JASE KRAFT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

[ Jase Kraft has been coached by Becky Bell Krueger all of his years of running]

CROSS COUNTRY

2012 – Junior:

• 2nd place at State Meet in Huron (team does not make medal stand)

• SDHSAA Top Twenty Five All-State Award across all 3 classes

• Elite Runner Award from MileSplit.us South Dakota

• SDHSAA Team Academic Award:  Owen Witte, Braden Jones, Nick Paulson, Jase

2011 – Sophomore:

• 2nd place at State Meet in Sioux Falls, TEAM places 3rd—team:  Terrek Butterfield, Braden Jones, Owen Witte, Nick Paulson, Jase

• Elite Runner Award from MileSplit.us South Dakota

• SDHSAA Team Academic Award (members listed above)

2010 – Freshman:

• 2nd place at State Meet in Huron (team does not make medal stand)

• Elite Runner Award from MileSplit.us South Dakota

2009 – 8th Grader:

• 10th place at State Meet in Rapid City, TEAM gets 3rd straight Championship Title, scoring one of the lowest (low is good) scores in state XC B history—team:  Mitch, Drew, Cordell Muilenburg and Jase, only 8th grader to medal in the top 25

• SDHSAA Team Academic Award (team listed above)

2008 – 7th Grader:

• 25th place, makes the medal stand (only medal to 25 places), only 7th grader to place in top 25, TEAM captures 2nd straight Championship Title–team: brothers Mitch & Drew, Cordell Muilenburg, Mansour Mahmoud and Jase

• SDHSAA Team Academic Award (team listed above)

2007 – 6th Grader:

• Watches brothers Mitch & Drew, along with Cordell Muilenburg (Blake Willman on injured reserve) capture Wessington Springs High School’s first ever State Team Championship @ Huron, SD and longs for the day when he can run, too

A Kraft has finished second at State Cross Country 6 years in a row.

High School Track

2012 – Sophomore:

• State B Outstanding Male Performer

• 3200M Champion, breaks his school record with 9:45.15

• 1600M Champion

• Anchored 3rd place Medley Relay—team members Bailey Willman/Trevor Kenobbie, Braden Jones & Terrek Butterfield

• Anchored 3rd place 4x800M Relay—team members:  Braden Jones, Owen Witte & Terrek Butterfield

• Boys Track Team 4th—team members:  Terrek Butterfield, Trevor Kenobbie, Bailey Willman, Gus Gran, Braden Jones, Owen Witte, Jase

• Breaks 1600M school record during meet in the year with 4.26, previously held by his brother Mitch, 2010

2011 – Freshman:

• 3200M, 2nd place, breaks school record with 9:55, previously held by Jeff Higgins, 1979 who broke Gerald Kraft’s record from 1978

• 1600M, 2nd place

• SDHSAA Team Academic Award

2010 – 8th Grade:

• 4x800M Relay TEAM Championship, relay team breaks school record with 8:08.18—team:  Cordell Muilenburg, brothers Drew & Mitch, previously held by Marty Olson, Chris Long, Chris Heim and Troy Mebius, 1991

• 3200M, 4th place

• Boys Track Team 2nd (tied for 1st right up to the last race of the day but did not have a 4×400 relay team)—team members:  Kole Kopfmann, Trevor Kenobbie, Gus Gran, Orwin Miller, Cordell Muilenburg, Mitch, Drew and Jase Kraft

Owls finish outstanding season

Go down swinging in 3-0 loss in opening round of SD State Amateur Baseball Tournament

The Wessington Springs Owls competed Friday night at the State Amateur Baseball Tournament held this year in Mitchell.  The Owls would take on the Alexandria Angels and their pitching ace Trever Vermeulen.  “Going into the game we knew we had our work cut out for us facing Vermeulen,” stated Owls manager Nathan Hainy, “but we have a solid team and feel like we could play with anyone.”

The Owls were the visiting team, but Vermeulen struck out the side.  In the bottom half of the first, the Angels loaded the bases with no one out off of starter Kevin Pottebaum.  But Pottebaum buckled down and only allowed one run before recording three outs.  Arin Boschee led off the top of the second with a stand-up double to left field.

Despite the promising start to the inning, Vermeulen would strike out the next three batters to end the threat. Pottebaum would find a groove of his own and not allow the Angels to score in the second.  The Owls would get to runners aboard in the third but just couldn’t get the hit needed to score a run.  With the score 1-0, Pottebaum would face some difficulties in the third.

After retiring the first two batters, he would walk the next batter then give up two consecutive hits.  The second of the two hits would be a back breaker.  The Angels seventh place batter would hit a bases clearing triple to give them a 3-0 advantage.  Unfortunately for the Owls, the only other scoring threat they would muster was in the eighth.  A lead-off walk to Kody Kopfmann was followed by a long weather delay.

When play resumed, Austin Olson would join Kopfmann on the base paths by being hit by an inside pitch.  The next two batters would be retired, but Adam Kaus would reach on another walk.

