Top 10 stories: Boys of summer grab spotlight

By Journal staff | Saturday, January 03, 2009

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For a few days in late July and August, an intrepid group of young baseball players from Rapid City were the talk of the town.

The Canyon Lake All Stars became the first Little League team to represent South Dakota in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.

Canyon Lake won the North/South Dakota District tournament to advance to the Midwest Regional tournament in Indianapolis, where they downed very good teams from Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota to punch their tickets for Williamsport.

While Canyon Lake failed to win an official game at the World Series, bowing to Tampa, Fla., and Shelton, Conn., but gave eventual world champion Wiapahu, Hawaii a solid run.

After picking up an exhibition win over Italy, Canyon Lake returned home to a heroes’ welcome, a parade through downtown Rapid City and a reception at the league complex in west Rapid City.

“Just getting on this team from the start is I think probably the best experience I’ve had, because it’s kind of what you work for all season,” said Canyon Lake player Bill Hendricks, while at the World Series.

Hendricks also made a name for himself as a musician, playing violin versions of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” for ESPN’s cameras during live telecasts of the Regional

tournament, and also played the National Anthem prior to a game at the World Series. 

— Jim Holland

No. 2 - Professional hockey comes to Rapid City

It took a while for the Rapid City Rush to hit the ice for their inaugural Central Hockey League season, and an even longer time for their home opener, but it was well worth the wait.

The official birthdate of the Rush is listed as Feb. 14, 2004, according to majority owner Scott Mueller.

“That’s the day we had the first meeting here with the officials from the league with the mayor and other city officials about bringing a professional hockey team to Rapid City,” said Mueller.

More than four years later, after the initial meeting with city, all the pieces were finally in place and Rapid City took the ice for its first season. The Rush dropped a 7-6 overtime loss in its first-game ever to the Colorado Eagles in Loveland, Colo., on Oct. 17.

“It’s been a long process,” said Mueller in October as the Rush prepared for the first-ever game in franchise history in Colorado.

That was the first of 14-straight road games for Rapid City to open the season as the team waited for the finishing touches to be put on the $28.5 million addition to the civic center.

During the longest road trip in CHL history, Rapid City posted a 3-6-5 record.

But on Nov. 29, the wait was finally over. The Rush finally played a home game, beating Colorado, 4-0, in front of 5,119 fans, which included several owners from around the CHL, members of the city council and South Dakota Lt. Gov Dennis Daugaard.

Rush head coach Joe Ferras said the welcome home from the raucous capacity crowd helped spark his players.

“You have no idea how loud it was,” Ferras said following the historic home opener. “We were all taken aback, and a little teary-eyed to see the way it all came together. You couldn’t ask for a better night.”

The game was the first professional hockey game to be played in South Dakota.

“We believe this will be a real positive for Rapid City and the area,” Mueller said.

The game featured a pair of goals from Rich Hansen, along with scores from Jamie VanderVeeken and Derek LeBlanc. Miguel Beaudry was solid in goal, stopping all 27 shots on goal to the delight of the crowd.

“There have been so many people that worked so hard to get this building built and this franchise established here,” Rick Kozubeck, president and chief executive officer of Tempe, Ariz., based Global Entertainment, said. “We’re proud and happy for the owners of the hockey franchise. It’s a great testament to their efforts.”

— Andrew Cutler

No. 3 - U.S. Olympic team plays Black Hills Gold

For one night in July the best softball players from South Dakota took on the greatest players in the United States. The result was an exciting and memorable experience for all involved.

Over 3,800 fans packed into Pete Lien Field, which was transformed from a baseball diamond into a softball field in a matter of hours, and were treated to a 7-0 victory for the U.S. Olympic softball team over the Black Hills Gold. The game was one of the closer contests for the Olympians on their Bound 4 Beijing Tour.

The Black Hills Gold was led by pitcher Tara Oltman who held Team USA in check allowing two runs through four innings and often dominating the big hitters, including home-run slugging Crystl Bustos.

“You have to give her credit, you can’t take anything away from her,” said Bustos. “Some days you’re on and some days you’re not. She had good movement on the ball today.”

