August 31 was a busy sports day in the Twin Cities with more than 100,000 fans going through the turnstiles to see the Twins, Gophers, Vikings and Saints. Here's the attendance for the four games.
Twins: 21,288
Gophers: 43,224
Vikings: 66,409
Saints: 8,722
Total Attendance: 139,643
Factor in the attendance from the various high school football games, soccer and volleyball matches and the final approximate attendance total comes to somewhere in the range of 150,000-200,000. To sum it all up, it was a very busy sports day in Minnesota that saw the Twins beat the White Sox on a hit batsman in the bottom of the ninth inning, P.J. Fleck winning his first game as Gopher football head coach, the Vikings losing their final preseason game and the Saints coming up shot in 11 innings.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
SLP Orioles Open 2017 Season With Rout of Bloomington Kennedy Eagles
Johnny Sorenson made the most of his first start at quarterback by throwing three touchdown passes to lead the host St. Louis Park Orioles to a 40-0 win over the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles in the 2017 season opener Thursday night.
It was the first meeting between the two schools since the 2014 section playoffs where the Eagles beat the Orioles 71-47.
The Orioles got on the board in the first quarter on a 15 yard field goal from Skyler Rudelius-Palmer.
Sorenson would heat up in the second quarter with a streak of completed passes that brought St. Louis Park first and goal at the two yard line. He threw a two yard strike to Semaj Mitchell to put the Orioles ahead by 10. Kennedy almost got a touchdown but it was called back due to an offensive pass interference penalty. The Orioles wrapped up the first half scoring when Sorenson threw a nine yard touchdown pass to Akili Farris. St. Louis Park led 17-0 at halftime.
The Oriole defense played a role to begin the second half scoring as the Eagles began their drive on their own one yard line following a Sorenson punt. Kennedy would lose the ball on the first play of the drive when Rudelius-Palmer recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Mitchell would score his second touchdown as he hauled in a 21 yard pass from Sorenson to go up by 31. The lead would increase to 34 on Rudelius-Palmer's second field goal, this one from 34 yards.
St. Louis Park would put the whipped cream on top of the sundae in the fourth quarter as head coach Ben Wolfe put in sophomore Aaron Ellingson at quarterback as sorenson got the rest of the night off. Ellingson would run up the middle for a six yard touchdown to conclude the scoring.
The Orioles begin the season 1-0 and heads to New Hope on Friday, September 8 to face the cooper Hawks at 7 PM. The Eagles fell to 0-1 and will also be back in action on the 8th as they begin their home season against the Chaska Hawks at 7 PM at Bloomington Stadium.
Cole Ewald, son of former Orioles head coach and current Activities Director Andy Ewald made his varsity debut in the fourth quarter. His grandfather Clint is a St. Louis Park assistant coach. New St. Louis Park School District superintendent Astein Osei was attendance at the Orioles home opener. Osei, who replaced the retired Rob Metz, came from District 279 that includes Osseo, Maple Grove and Park Center.
It was the first meeting between the two schools since the 2014 section playoffs where the Eagles beat the Orioles 71-47.
The Orioles got on the board in the first quarter on a 15 yard field goal from Skyler Rudelius-Palmer.
Sorenson would heat up in the second quarter with a streak of completed passes that brought St. Louis Park first and goal at the two yard line. He threw a two yard strike to Semaj Mitchell to put the Orioles ahead by 10. Kennedy almost got a touchdown but it was called back due to an offensive pass interference penalty. The Orioles wrapped up the first half scoring when Sorenson threw a nine yard touchdown pass to Akili Farris. St. Louis Park led 17-0 at halftime.
The Oriole defense played a role to begin the second half scoring as the Eagles began their drive on their own one yard line following a Sorenson punt. Kennedy would lose the ball on the first play of the drive when Rudelius-Palmer recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Mitchell would score his second touchdown as he hauled in a 21 yard pass from Sorenson to go up by 31. The lead would increase to 34 on Rudelius-Palmer's second field goal, this one from 34 yards.
