The Board of Directors of the Minnesota Baseball Association met on Saturday and went over the usual baseball business.  They approved a number of players to play in wood bat leagues and return to their MBA teams. 

Bryan Edstrom (pictured left), starting pitcher for the Riverview/Park National All-Stars, pitched the first two innings and retired the first six Saints in order. Rob Schildgen (pictured right), also with the Riverview/Park National All-Stars, was their shortstop and finished one for four with a walk and one RBI.

The St. Pauls Saints came to Chaska on Saturday night and started out strong scoring six runs in the first two innings against the River Valley All-Stars.  Ryan Seifert, starting for the River Valley All-Stars gave up all six runs, five of them being earned.

I have a couple of extra notes on the weekend games between the St. Paul Saints and the River Valley and Riverview and Park National Leagues.  Don Jorrisson is scheduled to throw out the first pitch on Saturday night at Chaska.  Brian Larson, the longtime stat keeper and former State Board member tells me that Don once struck out 21 batters in a game against Belgrade back in 1959.  I bet he throws a strike on Saturday night. 

Amateur baseball will get a boost from the professional ranks this weekend as the St. Paul Saints travel to the Chaska Athletic Field on Saturday and Veterans Field in Minnetonka on Sunday.

On Saturday, May 8^th, the River Valley League All-Stars will take on the St. Paul Saints.  The game will be played at the Chaska Athletic Park and will start at 6:00 P.M.  Tickets for the game are now available and cost $5.00 for anyone 13 and older.  This is a two dollar discount off the walk-up price.  You may obtain tickets by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to River Valley League office, 206 Hillside Drive, Jordan, MN  55352.  Tickets will be mailed within 48 hours.  For telephone orders please call Ron Beckman at 612-578-2733 or Greg Gestach at 952-261-3416. 

After 38 years in the Cannon Valley League (now the Classic Cannon Valley) Bay City is no longer a member.  "I think it's too bad," says Steve Truttman (pictured).  " I think it's a terrible decision by the Minnesota Board to say you can't have a border team like we are right across the border, or the river, and not be counted as a part of the league.  We could still be in the league but it's not doing anybody any good-just by name only."