Allison Rutherford had the Black Hills Gold’s lone hit in the game.

“I was so happy. I was thrilled,” she said of her accomplishment.

Almost bigger than the game itself was the buildup to the first pitch. Fans began filling the many bleachers brought in for added seating in the outfield grass nearly four hours before game time. Painted faces, patriotic signs and fans with players jerseys were the norm as Olympic fever gripped Rapid City for at least one night.

“It gave our young people a chance to see their idols or their heroes,” said Black Hills Gold head coach Rick DenHearder. “Most of them got to shake hands with the Team USA players and get an autograph, and anytime a 7- or 8-year-old softball player gets to meet Jennie Finch or Monica Abbott it makes a huge impression. It is something that they will remember the rest of their lives.”

The Olympians also got a memorable expeirence visiting South Dakota as they spent the days leading up to the event by visiting Mount Rushmore and several other popular Black Hills destinations.

The appearance had even more significance given that softball was taken off the Olympic sports roster beginning in 2012 in London.

Team USA — the three-time defending Olympic gold medalists entering Beijing — lost just once on their Bound 4 Bejing Tour but had to settle for silver this time around, falling to Japan in the final.

— Jeff Budlong

No. 4 - Hammon shines in WNBA, Olympics

Rapid City’s Becky Hammon had quite a memorable 2008.

Hammon finished as the runner-up for the WNBA Most Valuable Player award and made the all-WNBA first team after leading the San Antonio Silver Stars to the Western Conference finals in 2007.

But it was what Hammon did when the WNBA took a break for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing that caused an uproar heard throughout the United States and beyond.

Hammon, passed over for selection to Team USA, decided to play for the Russian national team after signing a professional contract with CSKA Moscow and receiving a Russian passport. Reaction ranged from outrage directed at Hammon to outrage toward Team USA for not giving her a spot on the team. But Hammon managed to do what she’s done throughout her basketball career — ignore her detractors and accomplish something that few would have imagined when she was an under-recruited all-state player at Rapid City Stevens — win an Olympic medal. Hammon scored a team-high 22 points in Russia’s 94-81 bronze-medal win over host China.

“This is the game, and I think it’s important to keep perspective,” Hammon said to the Associated Press. “And if this is the toughest thing I have to face in life I think I’ll have a very easy life. There’s bound to be more peaks and valleys along the way and but I think this has helped prepare me for those peaks and valleys that I’ll face further in life.”

While coming down from the high of winning a medal and dealing with the distractions that came with her decision to play for Russia, Hammon returned from the Olympic break to lead the Silver Stars to the WNBA Finals, where they were beaten by the Detroit Shock. But the 5-foot-6-inch, 31-year-old had yet another strong season - averaging 17.6 points per game (sixth in the league) and 4.9 assists (fifth). Hammon will be entering her 11th season when the WNBA kicks off the 2009 season in June.

— Padraic Duffy

No. 5 - NAU shuts down athletic department

On March 17, National American University volleyball  and rodeo coaches went to work like any other day. The volleyball team was preparing for spring practice when head coach Todd Lowery and assistant coach Fernanda Nelson were called into a meeting with NAU officials and told the program was being cut.

“The hardest thing wasn’t losing a job or money or anything like that. It was to not see the team we built for next year not have a chance to compete together,” said former NAU head coach Todd Lowery. “We had a very special group and we thought we had a real chance again.”

Also dropped was the Rodeo program which had existed for more than half of a century and had produced numerous collegiate and professional champions. The 35-member Maverick men’s and women’s teams found out mid-season and had to finish the year knowing it would be their last.

“It was sad at the meeting,” said 14-year NAU rodeo coach Glen Lammers, “We we’re like a family. These kids pulled together and saw it through. They had a passion for this program, their hearts were in it. “

Lowery and the Maverick volleyball program won two NAIA national championships in 2002 and 2006, going undefeated both times. Lowery, a Gillette, Wyo. native started as an assistant coach at NAU and took over the head coaching duties in 2002. In his six years at the helm Lowery had a record of 188-11. 