St. Louis Park would put the whipped cream on top of the sundae in the fourth quarter as head coach Ben Wolfe put in sophomore Aaron Ellingson at quarterback as sorenson got the rest of the night off. Ellingson would run up the middle for a six yard touchdown to conclude the scoring.
The Orioles begin the season 1-0 and heads to New Hope on Friday, September 8 to face the cooper Hawks at 7 PM. The Eagles fell to 0-1 and will also be back in action on the 8th as they begin their home season against the Chaska Hawks at 7 PM at Bloomington Stadium.
Cole Ewald, son of former Orioles head coach and current Activities Director Andy Ewald made his varsity debut in the fourth quarter. His grandfather Clint is a St. Louis Park assistant coach. New St. Louis Park School District superintendent Astein Osei was attendance at the Orioles home opener. Osei, who replaced the retired Rob Metz, came from District 279 that includes Osseo, Maple Grove and Park Center.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
2017 Football Season Opens for SLP Orioles
If you don't have a ticket to P.J. Fleck's first game as head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers or the Vikings final preseason game, head over to the St. Louis Park High School stadium Thursday night to see the Oriole football team open their 2017 campaign against the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles at 7 PM.
This will be the first game between the two Metro West Conference schools since the 2014 section tournament which turned out to be a high scoring affair that Kennedy eliminated St. Louis Park 74-41.
Three years later, there is new personnel for both teams, including a new starting quarterback for the Orioles, Johnny Sorenson, who replaced Logan Romero who graduated and is now at St. Thomas. Sorenson does have experience running the Oriole offense since he got some playing time last season when the game was decided. Get used to see this name in various HSGN articles this school year since Sorenson also plays hockey and is a pitcher and outfielder on the Oriole baseball team. As for who will also be in the St. Louis Park backfield, it will be a young backfield with juniors Aaron Sledge and AJ Datt. The big question on offense is who will replace Mykel Howard at receiver since he graduated. Take your pick. There are senior Kai McGee and Kayron Robinson. The Orioles are a young team, with 14 seniors on their roster. The key will also be their defense and can they not give up an astronomical number of points to the Eagles.
Speaking of the Eagles, last time the two teams met, there was an outstanding running back for Kennedy named Max Simmons who plowed through the St. Louis Park defense like a tractor going through a grassy field. This year, Simmons is a sophomore at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. Taking his spot in the Eagle backfield is senior Terrell Williams. But who will run the Kennedy offense? Will it be senior Michael McGaffey or Isaac Coutier? On defense, Williams plays linebacker and there is another Simmons on the roster who is also a linebacker, Theo, a sophomore.
Both teams struggled last season with Kennedy winless in nine games and St. Louis Park finishing 2-8. The weather picture is a good one for Thursday night so get outside for some high school football action as the Orioles open the season against the Eagles.
This will be the first game between the two Metro West Conference schools since the 2014 section tournament which turned out to be a high scoring affair that Kennedy eliminated St. Louis Park 74-41.
Three years later, there is new personnel for both teams, including a new starting quarterback for the Orioles, Johnny Sorenson, who replaced Logan Romero who graduated and is now at St. Thomas. Sorenson does have experience running the Oriole offense since he got some playing time last season when the game was decided. Get used to see this name in various HSGN articles this school year since Sorenson also plays hockey and is a pitcher and outfielder on the Oriole baseball team. As for who will also be in the St. Louis Park backfield, it will be a young backfield with juniors Aaron Sledge and AJ Datt. The big question on offense is who will replace Mykel Howard at receiver since he graduated. Take your pick. There are senior Kai McGee and Kayron Robinson. The Orioles are a young team, with 14 seniors on their roster. The key will also be their defense and can they not give up an astronomical number of points to the Eagles.
Speaking of the Eagles, last time the two teams met, there was an outstanding running back for Kennedy named Max Simmons who plowed through the St. Louis Park defense like a tractor going through a grassy field. This year, Simmons is a sophomore at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. Taking his spot in the Eagle backfield is senior Terrell Williams. But who will run the Kennedy offense? Will it be senior Michael McGaffey or Isaac Coutier? On defense, Williams plays linebacker and there is another Simmons on the roster who is also a linebacker, Theo, a sophomore.
