Who doesn’t love a good story? We resonate with stories we tell and share and those described well by a good book or movie.
Summer is when there can be an opportunity to dig into a good book again. Some flexibility might come with the summer schedule or extra leisure time outside or on vacation, and you take it as a chance to catch up on your reading list.
If you lost track of your Bible reading plan for 2023, summer could be a time to read whole books of the Bible and appreciate the author’s organization of the narrative.
Often Christians are used to hearing a few verses at a time in church services or memorizing a favorite verse. Still, one can appreciate those favorite passages’ larger picture when reading the broader context.
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are a great place to start to enjoy the narrative quality of the Bible. Of course, the Gospels are more than a story, but they are also not less than a story.
A narrative arc is used uniquely in the four perspectives of Jesus’ earthly life. Matthew includes the most references to the Old Testament and Jewish customs and laws. He focuses on Jesus’ fulfillment as the Messiah (the long-awaited promised king of Israel in David’s line), a call to discipleship, and inaugurating the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mark keeps the story going rather quickly, focusing on “Who is Jesus?”
Luke paints the broadest history, starting before the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Luke’s approach centers around the mission Jesus has to fulfill. (Luke continues the story after Jesus’ ascension in the book of Acts and the beginnings of the New Testament church – one could call Acts “Luke II”.)
Then John labeled the “Book of Signs,” with the first half focused on Jesus’ public ministry and the second half on quality time spent with his disciples and the events preceding and following the cross. John is most concerned with answering the question, “Where does Jesus come from?”
So I encourage you to read one of the Gospels in its entirety (or listen to an audio version — which is how the first audiences would have received the message).
It might be easiest to start with Mark since it is just over an hour to get through. Like any good story, pay attention to the settings, characters, and plot development. You may get more insight into the purpose of particular parables or miracles by knowing where the author placed them between other scenes.
Then afterward you can ask yourself, “Did anything new stand out after reading it as a whole? How do you learn or change from reading the story? What do you believe or do as a consequence of the story?”
I hope you have a renewed appreciation for the historical narratives of the person, work, and teachings of Jesus Christ in these gospel accounts. Happy summer reading!

St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Mass. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Joe Steenholdt, Pastor
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on YouTube at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
103 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays: 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Thursday, July 13: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, July 15: No activities. Sunday, July 16: 9 a.m. Worship Service with Holy Communion. Monday, July 17: Grace notes deadline. Tuesday, July 18: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, July 19: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible Study. 8:15 a.m. Caring Visitors. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Amazing Grays Loop Tours. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online worship: Sundays 9 a.m. at www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab; or Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Sunday School and Bible class. 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Friday, July 14: 6:30 a.m. Community Men’s Bible Study. Sunday, July 9: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. CommServices are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne.
 
Rock River Community Church
1075 110th Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-9070; email: info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor
Come as you are—Sundays @ 10 a.m.: Main Service. Kids church age 3-6th grade—Nursery. Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. Midweek Service—Kids age 3-6th grade.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Wednesday, July 12: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Open Prayer chapel. 6:15-7:30 p.m. VBS. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Thursday, July 13: 6:15-7:30 p.m. VBS. Saturday, July 15: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, July 16: 9:30 a.m. FUEL/Adult Sunday School. 9:45 a.m. Coffee. 10:30 a.m. Worship service. Live streamed on Facebook and radio. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible study. Monday, July 17: 6:30 p.m. Genesis to Revelation Bible Study. Tuesday, July 18: 10 a.m. Shut-in visits. 6 p.m. Trustee meeting. 6:30 p.m. Church council meeting. Wednesday, July 19: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Prayer Chapel. 8 p.m. Meeting.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: fpcemilie@gmail.com
Wednesday, July 12: 7 p.m. Session meeting. Saturday, July 15: Christian Ed. Work Day. Sunday, July 16: 9:30 a.m. In-person Worship service. (View on Facebook under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne, City of Luverne's LUV TV or on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays). 10:30 a.m. Fellowship coffee hour.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Saturdays: 5:30 p.m. Worship Service. Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship Service. 10 a.m. Fellowship Time. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study. Wednesdays: 9 a.m. Bible Study. 6:30 p.m. Catechesis Class. 6:30 p.m. Kids for Christ. 7:30 p.m. Youth Group. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org. Holy Communion is offered on 2nd and 4th weekends and Liturgical Feasts.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Josh Hayden, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. (605) 368-1924; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:30 a.m. Bible study. Worship service on Luverne cable at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662 – firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, July 16: 10 a.m. Community Worship at Valley Springs ballpark. Bring lawn chair. In case of inclement weather, worship will be held at Reformed Church in Valley Springs. All are welcome. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @FirstLutheranValley Springs; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish. Sunday, July 16-Thursday, July 20: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Meet at Reformed Church in Valley Springs. Tuesday, July 18: 7 p.m. First Lutheran council meeting.
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — palisadechurch@alliancecom.net
www.palisadelutheran.org
Sunday, July 16: 10 a.m. Community Worship at Valley Springs ballpark. Bring lawn chair. In case of inclement weather, worship will be held at Reformed Church in Valley Springs. All are welcome. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @PalisadeLC; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish. Thursday, July 13: 1:30 p.m. Palisade WELCA meeting. 7 p.m. Palisade Lutheran Council meeting.
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship Service in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sundays: 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
 
