There's still some remnants of this past winter lingering with pockets of snow here and there and the digital thermometer in the kitchen read 31 degrees this morning. But for the most part, we've moved on.
The winter sport seasons are officially in the books, spring football is in full swing and we've actually hosted baseball and softball games here in Mankato.
The Maverick baseball team suffered a bit of a set-back last weekend with eighth-rated St. Cloud State taking three of four games in a NSIC series played in Mankato Friday and Saturday. To say that doesn't happen very often might be a bit of an understatement. The last time an opponent took three of four games from the Mavericks at the MSU Baseball complex in a conference home series prior to this weekend was in 2008 when Nebraska Omaha accomplished the feat. Before that was in 2003 when Nebraska Omaha won all four games vs. MSU in Mankato. There's still a lot of the schedule left, though, so we don't see our guys fretting too much. And, just a reminder, the Mavericks, who are the defending league regular-season, post-season and regional champions, are scheduled to host the 2011 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament at Franklin Rogers Park May 11-14.
As evidenced by a program best-ever start at 27-4, Lori Meyer has her Maverick softballers in fine form. Ranked eighth in the nation and 4-0 in NSIC play, MSU has won 11 of its last 12 games, but with 22 games to play before the conference tournament, still a ways to go here. Winona State is rated 11th and Augustana is 20th. Concordia (Minn.), currently ranked fourth in the region, looks also to be a factor and the fifth-rated team in the region (MSU is first in the region, Winona State second, Augustana third, Concordia fourth) is the defending regional champion from Metro State (Colo.).
The men's golf team will attempt to claim its third consecutive NSIC golf crown this weekend with the final three rounds of the five-round league tournament taking place at The Jewel in Lake City. At this point it looks like a two-horse race with the Mavericks owning a one-stroke edge over St. Cloud State at the top of the team leader board. Concordia stands in third place, 22 strokes back of the Mavericks.
The MSU women's golf team has a couple of invitational tournaments to play prior to the concluding rounds of the league tourney, which is scheduled for April 23-24 in Brandon, S.D. The Mavericks stand 49 strokes off the pace set by first-place Augustana, so have some work to do. Nick Campa's charges are attempting to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive season and are coming off an 11th-place finish at last year's national championship tournament.
The Maverick Walk for Women's Scholarships is this weekend. A great event that's experienced growth every year and provides funding for MSU's female student-athletes.
That's about if for now. And, oh by the way, just got a text from Matt Magers. Our baseball games vs. Concordia WILL be played in St Paul tomorrow (Wednesday), as scheduled.
It's great to be a Maverick!
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