Both teams struggled last season with Kennedy winless in nine games and St. Louis Park finishing 2-8. The weather picture is a good one for Thursday night so get outside for some high school football action as the Orioles open the season against the Eagles.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
SLP Soccer Teams Shut Out Mpls. South Tigers
There was plenty of orange and black in the St. Louis Park High School stadium bleachers Tuesday night as both Oriole soccer teams recorded shutouts over the Minneapolis South Tigers with the girls victorious 4-0 and the boys playing a strong second half to beat the Tigers 2-0.
First up was the girls game where Rafferty Kugler scored two goals to lead the St. Louis Park Orioles to a 4-0 win over the Minneapolis South Tigers.
The Orioles got on the board as Ellie Kent headed in a corner kick from Malaika Bigirindavi. They would find the net 1:01 later when Aliviah McClinton fed Kugler in the center slot and she put the Orioles up by two. The lead would increase to three on Spohia Davenport's cross pass that was received by Rosa Sigrunardottir and the first Icelandic player in Oriole scored her first goal of the season to wrap up the first half scoring.
St. Louis Park would add another goal to their ledger in the second half when Kugler found the net on Ava Bishop's cross pass. With the game pretty much decided, Oriole head coach Benji Kent pulled goalkeeper Olivia Massie and gave eighth grader Sophia Romero a chance to preserve the shutout and she did in her first varsity game.
St. Louis Park improves their record to 2-1 and travels to Inver Grove Heights to face the Smiley Spartans on Thursday, August 31 at 5 PM. Mpls. South falls to 0-2 and hosts the St. Anthony Village Huskies on Wednesday, August 30 at 5:30 PM.
On to the boys game that looked like there would be a scoreless game that would go into overtime until Randy Mayerle and Thomas Salamzadeh scored in the second half to lead the Orioles to a 2-0 win over the Minneapolis South Tigers.
The zeros would remain on the scoreboard in the first half though the Tigers almost took the early lead but Oriole goalkeeper William Phelan made an outstanding save of Steven's Cortez's shot.
Heading into the second half, Josh Halper's shot was saved by Mpls. South goalkeeper Krishnan Kutty but Mayerle came in and scored on a rebound to put St. Louis Park ahead. The game started to get physical and it resulted in the Orioles Abati Dedefo getting ejected due to picking up his second yellow card violation. However, there was good news for St. Louis Park when Salamzadeh was fouled by Mpls. South's Desmond Lafave and Salamzadeh was award a free kick. He sent the ball past a three player Tiger wall and it landed in the net to wrap up the scoring.
The Orioles snapped a two game losing streak and improved their record to 1-2. They will host the New Richmond Tigers on Tuesday, September 5 at 5 PM. It will also be Senior Night as nine senior players and their parents will be honored at halftime. The Tigers dropped their third straight game and fell to 0-3. Mpls. South returns to action Wednesday, August 30 at 4 PM as they host the St. Anthony Village Huskies.
First up was the girls game where Rafferty Kugler scored two goals to lead the St. Louis Park Orioles to a 4-0 win over the Minneapolis South Tigers.
The Orioles got on the board as Ellie Kent headed in a corner kick from Malaika Bigirindavi. They would find the net 1:01 later when Aliviah McClinton fed Kugler in the center slot and she put the Orioles up by two. The lead would increase to three on Spohia Davenport's cross pass that was received by Rosa Sigrunardottir and the first Icelandic player in Oriole scored her first goal of the season to wrap up the first half scoring.
St. Louis Park would add another goal to their ledger in the second half when Kugler found the net on Ava Bishop's cross pass. With the game pretty much decided, Oriole head coach Benji Kent pulled goalkeeper Olivia Massie and gave eighth grader Sophia Romero a chance to preserve the shutout and she did in her first varsity game.
St. Louis Park improves their record to 2-1 and travels to Inver Grove Heights to face the Smiley Spartans on Thursday, August 31 at 5 PM. Mpls. South falls to 0-2 and hosts the St. Anthony Village Huskies on Wednesday, August 30 at 5:30 PM.
