Richards Makes 6 Winners, Weinfurter Triples, and more…

Richards Makes 6 Winners, Weinfurter Triples, and Ben Capek Arrives at Golden Sands
by Mike Barrett

Kenny Richards pulled into Golden Sands Speedway with 2 dozen other Late Models Friday night and showed that absence slowed him down not one bit. Tim Sauter lined up for the start next to Dave Neitzke and led quickly, leading the field around for the first 38 laps. Almost exactly halfway through the show Jeremy Lepak finished picking off car after car and strongly passed Sauter on the outside. A yellow flag on lap 42 caused by lapped traffic bumping Neil Knoblock off the track re-set the field, and Lepak’s engine stumbled badly at the start. Sauter could not avoid the rear of Lepak’s car, and turned the leader, resulting in a re-aligned start since no laps had been run from the restart. Lepak again pulled up lame and Sauter whistled by, looking like he may just collect his 1st win of the year at Plover. Kenny Richards had other ideas, and lined up behind Sauter the next few laps to assess the leader, moving past with 3 laps to go. Richards makes it 6 different winners this year in the Element Mobile Late Model series. Fast time for Lepak was his only consolation, ending in 16th place. Sauter has finished in the top three 5 out of 6 races, and is still looking for that win. Cardell Potter ran strong again in 3rd, and Brandon Selle and Colin Reffner both had solid nights to finish 4th and 5th.

The Super Stocks had another great field, posting 17 cars for the start and the racing was close the whole 25 laps. Claire Decker lined up inside the #24 of Brian Weinfurter, who was looking to post his 3rd win on the year. Decker worked hard to stay next to Weinfurter, but could not gain any position, and followed Brian to his 3rd win. It looked like Team Decker was ganging up on the competition when Claire, Paige and Natalie Decker were all in the top 5. Unfortunately Natalie suffered from contact with lapped traffic and dropped from 4th to 14th on the final lap. Paige finished 6th, behind fast timer Ryan Hinner. 3rd place Matt Ciesielski is having a good year, and 4th runner Galen Manternach was fast all night.

Pure Stocks started 18 cars, Again with Cale Marzofka topping the field with a very fast time. Cale and Dean Ashbacker got tangled up halfway through because of lapped traffic, and Marzofka fought his way back to 7th by the end. Mark Kalata liked an early lead, but Ben and Jake Capek rolled up behind him and took the lead and 2nd place away in the final 5 laps. Kalata finished ahead of John Vanstedum, who edged Brent Weiland for 5th.

Next week Motorcycle Mania Weekend begins– Pig & Corn Roast – Racing Motorcycles, Cruisers, & 4CS, Trial Riders Performance & Free Style Biking (Gates Open 5pm)

K.B. Willett Arena is New Home of Central Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Club

K.B. Willett Arena is New Home of Central Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Club

The Central Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Club announces its first season in Stevens Point. The goal of the CWWHC is to provide an avenue for women over the age of 18 to play recreationally or competitively. Although the 2011-2012 season will not be an official season of any sort, they hope to find enough interest and commitment from women around the area to allow them to join the WCHL and play competitively in the 2012-2013 season.

CWWHC welcomes any woman over the age of 18 to skate with them. The ability of their skaters varies from first year skaters to women who have played hockey with collegiate club and varsity teams. It is the CWWHC’s belief that everyone should have a chance to enjoy the great sport called hockey.

Visit the CWWHC Website for More Info

Rafters Add Highly Touted Pitcher, Outfielder to 2011 Squad

Kean University RHP Russo selected in 2008 MLB Draft by Phillies

Wisconsin Rapids, WI – February 18, 2011. The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters continued to piece together their 2011 roster by announcing the signings of right-handed pitcher Michael Russo (Kean University) and speedy outfielder Curtis Frisbie (University of Nevada-Reno).

RHP-Michael Russo, 6’6”, 220 lbs (R/R) Junior, Kean University

Michael Russo was selected in the 49^th round of the 2008 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school, but opted to attend North Carolina State to begin his collegiate career. Russo spent his first two seasons as a member of the NC State Wolfpack, before transferring to Kean University in his home state of New Jersey, where he will begin his first season as a member of the Cougars this spring. In Thursday’s release of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) pre-season poll, the Cougars were selected by the league’s coaches to finish first, with eight first-place votes. Russo has garnered pre-season All-American recognition while also being selected as the top 2011 Division III draft prospect by Baseball America, while former Rafter Ken Gregory has been tabbed as a D3baseball.com 2^nd Team Pre-Season All-American.

Last season, as a sophomore at NC State, Russo appeared in 9 games while making 3 starts. He recorded a 2-1 record with a 5.30 ERA while striking out 18 batters in 18 innings pitched. As a freshman, Russo appeared in 6 games, 3 starts, and struck out 13 batters in 14 innings of work.

He is no stranger to summer collegiate baseball, having played last summer with the Jersey Pilots of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. In 8 games, 6 starts, for the Pilots, Russo posted a 4-1 record to go along with a stingy 2.83 ERA. He again showed his knack for the strikeout by fanning 39 batters in only 35 innings pitched.

Russo attended The Hun School during his prep career, where he helped lead his team to a state championship. He went 7-2 with a 1.58 ERA as a senior in 2008, striking out 78, walking just 29 batters and allowing only 38 hits. Russo went 6-1 with a 0.94 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 14 walks in 50 innings as a junior in 2007. His performance earned him an invitation to pitch on the 2007 USA Junior National Team as well as the 2007 Cape Cod Classic. Russo is a native of Hamilton, New Jersey.

OF-Curtis Frisbie, 6’1”, 190 lbs (R/R) Freshman, University of Nevada-Reno

Curtis Frisbie will begin his first season at the University of Nevada-Reno in 2011, after completing an outstanding prep career at Central Valley High School in California. A four-time baseball letter winner, Frisbie posted some outstanding numbers throughout his high school career. Showing tremendous skill at the plate, Frisbie posted a .506 batting average, .585 on-base percentage, and .876 slugging percentage during his senior season last spring. He displayed power by mashing 10 doubles, 7 home runs, with 43 RBI while walking 13 times versus only 4 strikeouts. He also showed why he was highly-recruited out of high school as a five tool talent, by going a perfect 19 for 19 in stolen base attempts.

As a junior, Frisbie batted .425 with a .480 on-base percentage and hit 12 doubles and 11 home runs, while leading the entire state of California with 55 RBI. The falcons finished the season with a 32-2 team record during his junior year. He again showed his flash of speed as he was a perfect 13 for 13 in stolen base attempts. Frisbie’s tremendous play earned him All-League (2007-2010), All-Section, All-State California (2008-2010), and League MVP honors during his outstanding high school career.

A native of Redding, California, Frisbie is studying Biology at the University of Nevada-Reno.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are members of the 16-team summer collegiate Northwoods League. The Rafters will play a 70 game schedule with 35 home games in 2011. Opening Day at Historic Witter Field is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1 at 7:05pm vs. the Madison Mallards. The 2011 Marshfield Clinic Northwoods League All-Star Game will be held in Wisconsin Rapids. The All-Star festivities will begin on Sunday, July 17th with the Marshfield Clinic Home Run Health Fest beginning at 2pm. On Monday, July 18th the Northwoods League North Division All-Stars will take on the All-Stars from the South Division in the League’s 17th Annual All-Star contest beginning at 7:05pm.