“It was good while it lasted,” said Lowery. “I can’t complain about my six years here. We won two national titles. Most coaches go a whole career without smelling a national tournament let alone winning national titles.”

— Jake Nordbye

No. 6 - Wil Collins qualifies for the PGA Tour

Rapid City’s Wil Collins will always remember 2008 as the year when the dreams of his childhood started to come into focus.

The 30-year-old Rapid City Stevens graduate shot a 19-under 413 over six rounds at the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying in La Quinta, Calif., to get onto the 2009 Tour and he needed a clutch performance on the last day to get it done.

Collins was at 18-under par with two holes to play when he birdied the No. 8 par 5 to go to 19-under. That birdie put him right on the number to make the PGA Tour. He needed to escape with a par on the last hole, a dogleg right par 4 with water looming down the right side of the fairway.

“I didn’t know what I needed,” Collins said of his score. “My caddy and I talked about just staying focused on the last three holes and not thinking about a number. I just wanted to play each shot. I didn’t want a thought about what I needed to shoot to enter my mind because I had been so calm all day. I was really at peace and didn’t want to change anything.”

That calm was severely tested on the final hole of the tournament.

Collins stepped up to the tee and hit his drive left, away from the water, but the ball hooked a little too far and found the rough — 217 yards away from the hole, covered in mud on a severe uphill slope. Collins had little choice and laid up into the fairway where he could try to get a wedge close enough to get up and down for par.

Collins’ wedge found the green about 20 feet away from the hole and he stepped up and knocked the left-to-right breaking putt into the high side of the hole, where it trickled into the cup.

Collins plans on making his 2009 PGA Tour debut at the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club the week of Jan. 12.

— Padraic Duffy

No. 7 - Lucky 13 for the Stevens girls track and field team

In what has become a yearly spring occurrence, as commonplace as unsettled spring weather and meet postponements, the Rapid City Stevens girls track team won the 2008 State AA Track and Field Championship in Sioux Falls. The Raiders’ triumph in May was the team’s 13th successive championship, a string dating back to 1996, a national prep record according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

In claiming the title, Coach Paul Hendry’s squad utilized its usual outstanding depth, a winning 400-meter relay team, and an outstanding individual performance by senior Brooke Garner to outpoint nearest rival Yankton 127-97.5.

Garner captured first place medals in both the shot and discus on the opening day and coupled with Hannah Lehman’s winning leap in the triple jump gave the Raiders a quick lead out of the blocks they would not relinquish. On Saturday, the 400-meter relay team (Melanie Horst, Haley Bevier, Hayley Weisgram, and Becca Bedard) would provide the Raiders with their 4th gold medal of the meet. Others contributing valuable points were Emily DeVries in the 300-meter hurdles, Kelly Herrman in the shot and discus, and Annie Pfeifle in the 1,600-meter run.

“Tradition has a lot to do with our current success,” says Hendry who assumed the head coaching duties in 2002. “We’ve been successful for a long period of time dating all the way back to the ’70’s. Lemoine Trout who was here before me and others have built a tradition of success.”

Hendry is quick to point out the valuable contribution of his assistant coaches, several of whom have been at Stevens for many years. “It really helps to have quality coaches like Forry Flaagan (since 1988), Kerry Beyer (16 years), Lyle Pagel (9 years), and Jeff Fierro (8 years) who have been with the program for a long time. They make my job a lot easier.”

And as to winning 14 in a row? “I really don’t feel a lot of pressure to keep the streak going, and we tell the kids that, too,” says Hendry. “Sure it would be nice, but our goal every year is to win a state championship and would be if we hadn’t won 13 in a row. The only thing that would be disappointing would be if we didn’t give it our best effort, and with our kids that has never been a problem.”

— Joe Kavanaugh

 

No. 8 - Tragedy visits local sports scene

Black Hills residents rallied to support a Hill City wrestler paralyzed from the chest down in February and paused to remember a long-time Hill City coach and teacher who succumbed to an incurable neuromuscular disease in September.

In July, a 16-year-old Rapid City Stevens football player collapsed at a summer camp and later died at Rapid City Regional Hospital.   

