2 locals making waves

Mankato East senior Dan Quame has made his college decision and will be attending Augustana College in the fall where he will continue his baseball career.

Quame led the Big Nine in hitting last year with a .468 average and was East's top hitter overall with a .438 average, 21 RBIs and 11 doubles. Quame is also one of East's best pitchers but was recruited by the Vikings for his bat and to play a position.

"I was looking at Gustavus and Bethany, too," Quame said Friday. "I visited all three and I just liked Augustana the best. I think it's a good place for me."

In college softball, another local product is deserving of recognition. Mankato West graduate Amanda Umhoefer has been on a tear of late and is now hitting .425 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play for the Minnesota State squad.

During the team's recent 10-game winning streak, Umhoefer hit .565 with seven extra-base hits, including five doubles. The sophomore right fielder is third on the team in slugging percentage with a .594 mark.

Blue Earth native Kelsey Thompson leads MSU in hitting (.472), slugging (.840), on-base percentage (.548), hits (50), doubles (9) and home runs (10). The senior catcher also leads the team with 42 RBIs.

Who was the best Vikings draft choice?

My column in Thursday's paper proclaimed Randy Moss as the best player the Vikings have ever drafted and Matt Birk as the best value in terms of where he was drafted.

Below are my top five in each category:

BEST PLAYER
1. Randy Moss, WR (1st round, 1997)
2. Randall McDaniel, OL (1st, 1988)
3. Fran Tarkenton, QB (3rd, 1961)
4. Carl Eller, DL (1st, 1964)
5. Alan Page, DL (1st, 1967)

BEST VALUE
1. Matt Birk, C (6th round, 1998)
2. Scott Studwell, MLB (9th, 1977)
3. Milt Sunde, OL (20th, 1964)
4. Steve Jordan, TE (7th, 1982)
5. Terry Allen, RB (9th, 1990)

Who would make your top 5?

Here's a little added Vikings draft trivia. Minnesota selected Dave Winfield (yes, THAT Dave Winfield) in the 17th round in 1973.

BLC baseball on a roll

If you haven't had a chance to catch a Bethany Lutheran College baseball game this spring, this coming weekend might be a pretty good time.

UMAC coaches voted Bethany as the team to beat in the conference this year and, so far, that prediction is looking pretty good.

The Vikings have won eight of their last nine games and just completed a sweep of Minnesota-Morris to move to 3-0 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. Bethany is 13-3 overall.

BLC's starting lineup includes eight players batting more than .300. Justin Schwecke leads the way with a .373 average. Darin Hendley has a team-leading 18 RBIs and seven doubles, Andy Jorges has a team-high three home runs and .773 slugging percentage and Ben Smith is a perfect 14 for 14 in stolen bases.

Cody Hallahn has been the ace so far with a 4-1 record and a 1.38 earned-run average. He has 53 strikeouts and only five walks in 39 innings pitched. Ashton Dorris is 2-0 with a 1.53 ERA.

The Vikings play a single game at Martin Luther on Tuesday before returning home for a three-game series against Northland on Friday and Saturday. Head coach Ryan Kragh has the boys playing well and this could be the perfect time to stroll on over and take gander.