Neither the Rochester Royals or Austin Greyhounds are fans of the new Section 2B format in Class B for amateur baseball.
For years the Royals and Greyhounds have been the class of Section 2B, combining to win three state titles in the past decade. But with section teams dwindling in the area, the Royals and Greyhounds were placed in a section with Mankato, Marshall and New Ulm this season.
"We should not be in Mankato and Marshall's section," Royals manager Dave Adamssaid.
Beside being a long distance to travel for section games, Section 2B is now perhaps the toughest in the state. Mankato has also won a state title in the past decade and Marshall is also a state power.
"It's all political," Greyhounds manager Matt Canosaid of the new Section 2B alignment.
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The Section 2B playoffs begin this weekend and only two of the four state powers (New Ulm is having a down year) will be able to advance to state. The playoff format is also changed as two teams (Austin and Mankato ) will host another team (yet to be decided) in a best-of-three series starting Saturday to see which pair advances to the super sectional.
Both Adams and Cano hope the current five-team Section 2B is just a one-year trial run. If not, well, then the Royals and Greyhounds may take action of their own.
"If they don't fix it we're going to Class A next year," Adams said. "They have to fix it."
Cano said the Greyhounds might also jump to Class A if changes are not made.
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Katie Nichols, a 2007 graduate of Mayo, has been honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association by being named an ITA Scholar Athlete. Nichols was one of eight members of Luther College women's tennis team that received the honor.
In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status, a player must be a varsity letter winner, have a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on the 4.0 scale, and have been enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters — including freshman through senior year.
During the 2010-11 season, Nichols helped Luther captured an Iowa Conference record 25th league championship. The Norse also qualified for the NCAA III National Tournament for a third consecutive year and 13th time in school history.
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Several area boys basketball players played in the 2011 Boys' Top 100 Expo Showcase series last Thursday and Friday in St. Cloud.
Area players competing in the event were Aric Eltonof Spring Grove, Joel Newmanof Red Wing, Mike Goergenof Southland, Skylar Meyerof Lyle/Pacelli, Trent Vixand Nick Thompsonof Rushford-Peterson and Braden Hansonof Lanesboro.
Big Nine Conference players involved in the event were Brody Zieglerand Brett Olsonof Mankato East and Ty Sullivanand Drew Osmundsonof Owatonna.
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Cory Johnsonof Cannon Falls has been named an assistant coach for the University of Mary men's basketball team. He comes to Mary after two seasons at NCAA Division I Western Illinois University and seven years coaching at the collegiate level.
Johnson began his collegiate coaching career at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato. After leading Bethany to sixth place in the NJCAA national tournament as team captain in 2004, he joined the team's coaching staff for three seasons (2004-07) where Johnson and current Mary head coach Jevin Buddeworked together as assistant coaches.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Johnson has worked over 30 youth basketball camps as a coach and coordinator since 2004. Most recently he served as the Assistant Director of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he helped the franchise prepare for the 2011 NBA draft.
