Rock County Sports
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 08, 2026The 10th Annual Davis Lake Triathlon once again kicked off the Fourth of July activities at The Lake in Luverne Saturday. The triathlon has two divisions, the Minnows and the Sharks. The Minnows race is a quarter-mile kayak, two-mile bike ride and one-mile run. The Sharks race is a half-mile kayak, eight-mile bike ride and two-and-a-half-mile run. Both races can be completed by individuals or…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 08, 2026Luverne had trouble finding hits against Hadley falling 8-0 to the Buttermakers at home June 29. The makeup game was called after the fifth inning due to rain. Redbirds Isaac Bonner and Riley Sneller each hit one single against Hadley and Luverne registered six strikeouts in the game. Tucker Sorenson threw 28 strikes out of 42 pitches and only gave up two hits in the Buttermakers win. Casey…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 08, 2026Rapid Speedway July 3 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsmen #142 Eric Gaul, Luverne – placed sixth in A Feature, DNF in Heat 3. #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed 11th in A Feature, finished third in Heat 1. #23T Johnathan Tiesler, Hills – DNS in A Feature, DNS in Heat 2. Overall points leaders to date 7th – Brandon Boeve – 680 9th – Eric Gaul – 588 11th – Johnathan Tiesler - 397 16th –…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 01, 2026Redbird Field has a new larger scoreboard (pictured at left) thanks to the family of Joe and Bea Burns. Their children, Becky, Tom, Jean and Tim, donated funds for the scoreboard in memory of their parents and their love of baseball. They said their dad was affectionately known as the “Cardinals’ No. 1 Fan,” and both Joe and Bea regularly attended Luverne sports events. The former Redbird…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 01, 2026Thirty-one regional teams traveled to Luverne this past weekend for the Luverne Bash-A-Rama softball tournament. Games were played at Riverside Park and both fields at Joe Roberts Field June 26-28. “Bash-A-Rama is more than just a softball tournament,” said Michelle DeKam, treasurer of the Luverne Softball Association. “We try to make it a fun experience for the players and families who…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 01, 2026The Luverne Redbirds claimed two home wins this past week and are perched at 10-3 for the season. Luverne beat Heron Lake 21-0 on June 24 and won 5-2 against Worthington on June 28 at Redbird Field. The Redbirds will travel to Pipestone July 8 and will host Brandon July 17 and Jackson July 19. Redbirds 21, Lakers 0 The Redbirds flew away with a 21-0 win over the Heron Lake Lakers at home…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 01, 2026Blake Sauer, Luverne Cardinals second basemen, was recently named to the 2026 Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team. Sauer was one of 21 members of the South All-Star Team to play Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, at Chaska Athletic Park in Chaska. Sauer was nominated by LHS head coach Skyler Wenninger for his efforts and statistics throughout the 2026…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 01, 2026Rapid Speedway June 26 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsmen #142 Eric Gaul, Luverne – placed fourth in A Feature, finished third in Heat 2. #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed 11th in A Feature, finished fifth in Heat 2. Overall points leaders to date 7th - Brandon Boeve – 610 9th – Eric Gaul – 507 10th – Johnathan Tiesler - 352 15th - Larry Kracht - 165 USRA Hobby Stock #40 Chase…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJune 24, 2026The Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek trap teams participated in the 2026 Minnesota Trap Shooting Championships in Alexandria this past week. The Cardinals competed in Class 2A Tuesday, June 16, and the Patriots shot in Class 3A on Wednesday, June 17. In the championship tournament, teams shot two sessions of two rounds in one day. Scores were kept for individual and team placements in their…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJune 24, 2026Elite sprinter Brynn Bakken competed in three events at the 2026 Nike Outdoor Nationals and USA Track and Field U20 Championships June 20-21 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Bakken competed in the women’s 100-meter, 200-meter and long jump events at the meet. The USATF U20 is an annual outdoor track and field competition organized as the national championship for American athletes under 20…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJune 24, 2026The Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball team was recently named Strib Varsity’s All-Minnesota Boys Team of the Year by the Minnesota Star Tribune. H-BC made history capturing the Class 1A basketball championship in its first-ever trip to the tournament. The No. 5 seeded Patriots beat Southland 72-69 in the state quarterfinals Thursday, March 26, in the Target Center. H-BC took down the No. 1…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJune 24, 2026Rapid Speedway June 19 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsmen #21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia – placed sixth in A Feature, finished fifth in Heat 1. #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed eighth in A Feature, finished sixth in Heat 1. Overall points leaders to date 7th - Brandon Boeve - 464 8th - Eric Gaul - 420 10th - Johnathan Tiesler - 352 USRA Hobby Stock #24H Brock Harnack, Hills – placed…
By Jason BerghorstJune 17, 2026The Luverne Redbirds moved their record to 3-5 after splitting games with Pipestone and Windom in the past week. The Redbirds defeated the Pipestone A’s 7-3 at home Wednesday, June 10, before falling to the Windom Pirates 6-5 Sunday, June 14, on the road. Luverne will host the Milroy Irish June 17 before playing in Fairmont Friday night and at Hadley Sunday afternoon. The team will host Heron…
By Jason BerghorstJune 17, 2026Racing results for June 12-13 have been posted for area tracks, and following are results for drivers with ties to Rock County. Rapid Speedway June 12 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsmen #21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia – placed fifth in A Feature, finished fifth in Heat 2. #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed seventh in A Feature, finished fourth in Heat 2. #142 Eric Gaul, Luverne – placed…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJune 09, 2026The Hills-Beaver Creek girls’ track and field team ran away with the 2026 Minnesota State High School League Team State Championship in St. Michael June 4-5. After the dust settled and the final results were tallied, the H-BC girls’ team topped all other Class A teams with 43 total team points and the championship trophy. It was the H-BC girls’ first-ever team track and field state championship…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJune 09, 2026The Luverne Baseball Association hosted roughly 300 players on 22 youth teams and eight Junior Legion teams during the 2026 Buffalo Days celebration June 5-7. Games were held at Redbird Field, Joe Roberts Field and Riverside Park. Teams played in 9U (9 years old and under) 10U, 11U, 12U and Junior Legion brackets. Brandon Valley won the 9U tournament, and Watertown teams won the 10U, 11U and…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.