Once again, the Angels’ ace would rise to the challenge and record the final out of the inning.  Mitch McLagan, who relieved Pottebaum in the fifth, only faced thirteen batters over the final four innings to keep the Owls in the ballgame.  Runs just never materialized for the Owls.

They only finished with two hits, the double by Boschee and a single in the ninth by Anthony Wahl.  The Owls finish the season with a 19-11 record, finished second in the league standings and second in the district tournament a year after not having a team.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the guys and our accomplishments this season.  Even though the year didn’t end the way we had hoped, we brought a lot of different guys together and meshed them into an outstanding team.  We can’t wait until next year.”  Hainy said.

TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE
CARTER GROHS is pictured with his show sheep at last week’s Achievement Days. Carter was in his first year of showing. Look for all the results in next week’s paper. More pictures are printed INSIDE THIS ISSUE.

TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE
A VIEW of many vintage and collectible cars on Main Street in Wessington Springs last Saturday, August 4. The Foothills Classic Show has become a summer-time fixture in downtown Wessington Springs over the past few years and gets bigger and better every year. Besides cars, tractors, pickups and motorcycles are also featured.

RUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE
THE DESCENDANTS OF Ray and Elsie Linafelter held their annual family reunion in the city park last weekend. Every year brings a new theme. This year’s was Old West, complete with dance hall girls and cowboys. The group is pictured above touring the town in a wagon pulled by Ralph Winegar on one of his antique tractors. The name of the game when this group gets together is fun, fun, fun!

Game three for the Owls in the District Tournament  carried with it a trip to the 2012 State Amateur Baseball Tournament.  With a win the Owls would be guaranteed a spot in this year’s tournament.  Standing in their way is the always dangerous team from Chamberlain.  The Owls would turn to Kevin Pottebaum to hold the Mallards’ offense down.  The Owls would get the scoring started in the bottom of the second.  After Mitch McLagan singled and Anthony Wahl walked, both would score on singles by Kody Kopfmann and Austin Olson.  Pottebaum would prove difficult to hit as he faced only eleven batters through the first three innings.  The Owls would continue to score runs.  In the bottom of the third, the Owls would score four more runs to bring the score to 6-0.  Singles by Adam Kaus, Arin Boschee, and Kody Kopfmann along with two walks led to the four runs.  One more run for the Owls in the fourth would make the score 7-0 and with Pottebaum cruising through the batting order it looked like the Owls might claim the tournament berth.  But there were still five innings to play and Chamberlain had come back to beat the Owls more than once.  After a scoreless fifth, the Owls would come back in the bottom of the sixth with three runs to take a 10-0 lead.  Two singles, a walk and two errors would allow the last three runs for the Owls to come across the plate.  The ten run lead meant that if the Owls could hold the Mallards scoreless in the seventh they would claim their eighteenth victory of the season.  Pottebaum would be just too much to handle for the Mallards on this night.  He would hold in the seventh and claim the victory for the Owls. Kevin went seven innings giving up just no runs on three hits.  He didn’t walk anyone and struck out three.  Boschee, McLagan, and Kody Kopfmann would each collect two hits for the Owls.

Game four for the Owls was played on Thursday, July 26th versus Four-Corners.  It would be the second time the Owls would play Four-Corners in this tournament.  This game had less stake for the two teams as both teams were already in the State Tournament.  This game would be purely for seeding purposes.  Four Corners would once again take an early lead over the Owls.  Similar to the first game, the Owls would answer back.  Behind 1-0, the Owls would come up with three runs in the bottom of the first to put them on top.  Logan Kopfmann, Mitch McLagan, and Arin Boschee would all score in the first.  McLagan and Kody Kopfmann were the only Owls to get a hit in the inning.  The Owls would get back in the scoring column in the second with five more runs.  These runs would come via two hits by Armando Rodriguez and Austin Olson along with three walks, a hit batsman and a fielder’s choice.  With the score now 8-1 in favor of the Owls after two innings, the Owls were hopeful to avenge the earlier loss and hang on for the victory.  Surprisingly, neither team would be able to score the rest of the game.  Starting pitcher Adam Kaus would pitch all nine innings and allow only one run on seven hits.  Adam was never in trouble after the first inning and continued his great pitching run.  Three Owls would have two hits during the game, Rodriguez, Kody Kopfmann, and Olson.

The Owls will now play in the State Tournament on Friday, August 3.  They will play Alexandria at 5:30 in Mitchell.

Owls Start District Play

On Saturday, July 21, the Wessington Springs Owls started District Tournament play in Chamberlain.  They  took on the third seeded team from 4-Corners.  Mitch McLagan take the mound for the Owls hoping to hold down the 4-Corners’ offense.  The visiting 4-Corners got on the scoreboard first.

They  scored two runs in the second on two hits and two walks.  The Owls answered with two of their own in the bottom of the fourth.  A double by Nathan Hainy and three consecutive singles by Armando Rodriguez, Brian Kolousek, and Kody Kopfmann plated the runs for the Owls.