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270 / bethlehemofhills@gmail.com
Nita Parker, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Chapel. 9 a.m. Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship Service. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Praveen Muthasamy, Pastor
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 5 p.m. Evening worship service.

If you are a regular reader of my columns, you will certainly know by now just how much of a public lands advocate I am.
When I was 11 and my parents got me a new bike, I was a roving fisherman. I rode that bike all over my neck of the woods trying to find and catch whatever kind of fish I could. 
When I got a car and could then drive to a fishing or hunting spot, I was sure that my desire to hunt would overshadow my fishing desire. This did not become a reality for almost 20 more years.
There was almost no place in my county at the time where you could hunt without permission. I get that private lands are private and permission is required. 
My problem was that the very few spots that did exist were all tied up with people that had more money than this 16-year-old. 
I must have heard “this spot is leased by so and so” at least 150 times over the years. So, fishing I went because all the lakes were public waters and anyone could fish there without having to get permission or pay a fee.
Up pops a new organization called Pheasants Forever. They started in 1982, with my county’s chapter starting in 1984. Today there are over 750 chapters associated with this organization. My chapter number is 14. Boy, were we the new kids on the block!
Nobles County PF made the very first land purchase in the history of the organization. This property was then turned over to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and became the Wachter Slough Wildlife Management Area.
Since that monumental first step, the Nobles County chapter has purchased 44 additional parcels totaling over 3,600 acres in our 40-year existence. There is a sign erected on each of these sites identifying it as a Pheasant Run One, Pheasant Run Two and so on. My 90-year-old father started making these signs almost 30 years ago. 
Adding to the public land opportunities so many hunters rely on has become my life’s mission.
You can start hunting on PF Run 1 and hunt a different pheasant run each day for the entire season and you will not be able to hunt each one twice before you run out of season hunting days. 
Oh, what a change from when I was 16! Even seeing a rooster during an entire day’s hunt was at one time called a complete success.
As with any success, there are those who try to find as much downside as they can, take the negative take, or just badmouth you because they can. 
I often get asked how much land Pheasants Forever wants to purchase. Just how much public land is enough? You are competing with young farmers; you are running up the price of land! Public lands pay no taxes, so that means the rest of us have to pay more.
I always start to answer these questions with, “Just how much land do you think there is in Nobles County that is in public ownership?” 
I just love the answers. They will with great confidence and in a loud voice say that it is at least 10-15 percent. 
Others will guess even higher. The fact of the matter is that after 40 years as one of the most successful land acquisition chapters in the nation, we have affected .7 of 1 percent of the land in Nobles County.
If you take all the public lands (citizen-owned lands) including state managed, federally managed and county managed in Nobles County, they account for less than 2 percent of the total land base. 
This percentage holds true for almost every county making up the 12 counties of southwest Minnesota. If we were to magically double the current acres under habitat management, that total would still be 60-80 percent less than many folks think exists now. 
If we could keep acquiring public lands habitats at our current pace, it would take an additional 50 years to affect an additional 1 percent of the land base.
In the last research I did a few years back, there were 43 land sales in the county for that year. PF purchased only one of them. PF was involved with only 3 percent of all the land that changed hands that year. 
Of the land that was sold, the parcel PF purchased was the lowest cost per acre of all of them. 
This factual information pretty much dispels all the coffee shop talk about how public lands are just exploding.
For those who have the wherewithal to own their own private land for hunting, I tip my hat to you. You’re in the fortunate few. 
Most hunters in the state rely to some degree on public lands to recreate/hunt. Many hunters only hunt on citizen-owned Wildlife Management Areas.
I learned a long time ago that there is room for conservation on every section. Farm the best and conserve the rest, they say. Economics and conservation can survive and thrive together. 
Each has a place on the landscape. Hunting is a tradition passed down for generations. 
I have made it my life’s mission to be sure that my great-great-grandkids can say to their dad or mom that their first rooster, clutching it tightly around the neck with a huge smile on their face, is something that they will never forget. 
The only way to guarantee this moment is to ensure they have a place to go. Public lands, citizen-owned lands, and enough of them, managed by the Department of Natural Resources are the best guarantee that this promise can be kept.
Scott Rall, Worthington, is a habitat conservationist, avid hunting and fishing enthusiast and is president of Nobles County Pheasants Forever. He can be reached at scottarall@gmail.com. 

