In two starts, Odegaard is 0-0 with an ERA of 4.82 with 10 strikeouts.

Follow Yakima here:
http://yakima.bears.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t419

* Evan Kohli and the Ozark Generals are 4-14 in the M.I.N.K. League and 12-14 overall this summer. Stats aren't updated on the Generals page.

Here is what I have found:
http://www.websportsradio.com/gen09.htm

MINK league site: http://www.minkleaguebaseball.com/

* Congrats to former Huskies pitcher Corey Trick, who got married last weekend in Glyndon. Trick and the Moorhead Brewers visit Dassel-Cokato Aug. 1

Next up: former Huskie catcher/third baseman Chris Henke July 25

* Kyle Messner and Mike Marquardt, who play for the 35-and-over Hanska Bullheads, will play the Fairfax Cardinals on Twins Fun Night Monday in Fairfax. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Never been before, but estimated crowds near 1,000 show up each year. Playing with the Bullheads will be former major leaguers Dana Kiecker and Corey Koskie. Former Twin Juan Berguener and Canturbury Downs owner Curt Sampson will pitch for Fairfax.

I plan on going to write a story on Kyle and Mike. Hanska is coming up to Hutch for a 7-inning game July 31.

* The Hutch 14s and Hutch 18s intermediates both beat Eden Prairie in tennis action yesterday. Look for the results in next week's papers.