Hill City sophomore Dusty Swanson suffered a separation of the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae during the Region 4B regional wrestling tournament in Fort Pierre.

Black Hills residents raised more than $124,000 to help defray Swanson’s medical and rehabilitation expense. After surgery in Rapid City and rehabilitation at Craig Institute in Englewood, Colo., Swanson returned to Hill City in June.

Hill City coach and athletic director Cory Ginsbach, 49, died on Sept. 12 after a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  On July 14, Stevens High School junior Ryan Gramberg collapsed after an evening workout at a mid-summer football camp and later died at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

An autopsy revealed that Gramberg had suffered from a congenital heart defect.

Stevens players dedicated the 2008 high school football season to Gramberg’s memory, wearing Gramberg’s jersey number, 61, on their uniforms.

And former Rapid City Central multi-sport luminary Jack Tennyson died suddenly of a heart attack on Nov, 27 in Rapid City.

— Jim Holland

No. 9 - Van Boening vaults to top of billiards world

Rapid City native Shane Van Boening began playing billiards at the age of 2. By the age of 9, he was playing against professionals. In 2008, he took his play to a different level, becoming the top-ranked billiards player in the world for a majority of the year, and is currently the second-ranked player.

Van Boening, 25, is 97 percent deaf and uses a hearing aid. He started playing professionally in 2005 and earned $6,800. Two years later, he established himself as one of the premier players in the world earning $117,307. He won five titles including the U.S. Open 9-ball championship, the World 10-Ball championship and the Reno Open.

His success increased in 2008. He played in several more tournaments, and won 11 championships, earning $147,420. He won $30,000 just for capturing the World Cup of Pool. He has also competed internationally, with trips to the Philippines, the Netherlands, Dubai and Malta. He represented the United States this month in the Mosconi Cup — the billiards version of the Ryder Cup in which United States players match up against players from Europe — and placed second.

He comes from a strong pedigree. His mother, Tami Bloomberg, was a Billiard Congress of America national champion. His aunt, Gari Jo Bloomberg, was a three-time Valley National 8-Ball League Association national champion. His grandfather, Gary Bloomberg, plays professionally and is a trick-shot artist.

“They’ve taught me a lot,” said Van Boening. “Anytime you’re surrounded by people who have won national championships, it’s going to help. Pool is a game that takes a lot of knowledge, and my family taught me all the moves in the game.”

Van Boening is admired in the world for his style of play. He practices for five hours each day, is not arrogant and does not yell when a roll does not go his way. He is a role model away from the sports, staying away from alcohol and tobacco and staying active with daily runs.

— Joshua R. Russo

No. 10 - Philip wins Class B volleyball state title

The Philip Lady Scotties surprised many as they made their championship run in 2008. Coming into the state tournament in Rapid City as the No. 4 seed, few people picked the Scotties to take home the state championship.  But they proved to be the comeback kids, often fighting back from deficits to win matches in the final points.

“They love playing the game and they worked so hard this season,” said Philip head coach Kim Bouman. “They did the little things well all season. We won a lot of games 25-23 or 26-24 and that just shows determination that this group of girls had.”

The Scotties were powerful at the net behind Miss Volleyball South Dakota, Sierra Hook, and scrappy on defense containing some of the top hitters in the state throughout the tourney. Philip knocked off Class B powerhouse and No. 1 seed Chester Area in the semifinals. The loss was only the second of the season for Chester Area.

In the state title game, the Scotties came up against the No. 2 seed Northwestern, which was previously unbeaten and had two of the best hitters in the state in Jussy Tuscherer and Megan Peterson. Philip trailed in all four games, but ended up winning three of them by using a variety of hitters, and playing scrappy defense.

“We always came back,” said Bouman. “You can look at almost every match we played and there was always a point where we came from behind. This year, these girls walked in with confidence and resolve and they were going to take it.”

Taylor Holman, Kayla O’Connell, and Hook all earned all-tournament team honors and Marissa Mann carried them in the championship game with 13 kills and 20 digs.

Philip finished 2008 with a record of 33-3.

— Jake Nordbye