The score  stayed tied at two until the bottom of the seventh.  The Owls took  their first lead of the game on a single by Austin Olson, followed by a sacrifice by Jay Fischer, and finally a single by Adam Kaus.  Ahead 3-2 going to the ninth, the Owls were unable to hold the lead allowing four runs on five hits and an error.

Trailing 6-3, the Owls entered the bottom of the ninth needing three runs to tie.  Despite a lead-off triple by Kody Kopfmann, the Owls just couldn’t put together enough offense to overcome the deficit.  Brian Kolousek and Kody Kopfmann led the Owls in hitting with two hits each.  Mitch pitched all nine innings allowing six runs on twelve hits, walked five and struck out five.

McLagan took the loss for the Owls.

Stay Alive in Postseason

With the loss to 4-Corners on Saturday night, the Owls now had their work cut out for them as they found themselves in a lose or go home situation.

The Owls facied last year’s District Champion, Plankinton Bankers.   Arin Boschee   was called upon to keep the Bankers offense in check.  The starting pitchers were on their games for the first three innings, with each team not mounting an attack.  In the top of the fourth, the Bankers  scored a run due to two Owls errors and a hit.

The Owls came back with one of their own in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game 1-1.  Boschee led off with a single, then scored on an error during a sacrifice bunt by Armando  (A-Rod) Rodriguez.

The Owls also scored one in the fifth to take the lead.  Anthony Wahl scored after he singled, Austin Olson singled, and Adam Kaus also singled to bring Wahl home.  In the sixth, the Owls were back on the attack again.  Boschee as led off with a triple to get things going.

Mitch McLagan walked and moved to second on a throwing error, which also scored Boschee from third.  McLagan then scored on a triple off the bat of Anthony Wahl.  With the score 4-1, the Owls turned to veteran Brian Kolousek to close out the game in the ninth.  He did so but not until the Bankers scored one to make the game interesting.

Boschee went eight strong innings giving up one run on two hits, walked no one and struck out three.  He also led the offense with three hits.  Wahl added two hits of his own.

The Owls now advanced to play Chamberlain for a trip to the state tournament on Tuesday night  in Chamberlain.

End Regular Season with

12-11 loss to Pierre Rattlers

The Wessington Springs Owls finished their regular season in Pierre taking on the Pierre Rattlers in non-league action.

.  The Owls were looking to sweep the season series from the Rattlers and hand them only their third loss of the season, but came up with a 12-11 loss instead.

With the Owls leading 7-6 in the fifth they  pushed two more across due to two walks, an error and a fielder’s choice.  The score would move to 11-6 when the Owls scored two more runs in the sixth.  The two teams dueled through the rest of the game until Pierre scored one in the eighth and two in the ninth to snatch the victory away from the Owls, 12-11.

Hainy would take the loss for the Owls, while Kaus, Rodriguez, and Fischer led the offense with two hits apiece.

Activities at the second annual Kyle Evans Wagon Train were shrouded in sorrow as one of the event’s organizers was killed in an unfortunate highway accident on the morning of the first day of the event. Wessington  Springs farmer Ron Ogren died in an accident Thursday morning, September 6, when a tractor he was driving collided with a fuel truck about three miles west of Wessington Springs on SD Highway 34. Wessington Springs volunteer firemen and law enforcement personnel are shown at the scene of the accident. Ogren was dead at the scene of the accident. The driver of the truckJoshua McGillvrey, 28, of Wolsey, was not seriously injured. Ogren’s wife, Lynn Ogren, asked that the wagon train go on as planned on September 6-7-8. Ogren was a talented singer/entertainer, farmer/rancher and enjoyed telling cowboy stories. He and his wife also operated a pheasant hunting business at his farm. The South Dakota Highway Patrol was assisted in the investigation by the Jerauld County Sheriff’s Department, Jerauld County Ambulance and the Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department.

Craig R. Larson

Craig R. Larson, 63, of Wessington Springs died early Thursday morning Aug. 2, 2012 at the Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell.  Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, August 6, 2012 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wessington Springs.

Burial was in the Hope Cemetery rural Wessington Springs, SD.

Craig was born on November 4, 1948 in Wessington Springs the son of Floyd and Caroline (Spies) Larson.

He attended elementary and high school at Wessington Springs graduating in 1968.  He then attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD.

Craig worked with carpenters and was self employed as a painter.  His long arms and height made short work of his painting.  He was a talented athlete and loved competition of playing basketball, bowling, softball and golfing.  Craig loved his flowers and gardening.  He enjoyed attending sporting events and traveling.

On August 14, 1998 he was united in marriage to Donna Thompson.

Craig was baptized and confirmed in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife Donna of Wessington Springs, his mother Caroline of Wessington Springs three step children Perry Jost and his wife Ann of Woonsocket, SD; Casey Jost and his wife Sara Lunquist of Hartford, SD and Regina Teveldal and her husband Bryce of Wessington, SD; seven step grandchildren Mariah and Camden, Caden, Jesse and Levi Jost, and Jenna and Raygen Teveldal; one brother-in-law Ron Thompson and his wife Becky of Whitesboro, TX; and cousins, aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his father Floyd.

May he rest in peace.