On to the boys game that looked like there would be a scoreless game that would go into overtime until Randy Mayerle and Thomas Salamzadeh scored in the second half to lead the Orioles to a 2-0 win over the Minneapolis South Tigers.
The zeros would remain on the scoreboard in the first half though the Tigers almost took the early lead but Oriole goalkeeper William Phelan made an outstanding save of Steven's Cortez's shot.
Heading into the second half, Josh Halper's shot was saved by Mpls. South goalkeeper Krishnan Kutty but Mayerle came in and scored on a rebound to put St. Louis Park ahead. The game started to get physical and it resulted in the Orioles Abati Dedefo getting ejected due to picking up his second yellow card violation. However, there was good news for St. Louis Park when Salamzadeh was fouled by Mpls. South's Desmond Lafave and Salamzadeh was award a free kick. He sent the ball past a three player Tiger wall and it landed in the net to wrap up the scoring.
The Orioles snapped a two game losing streak and improved their record to 1-2. They will host the New Richmond Tigers on Tuesday, September 5 at 5 PM. It will also be Senior Night as nine senior players and their parents will be honored at halftime. The Tigers dropped their third straight game and fell to 0-3. Mpls. South returns to action Wednesday, August 30 at 4 PM as they host the St. Anthony Village Huskies.
Full Buffet of Sports Action to End August
A full buffet of local sports concludes August this coming Thursday night as the Twins, Vikings, Gopher football team and Saints will all be in action.
We'll start will the appetizer as the Twins wrap up a three game series against the Chicago White Sox in the lone afternoon game that begins at 12:10.
Now come the main courses. At 6 PM, the P.J. Fleck Era begins as the Minnesota Gophers open their 2017 campaign against the Buffalo Bulls at TCF Bank Stadium. Can Fleck lead the maroon and gold to his first win since taking over the program from Tracy Claeys?
An hour later at 7 PM, the Vikings play their final preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at US Bank Stadium. A lot of regulars probably won't be playing since they are resting up for the season opener on Monday, September 11 against the New Orleans Saints.
Not all the action is in Minneapolis. Head over to Lowertown as the St. Paul Saints end the home portion of their regular season schedule against the Winnipeg Goldeyes at CHS Field. Game time is 7:05.
But that's not all. The high school football season opens that night, including the St. Louis Park Orioles home opener against the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles and the defending Class AAAAAA champion Totino-Grce Eagles battling the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders at O'Shaughnessy Stadium on the University of St. Thomas campus. Both games get underway at 7 PM. Add a number of varsity soccer and volleyball matches throughout the Twin Cities and you have a full plate of local sports for August 31.
Total attendance results to be posted Friday, September 1.
We'll start will the appetizer as the Twins wrap up a three game series against the Chicago White Sox in the lone afternoon game that begins at 12:10.
Now come the main courses. At 6 PM, the P.J. Fleck Era begins as the Minnesota Gophers open their 2017 campaign against the Buffalo Bulls at TCF Bank Stadium. Can Fleck lead the maroon and gold to his first win since taking over the program from Tracy Claeys?
An hour later at 7 PM, the Vikings play their final preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at US Bank Stadium. A lot of regulars probably won't be playing since they are resting up for the season opener on Monday, September 11 against the New Orleans Saints.
Not all the action is in Minneapolis. Head over to Lowertown as the St. Paul Saints end the home portion of their regular season schedule against the Winnipeg Goldeyes at CHS Field. Game time is 7:05.
But that's not all. The high school football season opens that night, including the St. Louis Park Orioles home opener against the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles and the defending Class AAAAAA champion Totino-Grce Eagles battling the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders at O'Shaughnessy Stadium on the University of St. Thomas campus. Both games get underway at 7 PM. Add a number of varsity soccer and volleyball matches throughout the Twin Cities and you have a full plate of local sports for August 31.
Total attendance results to be posted Friday, September 1.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
It's a Hopkins Royal Split for SLP Orioles
The St. Louis Park Oriole soccer teams opened up the 2017 regular season hosting the team that eliminated them in last year's Section 6AA quarterfinals the Hopkins Royals Thursday night as the boys came up short against the Royals 3-2 and the girls won in overtime 2-1.