Local racers’ results for Rapid Speedway, Murray County Speedway, Hartford Speedway, Worthington Speedway and Huset’s Speedway are as follows for the week of July 4-10.
 
Rapid Speedway 
July 7 Rock Rapids, IA
Rain Out
 
Murray County Speedway
July 7 Slayton, MN
Rain Out
 
Hartford Speedway
July 8 Hartford, SD
Street Stock
16th - #4D Cory Kelderman, Hills
 
Worthington Speedway
July 8 Worthington, MN
IMCA Stock
9th - #20K Spencer Kalass, Luverne
 
Huset’s Speedway
July 9 Brandon, SD
No local drivers

The Luverne Country Club hosted its 2023 Member-Guest Golf Tournament Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8.
There were 53 two-man teams participating in the 36-hole tournament.
Jeremy and Jason Sudenga took top honors this year with the highest total quota score of 9.5.
Ryan Goebel and Tony Sandbulte came in second with a score of 7.
Chris Denhoed and Robert Louisiana placed third with a score of 6.5.

The Luverne Blaze fastpitch summer softball club hosted its third annual Bash-A-Rama tournament Saturday, July 8, and Sunday, July 9.
Thirty-two total teams, some from as far away as Pierre, South Dakota, participated in four age brackets, 10U, 12U, 14U and 16/18U.
Each team played two games Saturday to determine which bracket (gold or silver) they would compete in Sunday. In bracket play, teams that lost were out of the tournament.
The Luverne Blaze had two teams in the 10U bracket.
On Saturday, Blaze 1 lost 15-0 to the Blitz (Brandon Valley), lost 15-5 to Fusion Heat (Brandon) and lost to Hit-Stix 14-5.
On Sunday, Blaze 1 fell to Boltz (Sioux Falls) 15-2.
Blaze 2 lost to Flare (Watertown) 13-1, Boltz (Sioux Falls) 15-0 and the Wildcats (Brandon) 13-8.
On Sunday, Blaze 2 fell to Hit Stix 17-2.
In the 12U bracket the Luverne Blaze lost to the Panthers (Sioux Falls) 11-0, beat the Strikers (Sioux Falls) 12-6 and beat the Fusion Heat (Brandon) 10-9.
On Sunday, the 12U Blaze lost 8-5 to TSC Aftershock (Harrisburg).
In the 14U brackets the Luverne Blaze lost to Blast (Brookings) 12-0, lost to Relentless (Pierre) 8-7 and beat TC Typhoon (Harrisburg) 4-3.
On Sunday, the Blaze lost to the Sparks (Sioux Falls) 5-3.
In the 16/18U bracket the Luverne Blaze beat 605 Octane (Sioux Falls) 1-0, lost to Blue Bombers (Pierre) 4-3 and beat the Blast 14-1.
On Sunday, the Blaze lost to Pierre 2-1.
 
Bracket winners are as follows:
•10U Gold Bracket winner was Blitz from Brandon Valley. Silver Bracket winner was Hit Stix
•12U Gold Bracket winner was TSC Aftershock from Harrisburg. Silver Bracket winner was the Futures from Sioux Falls.
•14U Gold Bracket winner was Thunder from Brandon Valley. Silver Bracket winner was the Sparks from Sioux Falls.
•16/18U Gold Bracket winner was Pierre. Silver Bracket winner was Diamonds Elite from Tea.
During the tournament, Blaze board members had put together a fundraiser event that offered a “unique” slant that teams ate up.
Board member Stacey Smidt said, “Teams look forward to winning this event.”
 
