Jun. 23—WILLMAR — It was the assignment of a lifetime for Dustin Overcash.
The 42-year-old Willmar man was selected to work home plate for the Class AAAA baseball championship at Target Field.
The dream assignment lasted all of two innings.
“It was a bummer,” Overcash said.
In the second inning, Overcash ran down to cover a play at third base. His left foot planted awkwardly, injuring his left knee. He suffered an injury to his medial collateral ligament. The swelling must go down before he can get an MRI to determine if it’s torn.
“I’ve never had an MCL injury before, but it sure felt like it,” Overcash said.
Overcash eventually had to leave the field by a stretcher.
Farmington beat Park of Cottage Grove 12-10 in the Class AAAA final Friday, the last of four games at Target Field.
Overcash also is a Minnesota State High School League head referee in football. When it was suggested that he was officiating a baseball game that turned into a football game, Overcash chuckled.
“It was a really good game for the score that it was,” he said. “They were both really good teams.”
Overcash, who is the manager of the Willmar Rails amateur baseball team, is sidelined from activities with that team as well.
“I’m sitting in a lawn chair and the other guys are handling the coaching on the bases,” he said.
He hopes to be able to return as an official for the football season.
Camden All-Academic
The Academic All-Camden Conference team has been released. Here are the winners from area teams:
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Central Minnesota Christian — Case Mulder (baseball); Meris Larkins (track); Eleanor Ryder (track); Caleb Vander Beek (track) and Ben Van Eps (track).
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Dawson-Boyd — Braxton Hahn (baseball); Brayden Hahn (baseball); Rachael Lund (golf); Ella Mork (golf); Colin Jorgens (golf); Collin Swedzinski (golf); Madison Hansen (softball); Darius Fenske (track).
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Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg — Isaac Call (baseball); Ely Johnson (baseball); Grace Collins (softball); Maret Gjerde (softball); Karli Jensen (softball).
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Lac qui Parle Valley — Kaiden Allpress (baseball); Carter Amland (baseball); Avery Wittnebel (baseball); Blake Wollschlager (baseball); Sarah Halvorson (golf); Addi Bonn (softball); Macie Lund (softball); Cassidie Olson (softball); Peyton Sterud (track).
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MACCRAY — Logan Cronen (baseball); Dreyer Homan (baseball); Tyler Heida (golf); Ashley Levitz-Mickels (softball); Olivia Naatjes (softball); Emma Rand (softball); Gabrielle Randt (softball); Brogan Harguth (tennis); Gabriel Sparks (tennis); Landin Ahrenholz (track); JoAnna Johnson (track); Brynn Lozinski (track); Rose Nett (track); Emily Santjer (track); Caden Yoose (track); Cailin Yoose (track).
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Renville County West — Tyler Froland (baseball); Ben Gislason (baseball); Jaden Kolker (golf); Holly Bratsch (softball); Jennifer Bratsch (softball); Chayanin Trinate (track); Anabelle Wertish (track).
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Yellow Medicine East — Tyler Nordaune (baseball); Tarin Gatchell (golf); Samone Farris (softball); Patrick Hoernemann (track); Sophia Poff (track); Ean Clarke (tennis); Derrick Lien (tennis).
All-Star baseball
The Baseball Coaches’ Association All-Star series is Friday and Saturday at Chaska. The state’s top seniors play on one of six teams: North, South, Metro East, Metro South, Metro West and Metro North.
Four area athletes will compete. Minnewaska’s Aaron Ver Steeg is on the North squad. Andrew Baumgart of Willmar, Josh Kingery of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City and Avery Liestman of Litchfield are on the South team.
On Saturday afternoon, there’s a home-run derby in which Kingery will be one of eight contestants.
3-on-3 champs
The team of Tanner Rohner, Devin Fostervold, Brandon Adelmann and Weston Gjerde won the Atwater Days 3-on-3 championship Saturday.
The tournament was officially called the Jordan Ryan & Buddies 3-on-3 Gorillaz Tournament. Jordan Ryan & Buddies, a podcast, were the official sponsors.
The winning team received $700.
Hole-in-one
Russ Johnson shot a hole-in-one on June 12 at Valley View Golf Course. Johnson aced the par-3, 143-yard No. 5 hole.
Pitch, Hit & Run
A Pitch, Hit & Run Event presented by Little Caesar’s is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, July 10 at Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar.
The competition is open to all boys and girls, ages 8-13.
Register on-line via the Willmar Stingers website or by e-mail at info@willmarstingers.com.
It’s a free event. Participants receive a t-shirt and tickets to a Stingers game. Trophies will be awarded to the top place winner in each age bracket.