The boys team opened up the first twin bill of the season as sophomore Clarence Weah scored two goals, the second on a penalty kick to lead Hopkins to a 3-2 win.
Weah would begin the scoring for the Royals as he scored from the center slot. They would go up by two at the half when Nico Shirley picked up a loose ball in front of the net and sent the ball into the goal.
In the second half, Weah was fouled in the penalty that gave Oriole goalkeeper William Phelan a yellow card so he had to come out of the game and he would be replaced by back up netminder Leo Finley. Finley's short stint would be costly when Weah scored on a penalty. But St. Louis Park, playing without head coach Chato, who was at a wedding in Seattle would battle back with two goals. The first would come from Ben Klepfer and Josh Halper would score from the left side to cut the lead to one. But that was all the scoring for the Orioles as they couldn't send the game into overtime.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, August 26. Hopkins starts the season 1-0 and hosts the Champlin Park Rebels at 10 AM and St. Louis Park falls to 0-1 and travels to Plymouth to face the Wayzata Trojans at 3:30 PM.
Now to the girls game that turned out to be a dandy as Anika Vignes scored the game winning goal with 1:46 left in the first overtime to lead the Orioles to a 2-1 win over the Royals.
Following a scoreless first half, St. Louis Park took the lead when Ellie Kent was awarded a free kick and she sailed the ball past a five player Hopkins wall that crossed the goal line and reached the net. But the Royals would tie the game on a left side goal from Josie Feldman with 11:13 left in regulation time. Neither team would erase the ones from the scoreboard so it was on to overtime.
The Orioles would break the deadlock in the first overtime on Vignes' shot from the 20 yard line that would enter the net. As for the Royals, they couldn't get the equalizer in the second overtime and St. Louis Park would start the season with a bang.
St. Louis Park begins the season with a record of 1-0 and heads to Plymouth on the 26th to face the Wayzata Trojans at 1:30 PM. Hopkins dropped to 0-1 and will also be in action on the 26th, hosting the Champlin Park Rebels at noon.
The boys team opened up the first twin bill of the season as sophomore Clarence Weah scored two goals, the second on a penalty kick to lead Hopkins to a 3-2 win.
Weah would begin the scoring for the Royals as he scored from the center slot. They would go up by two at the half when Nico Shirley picked up a loose ball in front of the net and sent the ball into the goal.
In the second half, Weah was fouled in the penalty that gave Oriole goalkeeper William Phelan a yellow card so he had to come out of the game and he would be replaced by back up netminder Leo Finley. Finley's short stint would be costly when Weah scored on a penalty. But St. Louis Park, playing without head coach Chato, who was at a wedding in Seattle would battle back with two goals. The first would come from Ben Klepfer and Josh Halper would score from the left side to cut the lead to one. But that was all the scoring for the Orioles as they couldn't send the game into overtime.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, August 26. Hopkins starts the season 1-0 and hosts the Champlin Park Rebels at 10 AM and St. Louis Park falls to 0-1 and travels to Plymouth to face the Wayzata Trojans at 3:30 PM.
Now to the girls game that turned out to be a dandy as Anika Vignes scored the game winning goal with 1:46 left in the first overtime to lead the Orioles to a 2-1 win over the Royals.
Following a scoreless first half, St. Louis Park took the lead when Ellie Kent was awarded a free kick and she sailed the ball past a five player Hopkins wall that crossed the goal line and reached the net. But the Royals would tie the game on a left side goal from Josie Feldman with 11:13 left in regulation time. Neither team would erase the ones from the scoreboard so it was on to overtime.
The Orioles would break the deadlock in the first overtime on Vignes' shot from the 20 yard line that would enter the net. As for the Royals, they couldn't get the equalizer in the second overtime and St. Louis Park would start the season with a bang.
St. Louis Park begins the season with a record of 1-0 and heads to Plymouth on the 26th to face the Wayzata Trojans at 1:30 PM. Hopkins dropped to 0-1 and will also be in action on the 26th, hosting the Champlin Park Rebels at noon.