Hot dog contest
The Blaze sold hot dogs and credited one point for each hot dog sold to a corresponding team in the tournament.
The team in each bracket with the most points would be crowned the hot dog champs and receive a metal trophy. 
In the 10U bracket, the Luverne Blaze 2 team won with 55 hot dogs eaten.
12U went to the Panthers of Sioux Falls with 57 hot dogs eaten. This was their third year winning the title.
14U went to the Panthers from Pierre with 32 hot dogs eaten. 
The 16/18U bracket saw Pierre win with 108 hot dogs eaten. This was also Pierre’s third year in a row taking the hot dog title.
“We brought in a lot of visitors to town for a fun event and look forward to next year,” Smidt said about the Bash-A-Rama event.

Luverne Post 123 Sr. Legion blew out Tracy 13-2 at home Thursday, July 6, in playoff action.
Thanks to a big 11-run fourth inning, the Cardinals were assured a sub state appearance in the 2023 American Legion baseball tournament.
Jacob Stroh and Elliot Domagala both had three RBIs in the game.
Conner Connell drove in two runners and Riley Sneller, Will Serie and Brayden Ripka each had one RBI in the game.
The Cardinals played an error-free game and held Tracy to only six hits in the game.
Zach DeBoer took the mound for Luverne, pitching five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out seven batters.
On Friday, July 7, Luverne was to play Russell-Tyler-Ruthton for the No. 1 seed.
RTR ended up conceding the game, giving Luverne the No. 1 seed and RTR got the No. 2 seed in the Senior Legion Southwest Sub-State Tournament starting July 13 in St. James.
The Cardinals’ first game will be against Wells Thursday, July 13, in St. James at 11 a.m.
If the Cardinals win, they will play Friday, July 14, at 5 p.m. If they lose, they will play July 14 at 11 a.m.
 
BOX Score
TRCY 0 0 0 0 2 x x
LUV   0 2 0 1 1 0 x
 
BATTING
Luverne         AB R H   RBI
Sneller               1   2   0   1
Connell              3   1   3   2
Stroh                 2   1   1   3
Serie                  3   0   0   1
Sehr                  3   2   1   0
Ripka                 2   1   1   1
Anderson          1   2   0   0
Domagala         2   1   2   3
Buss                  1   1   0   0
2B: Stroh, Domagala
Total Bases: Connell 3, Domagala 3, Stroh 2, Ripka, Sehr
 
PITCHING
Luverne       IP   H  R  ER  SO
DeBoer          5   6   2   2   7
Pitches-Strikes: DeBoer 67-44
Batters Faced: DeBoer 22

The eighth annual Davis Lake Triathlon kicked off the Fourth of July activities at The Lake last week with athletic competition in kayaks, on bicycles and on foot.
The triathlon has two divisions, the Minnows and the Sharks.
The Minnows race is a quarter mile kayak, two-mile bike ride and one-mile run.
The Sharks race is a half mile kayak, eight-mile bike ride and 2 1/2-mile run.
Both races can be completed by individuals or three-person teams.
This year’s event saw the Minnows race go off without a hitch, but the Sharks race was delayed for 1 1/2 hours because of threatening weather and lightning.
Once the all-clear was announced, the Sharks race started and finished in cooler temperatures.
The winning Minnows team “Splash Flash Dash” finished the race in a time of 18 minutes, 29 seconds.
Team members were Kasey Buss, Jaydon Johnson and Luverne High School track and cross country runner Ella Schmuck.
Minnows individual winners were Jaxon Pick, Luverne, (male) in 24:12 and Anna Alvey, Hartford, South Dakota, (female) in 26:36.
The Sharks team “Air Force One,” consisting of Justin Rust, Kraig Rust and the two-mile ringer Jenna DeBates, another LHS track and cross country runner, finished the race in 49:27.
Sharks individual winners were Jon Alvey (male) from Hartford with a time of 49:27 and Jenna Dixon (female) from Canton with a time of 1:03:09.

The Redbirds picked up three more wins over the past week, raising their season record to 16-1.
The Redbirds beat Worthington 10-1 at home July 5. They also outfoxed Fox Lake 13-2 July 9 and beat Pipestone 19-1 the same day in a doubleheader at Redbird Field.
Luverne is scheduled to host Hadley Wednesday, July 12, and travel to Sioux Falls Friday, July 14, to take on the Brewers.
 
