The Woodchucks had a chance to grab first place heading into the final week of the first half of the Northwoods League season. All they had to do was handle the last place Battle Creek Bombers on the road. They couldnt get it done...swept by the Bombers including a couple of close ones. They lost their fourth in a row Monday night to Green Bay and face the Bullfrogs again tonight and Waterloo this week but now do not control their destiny as Eau Claire remains in first place. You need to handle the teams that are struggling...especially with so much to play for. It just goes to show that you need to focus and play every night. No one is going to roll over. Every at-bat...every pitch..is important and you can take nothing for granted.

The Brewers are in position to make a move before the all-star break. They host San Francisco and Pittsburgh in a long home stand and need to pick up some games in the standings. They lost yesterday and will face the Giants again tonight. They have alot of teams to climb over for the wildcard so it's more likely that they need to win the division. Luckily there is lots of time left...although losing Gallardo for any length of time is a deal killer.

Had a busy week of Legion baseball. We are a banged up group as we head into the final three weeks of the regular season. We still have a chance at the League title as we are 5-2. Plover holds down the top spot at 7-2. Post 10 hosts Merrill Tuesday night at Wausau's Athletic Park at 7pm and play at Rothschild-Schofield-Weston on Wednesday. Starting Thursday Wausau plays in a very strong tournament in Kimberly.

Songs of the day  (from my-ipod)

Garden Party-Rick Nelson (1972) for those who only know Nelson from his late-fifties-early 60's music may not know that he played and re-corded some excellent country-rock in the early 70's. This tune of course, tells the tale of his playing at a 1971 revival concert at Madison Square Garden where he attempted to play some newer stuff which reportedly was not well-recieved by the crowd expecting him to be the same looking guy from Ozzie & Harriet. It's good advice though..."You can't please everyone so you've got to please yourself."

Gas Station Women-Phil Ochs (1969) the folkie troubadour tries straight-ahead country