Tuesday, 3.31.15 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net SPORTS DEPT.: [email protected] RESS AKOTAN sports P &D PAGE 7 Indians Laughing Their Way Through Training Camp BY TOM WITHERS year, Arizona, peaked last week Earlier this month, Francona had do that every five days, but it was the “Major League” movies, about a AP Sports Writer when Ramirez took the practice some fun at the expense of Bauer, good.” fictionally hapless Indians. field only to find his BMW parked who gave up home runs to three The Indians aren’t afraid to poke “C’mon, Cleveland,” Uecker said. CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians where he usually stands at short- straight Chicago Cubs prospects fun at themselves. “Give them a chance.” are pitching, hitting, bunting and stop. After noticing the car sitting during an exhibition start. The fol- On Monday, the team released Last week, Sports Illustrated doing everything else they need to too far from the curb, infielder lowing day, Francona had a police a funny video in which several picked the Indians, who haven’t work on for the upcoming season at Mike Aviles orchestrated the prank, officer come to the team’s morning current players, Francona, general won the World Series since 1948, to spring training. which involved getting Ramirez’s meeting with three baseballs to manager Chris Antonetti and a take it all this season. The fore- And laughing every step of the keys and driving it onto a practice deliver to Bauer. singing Carlos Santana, read some cast was greeted with the usual way. field. “I just wanted to return these negative comments directed at skepticism by Clevelanders, who No team seems be enjoying itself The Indians wanted to teach a three baseballs that disrupted traf- them on Twitter. The “Mean Tweets” were quick to point out that SI also as much as Cleveland, once only the lesson to Ramirez, who seems to fol- fic on Estrella Parkway at 2:20 p.m., bit has been used by late-night talk tabbed the Indians in 1987 and the butt of jokes. Whether it’s bombard- low his own rules when it comes to 2:21 p.m. and 2:22 p.m. on Tuesday,” show host Jimmy Kimmel, and the team lost 101 games. ing manager Terry Francona with parking etiquette. They just placed the officer told Bauer as players in Indians seemed to relish the chance On the magazine’s cover, Cy water balloons, mocking pitcher it between the first- and third-base the clubhouse howled with laughter. to respond. Young winner Corey Kluber is smil- Trevor Bauer for giving up three lines. Bauer, too, took it in stride, Also making an appearance ing and outfielder Michael Brantley consecutive home runs or parking “Hey, he parks anywhere so you posting a photo of the souvenirs on on the video was longtime Brew- is cracking up at something funny. rookie infielder Jose Ramirez’s car might as well park it in a comfort- Twitter. ers broadcaster Bob Uecker, who A jinx? on the infield dirt, the Indians are able spot,” Aviles said. “When “I think Trevor loved it,” said played Harry Doyle, the whiskey- The Indians are too busy laugh- leading the majors in hijinks. you park it anywhere what’s the Francona, who understands the swilling play-by-play announcer ing to care. It’s a training camp for camp. difference between the field and the importance of keeping his players who coined the phrase “Juuust a bit The fun under the sun in Good- parking lot?” relaxed and loose. “I hope we don’t outside” to describe a wild pitch in Golf: YHS Sliding In To 2015 Opens With Third At BV BRANDON – The Yankton Gazelles opened the 2015 girls’ golf season with a second place finish in a triangular at the Brandon Municipal Golf Course on Monday. Brookings won the event with a 357, led by Beth Hilde- brandt’s 74 and Brooke Piear- son’s 81. Yankton’s Ashley Van Meeteren (88) finished third, with Yankton’s Linze Cowman (93) and Brandon Valley’s Kaila Kuehn tying for fourth at 93. Yankton finished at 375 on the day, with Darian Tramp’s 94 and Morgan Strahl’s 100 rounding out the varsity scores. Payton Pierce shot 101, Stephanie Schwartz shot 106, Reagan Kolberg shot 126 and Kasey Erickson carded a 129. Yankton travels to Mitchell on Thursday for a triangular with the Kernels and Sioux Falls Washington. TEAM SCORES: Brookings 357, Yankton 375, Brandon Valley 413 INDIVIDUAL: Beth Hildebrant, Brookings, 74; Brooke Piearson, Brookings, 81; Ashley VanMeeteren, Yankton, 88; Linze Cowman, Yankton, 93; Kaila Kuehn, BV, 93; Darian Tramp, Yankton, 94; Liz Duncan, BV, 96; Madison Ammann, Brookings, 