Redbirds 10, Worthington 1
Ben Serie’s clutch hitting helped the Luverne Redbirds topple Worthington 10-0 Wednesday, July 5, at home.
Serie drove in five runs against the Cubs. Two of his RBIs were courtesy of a home run smack over the wall in the sixth inning.
Declan Beers was solid at the plate, recording three runs on three hits and two RBIs in the game.
As a team, Luverne posted 12 hits over seven innings with only two strikeouts.
Worthington was held to only one hit and reached first base three times on walks.
Cade Wenninger took the mound for the Redbirds pitching the entire game, allowing zero runs on one hit while striking out 10 batters.
 
BOX Score
WRTH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
RBirds 0 0 2 0 3 3 2
 
BATTING
Luverne         AB R  H  RBI
S. Wenninger    4   1   2   0
Serie                 2   2   1   5
Smith               3   1   2   1
Paquette           2   0   1   1
Johnson            3   0   0   0
Sehr                 4   0   1   1
C. Wenninger   3   1   0   0
Lundgren         4   2   2   0
Beers                3   3   3   2
2B: Smith 2, S. Wenninger, Lundgren
HR: Serie
Total Bases: Smith 4, Serie 4, S. Wenninger 3, Lundgren 3, Beers 3, Paquette, Sehr
 
PITCHING
Luverne          IP  H   R   ER   SO
C. Wenninger    7   1    0    0    10
Pitches-Strikes: C. Wenninger 89-64
Batters Faced: C. Wenninger 25
 
Redbirds 13, Fox Lake 2
Phil Paquette and Derek Lundgren both posted home runs in the sixth inning to assure the Redbirds’ win.
 Luverne beat Fox Lake 13-2 in six innings at home Sunday, July 9, in their first of two games that day.
Lundgren led the Redbirds with two runs on two hits and five RBIs, with four coming off his grand slam home run.
Paquette had one run on three hits and four RBIs including his home runs in the game.
Serie and Skyler Wenninger both had one run on two hits and one RBI each.
Ethan Beyer pitched six innings for the win, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking two batters.
 
BOX Score
FOXL   0 0 0 0 0 2 x
RBirds 0 0 1 6 0 6 x
 
BATTING
Luverne         AB R H  RBI
S. Wenninger   4   1   2   1
Serie                4   1   2   1
Paquette          4   1   3   4
Johnson           2   2   0   0
Sehr                 4   1   1   0
C. Wenninger   3   2   1   0
Lundgren         4   2   2   5
Beers               2   2   1   0
Beyer               3   1   0   0
2B: Beers, Paquette
3B: Serie
HR: Paquette, Lundgren
Total Bases: Paquette 7, Lundgren 5, Serie 4, Beers 2, S. Wenninger 2, C. Wenninger, Sehr
 
PITCHING
Luverne IP   H   R   ER   SO
Beyer       6    4    2    2     7
Pitches-Strikes: Beyer 96-64
Batters Faced: Beyer 24
 
Redbirds 19, Pipestone 1
The Redbirds schooled the Pipestone A’s 19-1 Sunday, July 9, in Luverne’s second game of the day.
Lundgren singled three times, scoring three times and driving in three runs for the Redbirds.
Cade Wenninger added three RBIs and three runs on one hit and two times being hit by the pitcher to get on base.
Serie posted his second home run for the week to scoring two of his three RBIs in the game.
Mark Sterrett, Brooks Maurer,  Colby Crabtree and Johnson all scored as pinch runners for the Redbirds.
Luverne had nine team hits and 14 RBIs in the five-inning game.
Serie took the mound going three innings, allowing zero runs on one hit with six strikeouts.
Maurer came in to relieve Serie in the fourth inning, pitching two innings, allowing one run on three hits, and striking out two batters.
 
BOX Score
PPST    0 0 0 1 0 x x
RBirds  8 3 2 6 x x x
 
BATTING
Luverne         AB R H  RBI
S. Wenninger    2   1   1   2
Sterrett             0   1   0   0
Serie                 2   1   1   2
Maurer             0   1   0   0
Paquette           1   2   0   0
Crabtree           0   1   0   0
Johnson            0   1   0   0
Ahrens             1   1   0   0
Sehr                  2   2   1   1
C. Wenninger    3   3   1   3
Lundgren          3   3   3   3
Beers                3   2   1   2
Ripka                4   0   1   1
HR: Serie
Total Bases: Serie 4, Lundgren 3, S. Wenninger, Ripka, C. Wenninger, Sehr, Beers
 
PITCHING
Luverne IP   H   R   ER  SO
Serie        3    1    0    0     6
Maurer     2    3    1    1     2
Pitches-Strikes: Serie 49-33, Maurer 45-25
Batters Faced: Serie 12, Maurer 11