Rock County Sports
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 13, 2025Luverne picklers celebrated National Pickleball Day Friday, Aug. 8, playing together at the Luverne pickleball courts north of the high school. Pictured are (front, from left) Terry Althoff, Lowell Drenth, Barb Antoine, Nate Rud, (back) Mark Overgaard, Brent Thiem, Paul Erickson, Diana Erickson, Larry Franken, Jeanne VanOtterloo, Pat Scheidt, Dixie Hansen, Katie McClure and Don Bosshart.
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 13, 2025Hometown Pride, a YouTube documentary about the 2003-2010 Ellsworth Panthers boys’ basketball state run, will premiere next week at the Palace Theatre. Episodes 2 and 3 called “Southwest Christian’s Target” and “The Panthers Are Going to State!” will be played for the first time to the public in Luverne on Aug. 21. Produced by Ellsworth alumni and brothers Adam and Zach Sieff of Clear Frame…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 13, 2025Golfer Mark Opitz recorded his first hole-in-one Saturday, Aug. 9, at Nordic Trails Golf Course in Alexandria. Mark and Annie (his wife) were golfing together when he made the shot on hole No. 4. Mark used a six iron on the fourth hole par 3, 130-yard shot. After Mark hit the ball his said, “Annie, that has a chance,” and by the time he got done getting the words out, it went in. Mark said…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 13, 2025Local racing results for Aug. 8-9 are listed. Drivers posted have ties to Rock County. Rapid Speedway Aug. 8 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsman’s #21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia – placed seventh in the A Feature, finished sixth in Heat 1 #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed11th in the A Feature, finished sixth in Heat 2 Overall points leaders as of 8/8 8th – Brandon Boeve – 796 12th – Larry…- By MN DNRAugust 13, 2025Hunters can now review the 2025 Minnesota deer hunting regulations, and deer hunting licenses were available to purchase as of Aug. 1. Deer season details for each deer permit area and electronic copies of the 2025 Minnesota hunting regulations are available on the DNR deer hunting webpage mndnr.gov. Print copies will be available in mid-August wherever licenses are sold. Regulations translated…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 06, 2025The Luverne Senior Legion baseball team captured third place at the American Legion Division II State Tournament Saturday, Aug. 2, in Ely. Luverne beat Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 9-6 July 31 in the first-round game. They then lost 7-2 to Montevideo Aug. 1 to move down to the consolation bracket. Luverne beat Sibley East 4-1 in the consolation matchup Aug. 2 to capture third place at the state…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 06, 2025Luverne trap shooters Piper Wynia (left) and Makayla Oechsle recently received their conference medals for the 2025 spring trap shooting season. Wynia finished in first place and Oechsle placed third for Luverne in the female division. Wynia finished the season placing second at the Minnesota Trap Shooting Championship in Alexandria this past spring.
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 06, 2025The Luverne Redbirds dropped their first game in the Minnesota Baseball Association District 8B tournament Saturday, Aug. 2, in New Ulm. The No. 5-seed Redbirds fell 5-3 to the No. 4-seed Raymond Rockets in the first round of the district playoffs. In the District 8B bracket, three of eight teams have the opportunity to move on to the state tournament later this summer. After their loss to…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 06, 2025Local racing results for Aug. 1-2 are listed. Drivers posted have ties to Rock County. Rapid Speedway Aug. 1 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsman’s #21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia – placed fifth in the A Feature, finished second in Heat 1 #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed 12th in the A Feature, finished sixth in Heat 2 Points leaders as of 7/25 8th – Brandon Boeve – 658 12th – Larry Kracht…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 30, 2025Luverne’s Thomas Kracht, driving car No. 15, took first place in the 2025 Rock County Fair Enduro race Saturday, July 26, in Luverne. Kracht was the first driver to reach the 171-lap or two-hour race time limit in the event. This year’s Enduro featured 28 of 30 cars registered for the race. Of the 28 cars, 14 finished in driving condition and were able to place. In the small engine class…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 30, 2025The Luverne Redbirds set their sights on the Minnesota Baseball Association District 8B playoffs. Luverne is scheduled to take on the Raymond Rockets Saturday, Aug. 2, at 11:00 am. The District 8B games will be played at Johnson Park in New Ulm. It is a double-elimination bracket with three teams moving on to the state tournament. Hosts for the 2025 State Tournament are Brownton, Hutchinson,…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 30, 2025Local racing results for July 25 are listed. Drivers posted have ties to Rock County. Rapid Speedway July 25 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsman’s #21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia – placed seventh in the A Feature, finished third in Heat 2 #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed twelth in the A Feature, DNF in Heat 2 Overall points leaders as of 7/18 8th – Brandon Boeve – 590 12th – Larry Kracht…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 23, 2025The Luverne Junior Legion baseball team started the 2025 Southwest Sub-State Tournament 1-1 this past week and needs to fight their way back in the consolation bracket. Luverne fell to Slayton 10-3 in their first-round game Sunday, July 20, at Redbird Field and came back to beat Madelia 10-0 Monday, July 21, in Luverne in the consolation bracket. The win against Madelia moves Luverne on, and…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 23, 2025Hills Beaver Creek senior Bode Kruger shot his way to a 13th place tie in the 2025 Valley National 8-Ball League Association Junior Pool Championship in Rochester July 17-20. “I did better than I thought I might at the tournament playing older competitors,” he said Monday. The Valley National 8-Ball League Association is a non-profit organization established to promote the game of pool on coin-…- July 23, 2025In 2025, young people will be able to hunt deer with an adult in a number of state parks during several application-only special youth deer hunts. These hunts offer more individualized experiences in unique places, These firearms hunts are for youth ages 12-15 at the time of the hunt and are accompanied by an adult. Hunters can apply for a limited number of permits through Friday, Aug. 15.…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 23, 2025By Greg Hoogeveen Local racing results for July 16-18 are listed. Drivers posted have ties to Rock County. Rapid Speedway July 18 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsman’s #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed ninth in the A Feature, finished first in Heat 1 #142 Eric Gaul, Luverne – DNF in the A Feature, finished second in Heat 2 Overall points leaders to date 8th – Brandon Boeve – 590…
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