Monday, August 21, 2017
2017 SLP Orioles Soccer Preview
The fall sports season gets underway Thursday, August 24 as the St. Louis Park Oriole soccer teams start their regular season hosting the team that ended last season the Hopkins Royals. Here's a preview of the St. Louis Park boys and girls soccer teams.
Last season, the St. Louis Park boys soccer team had a down year under veteran head coach Chato, winning only three games. This season could be an improvement, though the Orioles first three games are against teams that play in Section 6AA. In addition to Hopkins, the Orioles will face the Wayzata Trojans and the Minneapolis South Tigers. The big question for St. Louis Park is who will start in goal? Will it be senior William Phelan or junior Leo Finley. On offense, the Orioles have nine seniors, including Jacob Stillman and Antonio Olivos Reyes. Also returning from last season is junior Zinedine Kroeten. Can the boys survive the early seasons tests before heading to Metro West Conference play on September 7 against the Chaska Hawks?
Looking at the Oriole girls, they have a young and talented team with several returning players from last season when they went on an 8-0-1 run before losing to the Royals in the Section 6AA quarterfinals. One of the victories came against perennial state Class A power Benilde-St. Margaret's. St. Louis Park will be led by Ellie Kent, daughter of veteran head coach Benji Kent. Senior leadership comes from Alex Balfour, Rafferty Kugler and Malaika Bigrindavyi. The Orioles are a team that has a solid future with seven sophomores and six juniors. Who will be minding the net for St. Louis Park? It will be between senior Olivia Massie or eighth grader Sophia Romero. Will the Oriole girls carry over last year's late season run into this season or will it be a down year with the best yet to come?
Get ready for the start of the 2017 soccer season that begins this coming Thursday.
Last season, the St. Louis Park boys soccer team had a down year under veteran head coach Chato, winning only three games. This season could be an improvement, though the Orioles first three games are against teams that play in Section 6AA. In addition to Hopkins, the Orioles will face the Wayzata Trojans and the Minneapolis South Tigers. The big question for St. Louis Park is who will start in goal? Will it be senior William Phelan or junior Leo Finley. On offense, the Orioles have nine seniors, including Jacob Stillman and Antonio Olivos Reyes. Also returning from last season is junior Zinedine Kroeten. Can the boys survive the early seasons tests before heading to Metro West Conference play on September 7 against the Chaska Hawks?
Looking at the Oriole girls, they have a young and talented team with several returning players from last season when they went on an 8-0-1 run before losing to the Royals in the Section 6AA quarterfinals. One of the victories came against perennial state Class A power Benilde-St. Margaret's. St. Louis Park will be led by Ellie Kent, daughter of veteran head coach Benji Kent. Senior leadership comes from Alex Balfour, Rafferty Kugler and Malaika Bigrindavyi. The Orioles are a team that has a solid future with seven sophomores and six juniors. Who will be minding the net for St. Louis Park? It will be between senior Olivia Massie or eighth grader Sophia Romero. Will the Oriole girls carry over last year's late season run into this season or will it be a down year with the best yet to come?
Get ready for the start of the 2017 soccer season that begins this coming Thursday.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Former Twin Cities Sportscaster Boyle Passes Away
He was a familiar face and voice to Twin Cities sports fans back when KARE 11 was WTCN-TV and an independent station broadcasting the Twins, North Stars and state high school tournaments.
Joe Boyle, who was the sports director for Channel 11 passed away in Arizona at the age of 84.
Boyle had a variety of tasks at the station where the studios were in the Calhoun Beach Manor in Minneapolis before moving into its current home in Golden Valley in 1973. He was the station's sports director who was seen on the nightly 9:30 newscasts, hosted the post game scoreboard show following Twins and North Stars games and did the play-by-play for the state high school and basketball tournaments until the station became an NBC affiliate in 1979 and lost the rights to the hockey tournament to KSTP-TV and the basketball tournament went to then newly independent KMSP.
