Sports from the week of July 18, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Spikers gain respect in national tourney

The Tracy-Milroy Junior Olympic 17-year-old Volleyball team returned last week from Salt Lake City, Utah where they participated in the elite USA Junior National Championships.

Sixty-four teams from across the nation participated in each age bracket. The tournament was played at the new South Towne Expo Center.

T-M played ten matches, winning five and losing five. All of the teams the T-M girls played were club teams made up of the best players from many area schools. Many of opposing teams begin practice in December, play over 100 matches across the country. Several of the All-Star teams had even drafted players from other teams to beef up their roster for the National Championships. Opponents eyebrows raised when they found out the T-M team members were all from the same small high school. Many after match compliments were given to the local team for their solid fundamentals and hard-nosed play.

Two Tracy pole vaulters qualify for USA nationals

Two Tracy High School pole vaulters qualified for national competition by placing first in a regional competition last week in Madison, Wisconsin.

Jason Morin took first place in the intermediate boys' pole vaulting division (14-15-year-olds). Bobbi Jo Buyck captured first in the youth girls' class (12-13-year-olds).

As winners of the regional USA Track and Field competition, the students are now eligible to compete in the national USA meet in Sacramento, California, July 26-27.

Morin cleared 11 feet, 10 1/2 inches to top six other competitors in his division. His best jump is 12 feet.

Buyck topped nine feet, 2 1/2 inches to better four other competitors.

Bobbi Jo, an eighth grader, is the daughter of Lynn and Joe Buyck. Jason is the son of Tom and Sue Morin. He is a sophomore.

VFW faces Marshall in Thursday playoff game

The Tracy VFW baseball team improved their season record to 3-6-1 with a first round playoff win over Granite Falls at Granite Falls Monday evening. The score was 4-3 and Tracy will now play Marshall at Marshall Thursday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the second round of the sub-district playoffs.

Greg Carlson started on the mound for Tracy and pitched to 21 hitters over the first 4 1/3 innings giving up 3 runs (all earned) on 4 hits while striking out 6 and walking 3. Tim Byrne finished the game by pitching the last 1 1/3 innings. He gave up no runs on no hits while striking out 4 and walking 1.

Eric Fraser led the 6 hit Tracy attack with 2 hits in 4 trips to the plate. Austin Skoblik, Ross Ladehoff, Donald Strand and Andy Coulter each garnered 1 hit.