Swedish National Team to play area amateurs
NORTHWOODS LEAGUE
By MIKE BIALKA
Sports Editor
Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers owner-general manager Joel Sutherland is offering baseball fans an opportunity to make Memorial Day memorable.
Sutherland announced Wednesday the Swedish National Team will play an exhibition game against the Brainerd Lakes Area All-Stars May 25 at Mills Field.
The all-star team will consist of players from the Brainerd Bees, Brainerd Braves, Nisswa Lightning, Fort Ripley Rebels and St. Mathias Devils amateur teams, who will sell tickets for the game and receive all proceeds from tickets they sell.
"It's a nice way for us to kick off the season, a great way to begin a relationship with the amateur teams in the area," Sutherland said. "It's something we hope is going to last for a long time.
"It also allows us to practice our craft for a night, kind of get the kinks out, get our music up and running, get our (public address announcers) ready to go, and get ready for the Lunkers' season, which starts the 28th."
Bees manager Tim Martin said Sutherland called him last winter about the idea of having area amateur teams play the Swedes. Martin said managers of the other teams were receptive to the idea.
"I think this is a big step in the right direction, that the new Northwoods League team, the Lunkers, has connected with the amateur teams," Martin said. "That has never been done. I think it's a big step forward. I have to give Joel credit for that."
The Swedish team competes around the world in various international events, including this spring's IBAF Baseball World Cup. A few of its players live in Leksand, Sweden, Brainerd's sister city.
Brainerd mayor James Wallin, who visited Leksand two years ago, said he and his wife were "treated like royalty" on their visit. Wallin said Leksand has been Brainerd's sister city since 1988.
Hej!
Translation: 'How do you do'? in Swedish
What: Swedish National Team vs. Brainerd Lakes Area All-Stars
When: 7:05 p.m. May 25
Where: Mills Field, Brainerd
Tickets: Available from Tim Martin (839-1224), Derek Owen (330-4574), Randy Heidmann (839-6470), Ray Austin (838-7189) and Aaron Jenkins 838-6495.
Further information: Contact Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers (218) 824-3474 or
www.lunkersbaseball.com "To me it's a tremendous event that's going to happen in Brainerd to help kick off the Lunkers' season," he said.
"I'm just happy that it's coming together like it is," he added. "Joel has done a tremendous job with his crew of promoting and getting the Lunkers off the ground. I'm looking forward to being here the 25th."
Sutherland said a few special events are planned.
"We're looking for a nice gift exchange prior to the game," he said. "You can probably even expect to get some Swedish meat balls at the ballpark that night. If anybody is a fan of Swedish meat balls be sure to call one of the coaches and get tickets."
Sutherland said the game is part of an effort to let lakes area fans know this franchise will differ from its predecessors.
"It's telling people this is a team that has a new look and a new name but it has a new spirit too," he said. "This is about doing something new in the marketplace, certainly something that hasn't been done here before.
"This is the first night before we get our season started that demonstrates things are going to be different here and we're moving forward."
Sutherland believes the event should draw a crowd even though it's a holiday night.
"But not everybody leaves town, not everybody is coming back (from out of town)," he said. "I think there are still a lot of folks here that want to come out and see some baseball, who want to come out and see some great changes at Mills Field. That will be the first night to see them, then we get after it that Thursday."
Brainerd Lakes Area All-Stars
Brainerd Braves: Derek Owen, John Riewer, Nate Foss, Jamie LaDouceur, Jason Roepke, Tony Whitlock
Fort Ripley: Austin Schmolke, Brett Kramer, Rhett Williamson, Nick Jelacie, Bill Sather
Nisswa Lightning: Aaron Jenkins, Drew Boland, Morgan Shepherd, Tony Parrish
St. Mathias Devils: Joe Tautges, Jake Francis, Matt Siegel, Zach Heidmann, Trevor Thompson
Brainerd Bees: Chris Smolke, Mike Shogren, Tim Martin, Steve Berndgen
