Brute’s Bleat August 30, 2017

Threats of wind gust up to 20 mph on last Tuesday prompted me to suggest a smaller lake than Maple for fishing to George Palmer and Mike Miller. They didn’t argue with me when I suggested Indian Lake, a lake I hadn’t been on this year and one that Mike had never fished, but it had been okay for George and myself previously. A flooded public access is usually a problem early in the year, but it was in fine shape when we launched about 9:15 a.m. A trio of DNR fisheries workers pulled into the access behind us and were planning to stretch nets for a fish count. One of the fellows said they did a spring count and found the bluegills plentiful and good sized. We found some good-sized, but not exactly plentiful. We finished with 13 and sorted out another three before we hung it up around noon. The fisheries guys and one girl put out their nets in various portions of the lake with flags on each end to mark them. One was strung out from the access which we didn’t see until we were on top of it. Fortunately the water and net were deep enough not to catch our outboard. It reminded me of being on Lake of the Woods where the Canada natives go after walleyes using the same tactics . . . I did a solo run out to Rock Lake Thursday morning mostly to see if the sunfish were bunched up like a year ago in the fall. They weren’t, but it may be a bit early for that to happen. As it was I plucked out 12, more than enough for a meal, and headed home to enjoy the mundane things like walking the dog and mowing lawn!
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Maple Lake’s Laker baseball season came to an abrupt halt Saturday night when they lost a 4-3 ballgame to Jordan. Hunter Malachek was on the mound for the Lakers and allowed only four hits in the 5 1/3 innings he pitched. Laker errors contributed to the loss when Jordan scored three runs in their half of the third. Brock Fobbe, playing shortstop. was the team slugger for the night with two triples and a double. McRae Haney, second sacker, had a double. Fobbe scored the Lakers first run in the third inning when Jordan’s cut-off man tried to catch the fleet footed baserunner at third, but overthrew and the ball went into the dugout. That gave Fobbe another ground rule base and kind of an inside the park homerun. He also scored a second time and Logan Orazem also crossed home plate after his pinch-hit single. Maple Lake out-hit Jordan 7-5.
Draftee Coltron Petron, Lorretto Larks, pitched the final three and 2/3rds innings and allowed a single hit, struck out one and didn’t allow any runs as the Laker defense shined once more.
Buffalo is the only team left from this region after winning 6-3 against Fairmont Friday night. They will play Lake Henry Saturday at 11 a.m. in Norwood. Kimball, a #1 seed in their region, is also in the tournament after defeating New Market 5-3. They play Fergus Falls in the second game, 2:30 p.m., at Norwood on Saturday.
Hutchinson lost 6-1 to St. Peter in their first game and Howard Lake was eliminated 11-7 by the 2013 State Champion Sartell Sunday night.
Looking into my crystal ball, I can see only good years ahead for the Lakers who fielded one of the younger teams in the North Star League. Combining the veterans with the young upstarts is a good way to keep the program in high gear. Congratulations on a great year and best wishes for 2018 and in 2019 when Maple Lake will be one of the state tournament hosts.