Rock County Sports
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 06, 2025The Luverne Senior Legion baseball team captured third place at the American Legion Division II State Tournament Saturday, Aug. 2, in Ely. Luverne beat Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 9-6 July 31 in the first-round game. They then lost 7-2 to Montevideo Aug. 1 to move down to the consolation bracket. Luverne beat Sibley East 4-1 in the consolation matchup Aug. 2 to capture third place at the state…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 06, 2025Luverne trap shooters Piper Wynia (left) and Makayla Oechsle recently received their conference medals for the 2025 spring trap shooting season. Wynia finished in first place and Oechsle placed third for Luverne in the female division. Wynia finished the season placing second at the Minnesota Trap Shooting Championship in Alexandria this past spring.
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 06, 2025The Luverne Redbirds dropped their first game in the Minnesota Baseball Association District 8B tournament Saturday, Aug. 2, in New Ulm. The No. 5-seed Redbirds fell 5-3 to the No. 4-seed Raymond Rockets in the first round of the district playoffs. In the District 8B bracket, three of eight teams have the opportunity to move on to the state tournament later this summer. After their loss to…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorAugust 06, 2025Local racing results for Aug. 1-2 are listed. Drivers posted have ties to Rock County. Rapid Speedway Aug. 1 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsman’s #21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia – placed fifth in the A Feature, finished second in Heat 1 #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed 12th in the A Feature, finished sixth in Heat 2 Points leaders as of 7/25 8th – Brandon Boeve – 658 12th – Larry Kracht…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 30, 2025Luverne’s Thomas Kracht, driving car No. 15, took first place in the 2025 Rock County Fair Enduro race Saturday, July 26, in Luverne. Kracht was the first driver to reach the 171-lap or two-hour race time limit in the event. This year’s Enduro featured 28 of 30 cars registered for the race. Of the 28 cars, 14 finished in driving condition and were able to place. In the small engine class…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 30, 2025The Luverne Redbirds set their sights on the Minnesota Baseball Association District 8B playoffs. Luverne is scheduled to take on the Raymond Rockets Saturday, Aug. 2, at 11:00 am. The District 8B games will be played at Johnson Park in New Ulm. It is a double-elimination bracket with three teams moving on to the state tournament. Hosts for the 2025 State Tournament are Brownton, Hutchinson,…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 30, 2025Local racing results for July 25 are listed. Drivers posted have ties to Rock County. Rapid Speedway July 25 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsman’s #21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia – placed seventh in the A Feature, finished third in Heat 2 #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed twelth in the A Feature, DNF in Heat 2 Overall points leaders as of 7/18 8th – Brandon Boeve – 590 12th – Larry Kracht…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 23, 2025The Luverne Junior Legion baseball team started the 2025 Southwest Sub-State Tournament 1-1 this past week and needs to fight their way back in the consolation bracket. Luverne fell to Slayton 10-3 in their first-round game Sunday, July 20, at Redbird Field and came back to beat Madelia 10-0 Monday, July 21, in Luverne in the consolation bracket. The win against Madelia moves Luverne on, and…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 23, 2025Hills Beaver Creek senior Bode Kruger shot his way to a 13th place tie in the 2025 Valley National 8-Ball League Association Junior Pool Championship in Rochester July 17-20. “I did better than I thought I might at the tournament playing older competitors,” he said Monday. The Valley National 8-Ball League Association is a non-profit organization established to promote the game of pool on coin-…- July 23, 2025In 2025, young people will be able to hunt deer with an adult in a number of state parks during several application-only special youth deer hunts. These hunts offer more individualized experiences in unique places, These firearms hunts are for youth ages 12-15 at the time of the hunt and are accompanied by an adult. Hunters can apply for a limited number of permits through Friday, Aug. 15.…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 23, 2025By Greg Hoogeveen Local racing results for July 16-18 are listed. Drivers posted have ties to Rock County. Rapid Speedway July 18 - Rock Rapids, IA Sportsman’s #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed ninth in the A Feature, finished first in Heat 1 #142 Eric Gaul, Luverne – DNF in the A Feature, finished second in Heat 2 Overall points leaders to date 8th – Brandon Boeve – 590…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor and Jason BerghorstJuly 16, 2025The Luverne Redbirds are on a five-game winning streak after adding four more victories this week. The local amateur baseball team defeated Hadley 6-0 at home July 8, Pipestone 4-0 July 9, Brandon 5-2 Friday, and Fox Lake 14-2 Sunday. The Redbirds played as the Luverne Nutcrackers for one night only on Friday, July 10, as part of Luverne’s Nutcracker Fest. See that game story in the related…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 16, 2025The Luverne Redbirds donned Nutcrackers jerseys for an exhibition game against the Brandon Belugas in Luverne Friday, July 11, as part of the Nutcracker Fest weekend. The game-day jersey featured Nutcracker text with a bat on the front and a Nutcracker face and baseball on the sleeve. Players also wore game-day blue hats with red brims and nutcrackers on the front. Before the game started,…
By Jason BerghorstJuly 16, 2025Luverne Redbird Braydon Ripka (at right) experienced something very few baseball players have the opportunity to do during Sunday’s 14-2 victory over Fox Lake at Redbird Field. After starting the game as catcher, Ripka played all nine positions in the same game. Due to the 10-run rule, the game was just 4 ½ innings long, making the feat even more unique. Ripka played in his normal catcher…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 16, 2025The Luverne Senior Legion baseball team captured the Southwest Sub- Sub State title after beating Adrian 17-2 Friday, July 11, and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 9-1 Saturday, July 12, in Windom. Luverne now advances to play in the eight team Southwest Sub-State tournament in Truman. The team will open the two-weekend, double-elimination tournament vs. Wabasso at 2 p.m. today (July 17). Luverne 17,…
By Jason BerghorstJuly 16, 2025The Luverne Junior Legion baseball team took its first step toward returning to the State Junior Legion baseball tournament by winning the sub sub-state tournament championship Sunday. Luverne defeated Pipestone 12-2 in Adrian. The local Junior Legion team, now 12-4 on the season, will open sub-state tournament play at Redbird Field Sunday, June 20, at 7 p.m. with the opponent to be…
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