In addition to the scoreboard shows, Boyle also was the color commentator and later play-by-play voice for the North Stars. He would also replace Larry Calton on the station's Twins telecasts midway through the 1975 season and continue in that capacity until 1978. He would be joined in the TV booth in 1976 by one of the greatest players in Twins history, Harmon Killebrew. Boyle would also handle play-by-play for the station's coverage of University of Minnesota basketball and hockey.
In 1972, Boyle would call the action when the station carried the inaugural state football finals. Channel 11 carried both the Class A and AA championship games that were played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. He also did the station's coverage of the 1974 Class AA football final between Bloomington Jefferson and Rochester John Marshall.
After WTCN became an NBC affiliate in 1979, Boyle would leave the station and become a freelance broadcaster. Later that year, he would call a college basketball game for ESPN where his color man would become one of the best known personalities on the network, Dick Vitale. Vitale is still bringing his flair and enthusiasm to ESPN's college basketball coverage.
Boyle's legacy lives on. His son Mark, a 1975 graduate of St. Louis Park High School begins his 30th season as the radio voice of the Indiana Pacers. Back in the days when Channel 11 was an independent, Boyle was a familiar voice to high school sports, Twins and North Stars fans in the 70s. May he rest in peace.
Joe Boyle, who was the sports director for Channel 11 passed away in Arizona at the age of 84.
Boyle had a variety of tasks at the station where the studios were in the Calhoun Beach Manor in Minneapolis before moving into its current home in Golden Valley in 1973. He was the station's sports director who was seen on the nightly 9:30 newscasts, hosted the post game scoreboard show following Twins and North Stars games and did the play-by-play for the state high school and basketball tournaments until the station became an NBC affiliate in 1979 and lost the rights to the hockey tournament to KSTP-TV and the basketball tournament went to then newly independent KMSP.
In addition to the scoreboard shows, Boyle also was the color commentator and later play-by-play voice for the North Stars. He would also replace Larry Calton on the station's Twins telecasts midway through the 1975 season and continue in that capacity until 1978. He would be joined in the TV booth in 1976 by one of the greatest players in Twins history, Harmon Killebrew. Boyle would also handle play-by-play for the station's coverage of University of Minnesota basketball and hockey.
In 1972, Boyle would call the action when the station carried the inaugural state football finals. Channel 11 carried both the Class A and AA championship games that were played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. He also did the station's coverage of the 1974 Class AA football final between Bloomington Jefferson and Rochester John Marshall.
After WTCN became an NBC affiliate in 1979, Boyle would leave the station and become a freelance broadcaster. Later that year, he would call a college basketball game for ESPN where his color man would become one of the best known personalities on the network, Dick Vitale. Vitale is still bringing his flair and enthusiasm to ESPN's college basketball coverage.
Boyle's legacy lives on. His son Mark, a 1975 graduate of St. Louis Park High School begins his 30th season as the radio voice of the Indiana Pacers. Back in the days when Channel 11 was an independent, Boyle was a familiar voice to high school sports, Twins and North Stars fans in the 70s. May he rest in peace.
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Practice Begins for 2017-18 Fall Sports Season
It's a sign that summer is winding down.
A time where footballs, soccer balls and volleyballs come out of storage as high school athletes throughout Minnesota begin practice for the upcoming fall sports season on Monday, August 14.
In St. Louis Park, the fall sports season kicks off on Tuesday, August 22 as the girls tennis team hosts the Shakopee Sabers at 10 AM. Two days later on the 24th, the Oriole soccer teams begin their 2017 campaign as the boys try to improve on a three win season last year when they host the Hopkins Royals at 5 PM. They stay for the varsity girls opener against the Royals at 7 PM.
Also in action on the 24th is the girls swimming and diving team as they participate in the opening conference meet at Richfield Middle School. The girls volleyball team opens their season at 7 PM in Plymouth against the Armstrong Falcons.
As for the Oriole football team, they open the 2017 season on Thursday, August 31 hosting the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles at 7 PM.