98; Morgan Strahl, Yankton, 100; Payton Pierce, Yankton, 101; Heidi Bien, Brookings, 104; Erica Bien, Brookings, 104; Nicole Steen, Brookings, 106; Stephanie Schwartz, Yankton, 106; Julia Andresen, BV, 110; Hannah Deville, BV, 114; Jamie Johnson, BV, 116; Lauren Blue, BV, 119; Ashlea Wolfe, BV, 121; Reagan Kolberg, Yankton, 126; Kasey Erickson, Yankton, 129; Hailey Miller, BV, 133; Caylan Aichele, BV, 139 P&D FILE PHOTO Brad Ulmer slides in to a base safely during a Yankton High School baseball game last spring. Ulmer and the Bucks open the 2015 season at home Bryant Sent Wednesday against Vermillion, at 5 p.m. To Minors By Cubs MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Third Bucks Aiming For State baseman Kris Bryant was BY EMILY NIEBRUGGE “We’ve got a cuple things to work on still, but it as a high school student keep push- reassigned by the Chicago [email protected] ing toward the state competition. Cubs to their minor league feels good to get back in the groove.” “We’ve got a couple things to camp on Monday despite an After placing second with their work on still, but it feels good to outstanding spring training at legion team last year, and with a BRAD ULMER get back in the groove, and we’ll be the plate, triggering a threat number of kids coming back from alright come time to play” he said. of litigation from the players’ last season, Yankton baseball is set- ton overall. to get too far ahead of ourselves For now, with a hit or miss sched- association. ting its goals to find a way to make it ule due to spring weather, the team is Bryant hit .425 in the exhi- “We’re treating this time just by trying to push things and push to the state tournament. like our spring training,” Krier said. progression.” simply focusing on getting back in the bition season with nine hom- “We’ve got some juniors back box and on the field. ers and 15 RBIs in 40 at-bats. “We’re starting from scratch, and we For seniors Brad Ulmer and Austin with a lot of experience,” said head don’t want to push progression too Johnson, being back for just two “Spring in South Dakota is hit or If the 23-year-old spends 12 coach Trey Krier, whose team opens miss in the spring,” Krier said. “We’re or more days in the minor much right now.” weeks has helped get back into the the 2015 season Wednesday at home But the team is making sure to swing of things, with the ultimate just trying to get on the field for now, leagues, Chicago would delay against Vermillion at 5 p.m. and when we get the opportunity him from becoming eligible take things slow and work at a decent goal of winning state. “We’re just excited to get on the pace not to get ahead of themselves. “So far we’re just focusing on the to do that we’re just starting from for free agency by one year, field.” scratch. The farther along we go we’ll until after the 2021 season, “We haven’t worked too much on fundamentals,” Johnson said. “So far Throwing began March 1, while offense or defense or running plays, we’ve been working ground balls and find a way to get ourselves into the according to baseball’s col- regular practice started March 17 state tournament and go from there.” lective bargaining agreement. we’re just trying to get in the box fly balls and getting the fundamentals under the direction of Krier, now in and get some swings in and get the down. But winning state is always the “Today is a bad day for his second year as the high school You can follow Emily Niebrugge baseball,” the Major League pitchers on the mound,” Krier said. ultimate goal.” coach, third year as the legion coach “We treat this time pretty much like Putting last season behind them, on Twitter at twitter.com/ENiebrugge. Baseball Players Association and seventh year coaching in Yank- Discuss this story at yankton.net. said in a statement. “I think a spring training, and we don’t want Ulmer said it’s time to start over, and we all know that even if Kris Bryant were a combination of the greatest players to play Baseball: DV our game, and perhaps he NCAA: UConn Women Reach Eighth Final Four will be before it’s all said and ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Geno Auriem- tournament when UConn won by an have to play them again.” Rolls Past done, the Cubs still would ma and his UConn Huskies are back in a average of nearly 48 points, the Husk- Trailing at the half for the first time have made the decision they familiar place — the Final Four. ies got all they could handle from the in two seasons, UConn scored the first Vermillion 15-5 made today.