The Prior Lake Jays will commence their 31st season of townteam baseball Friday May 19 at 730PM travelling to face the LeSueur Braves of the River Valley League in exhibition action.
The Jays had a 4-19 record in Manager Scott “Goose” Geislers 1st campaign with the pen in 2016. The Jays record deceptive to the quality of the players with 6 1 run losses and 2 2 run losses told the story as injuries wore the roster thin in the grueling Section 3B season. The Jays were dropped in playoffs losing a best of 3 1-2 vs the Victoria Vics but crowd at Veterans Field had a thrill and cheer as Geisler delivered a walkoff win with a rip to left in game 2 of the series in the 11th inning for a 7-6 win and extend the series another day where the Vics prevailed with the Jays at the plate and runners aboard in a hard fought series. The Jays also served for the RVL as hosts of the 2016 RVL VS DRS townball All Star Game getting assist from the DRS rep PL Mudcats.
The 2017 Jays will see a big turnover of players choosing to extend the roster in the hopes that new players will be capable to do the job in the absence of All Stars Jim Schroeder, TJ Larson, Tony Eicher, Sam Kortes as well All Star Nominees Christopher Kelley and Dan Schroeder as well utility player Matt Nelson. With paperwork flying & ink burning, GM Tex Chapman is slated to sign more than 11 players to the roster for ’17. With the Savage Outlaws demise & folding for 2017 and MBA Class B restructuring to 4 playoff Sections, 4 State Tournament slots will be up for grabs among the remaining teams Chaska Cubs, Shakopee Inidans, Victoria Vics, Chanhassen Redbirds, Burnsville Bobcats and Eagan Bandits.
The Jays will kick off the home slate of games SUNDAY MAY 21st 2:00PM hosting the powerful Class “C” Jordan Brewers in RVL exhibition game at Veterans Field. Admission is $3 Adults and $1 Students & Senior Citizens (Under 12 FREE) with VetPass17 season passes available for $15. VetPASS17 is valid for all PL Jays & PL Mudcats regular season home games as well entitles holders to 1 complimentary item from the full service concession, The Vet Cafe which is home of the tastiest wiener in Scott County!
As always the Jays games latest details (weather & changes) will be on the Integra PL Hardball Hotline 952-226-3800, the source for your local 9’s! Fan may also follow on Facebook and Twitter for 2017,
HOT LINKS:
Official MBA Schedule (CLICK HERE)
JAYS NEWS & NOTES:
-Congratulations to former long time PL Jays Billy Gabler on his induction into the Augsburg Athletic Hall Of Fame. Gabler was a PL Laker standout in Football, Wrestling and Baseball and was part of Augsburgs Division 3 National Championship Team as well played baseball and Football for the Auggies.
Augsburg HOF Link (CLICK HERE)
-Shout out to PL Jays Corey Goodwin (Mankato), Sam Kortes (Mankato), Jonesy Buescher (Augsburg), former Jay Zach Fraasch (St Johns), Taylor Smith (St Thomas) for Spring college graduations. Smith joined the Jays part time last Summer and longtime official scorekeeper for PL Laker baseball.
–Jays in college action: Zac Repinski (Nebraska) still seeing action as OF and pinch hitter for the Cornhuskers, while Jimmy Larson was redshirted as a pitcher and expected to get some stints for the Jays before departing for Summer School. Tyler Edwards spent his Junior season at East Carlolina after a standout All American 2 years at SE Nebraska CC but is departing for greener pastures for his Senior season. Jonesy Buescher completed his final season as outfielder at Augsburg. Tommy Keating has fought injury this Spring as a 1B/C/DH with Century CC and hopeful to return for their playoff push. Lawson Zenner (Wayne State-NE) and Jason Peter (SW Minnesota State) also completed freshman campaigns as members of their baseball squads.
-Jays GM Tex Chapman just completed his 1st full season as public address for the #3 Class AAAA ranked PL Lakers Varsity Softball at “the house that rocks” Daggit Field. The Lakers won the 2017 SSC Title Tuesday defeating Apple Valley. Congrats and good luck in playoffs from the PL Jays!
-The PL Jays have made a $100 donation to Jordan High School in support of Strike Out Cancer Night for the Hubmans rivalry game vs the Belle Plaine Tigers. The late Coach Todd Oakes of the Minnesota Gophers was a visible champion for LLS MN supporting research to battle cancer. His sons were opponents of the Jays and Mudcats playing for the Jordan Brewers and St Benedict Saints and have carried on his message. “Although he lost his battle, the war will continue and the Jays are honored to support his (Todd Oakes) legacy with our donation. We encourage other area teams and fans of the game to join the fight” said Jays GM Tex Chapman. They Jays have hosted annual “Cancer Night” games the past 8 seasons donating to various entities, stay tuned to schedule and web for this seasons special night of support. STRIKEOUT CANCER LINK (Click Here)
-Former PL Jay Greg “Fud” Faue has guided the MBA Class “C” PL Mudcats of the DRS to a quick 4-0 start in the 2017 season. Mudcats catcher/util Levi Schneider had a short stint as well for the Jays. Jays Manager Goose Geisler and GM Tex Chapman played a number of seasons for the fish, Good Luck to the ‘Cats who were a Final 16 finisher in last seasons MBA Class “C” State Tournament before losing to Runner Up Sobieski,
-Congrats to former Jays Tim Hanson, Kirk Loehr, Chris Rooney and PLABA Secretary Mike Keating for blistering the field at the PL Townball Classic golf tourney firing a 53 and winning by 8 strokes! Former Jay Jim Schroeder was Golfmeister taking over for longtime Jay Corey Goblirsch who ran the 1st 6 events.
–DID YOU KNOW? Longtime PL Public Address announcer Dick “Voiceman” Carlson does PA for Bethel College baseball as well PL Lakers Varsity? Sons Jeff & Greg were members of the PL Jays sparking his entry to PA duties in the late 1980’s.