Over by Highway 100, the defending Class AAAA champion Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights opens their season on Friday, September 1 when they host the Waconia Wildcats at 7 PM. The defending Class A champion girls soccer team opens their season on Saturday, August 26 at 5 PM against the Breck Mustangs and travels to Maplewood on the 29th to take on the Hill-Murray Pioneers at 7 PM. Their home opener is on the 31st when they host the Blake Bears at 5 PM. The boys soccer team opens their season on Friday the 25th with a home game against the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers at 5 PM.
Get ready for exciting fall high school sports action following the first day of practice on the14th.
A time where footballs, soccer balls and volleyballs come out of storage as high school athletes throughout Minnesota begin practice for the upcoming fall sports season on Monday, August 14.
In St. Louis Park, the fall sports season kicks off on Tuesday, August 22 as the girls tennis team hosts the Shakopee Sabers at 10 AM. Two days later on the 24th, the Oriole soccer teams begin their 2017 campaign as the boys try to improve on a three win season last year when they host the Hopkins Royals at 5 PM. They stay for the varsity girls opener against the Royals at 7 PM.
Also in action on the 24th is the girls swimming and diving team as they participate in the opening conference meet at Richfield Middle School. The girls volleyball team opens their season at 7 PM in Plymouth against the Armstrong Falcons.
As for the Oriole football team, they open the 2017 season on Thursday, August 31 hosting the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles at 7 PM.
Over by Highway 100, the defending Class AAAA champion Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights opens their season on Friday, September 1 when they host the Waconia Wildcats at 7 PM. The defending Class A champion girls soccer team opens their season on Saturday, August 26 at 5 PM against the Breck Mustangs and travels to Maplewood on the 29th to take on the Hill-Murray Pioneers at 7 PM. Their home opener is on the 31st when they host the Blake Bears at 5 PM. The boys soccer team opens their season on Friday the 25th with a home game against the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers at 5 PM.
Get ready for exciting fall high school sports action following the first day of practice on the14th.
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Stead to End 31 Year Run as MSHSL Executive Director
Dave Stead who has been the Executive Director of the Minnesota State High School League since 1988 will be stepping down after 30 years, effective February 1, 2018.
Stead will be transitioning into a senior staff position with the MSHSL.
Under Stead's guidance, the league has gone from a two class basketball tournament to a four class affair, baseball and softball have also gone to four classes, hockey has gone to two classes and volleyball to three. Stead has also been behind the expansion of the Prep Bowl to a two day event to accommodate seven classes.
He has also been behind the addition of girls hockey and adapted athletics that include soccer, floor hockey, softball and bowling. Also added in Stead's tenure have been robotics, boys and girls lacrosse and clay target.
On the media side, Stead was also instrumental in KSTC-TV's relationship with the league. The station carries the boys and girls hockey and basketball tournaments and the Prep Bowl. He was also behind the use of instant replay in football, basketball and hockey state tournament games, the first state in the country to do so.
There have also been academic awards programs such as the Academic, Arts and Athletic Awards and the EXCEL Awards.
A lot has been accomplished during Stead's tenure with the league. The best of luck to Stead as he vacates his post in February as he oversees his final Prep Bowl. He will be a tough man to replace.
Stead will be transitioning into a senior staff position with the MSHSL.
Under Stead's guidance, the league has gone from a two class basketball tournament to a four class affair, baseball and softball have also gone to four classes, hockey has gone to two classes and volleyball to three. Stead has also been behind the expansion of the Prep Bowl to a two day event to accommodate seven classes.
He has also been behind the addition of girls hockey and adapted athletics that include soccer, floor hockey, softball and bowling. Also added in Stead's tenure have been robotics, boys and girls lacrosse and clay target.
On the media side, Stead was also instrumental in KSTC-TV's relationship with the league. The station carries the boys and girls hockey and basketball tournaments and the Prep Bowl. He was also behind the use of instant replay in football, basketball and hockey state tournament games, the first state in the country to do so.
There have also been academic awards programs such as the Academic, Arts and Athletic Awards and the EXCEL Awards.
A lot has been accomplished during Stead's tenure with the league. The best of luck to Stead as he vacates his post in February as he oversees his final Prep Bowl. He will be a tough man to replace.
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