COUGARS HOST CONCESSIONS FOR LBA TOURNAMENT
Boosters Raise Money Through Four-Day Tourney Concession Event

Rick Sather and Jeannie Watts in the Cougar baseball concession stand.

For the second weekend in a row the Cougar Baseball Boosters were back at it again running concessions for another baseball tournament, this time for the LBA in-house 8th/9th grade and the 10th/11th grade levels. A last minute call a few days before made the request and the alumni baseball boosters sprang into action, hurriedly buying supplies and making preparations for the event. Not only has South baseball handled concessions for the last two tourneys, but the men have played an integral role in helping with the grounds crew.

Special thanks to Rick Sather and Jeannie Watts for the four day effort. They worked an incredible amount of hours for all four days and pretty much lived at South for the tournament. Thanks also to Tracy Cervenka, Wendy Schultz, and Gail Schumacher who helped out for awhile on Thursday night, and thanks to Rich Byers who did the same on Friday. It was another great effort from South families and added to the Cougar field fund. Thanks for the outstanding effort gang! It is sincerely appreciated.

We Thank Our Wonderful Tournament Supporters
	Ruth Castillo and Jon Schroeder from the Lakeville Burger King for helping us out with the ice for the coolers and cold drink for the event. Very much appreciated guys! 17395 Kenwood Trail - 952-435-8155
	Ken Kooyer and his outstanding staff for providing the savory early morning coffee. Ken and crew are always there for Cougar baseball. You guys are totally awesome! 17740 Kenwood Trail -952-898-1373
	Nicole Anderson and the gang at Green Mill Restaurant for the always delicious pizza. Another great business always there for us. Thanks very much you guys for the help! 17733 Kenwood Trail - 952-435-8100

COUGARS HANDLE STATE TOURNEY CONCESSIONS
Baseball Raises Money With Concessions For MBT State Tourney

Jeannie Watts and Corey Kennedy in the Cougar baseball concession stand.

The Cougar Baseball Boosters were at it again, running the concessions for the MBT 14-15 state baseball tourney held at Lakeville South. Between the deluge of rain on Friday and the broiling heat and humidity of Saturday and Sunday, it was an arduous event to work, but it certainly helped add to the growing field needs fund. Special thanks to Corey Kennedy and Jeannie Watts for the effort, along with Carol Mertz, Tracy and Tim Cervenka, Tamera Wimbley and Shellie Soleta. Great job guys!

COUGARS TACKLE HUGE LSC SOCCER TOURNEY
Team Awarded Contract To Handle Concessions As Baseball Fundraiser

The alumni Cougar Baseball Boosters went on the prowl for money to help fund the school baseball team and to achieve infrastructure needs for the Cougar baseball fields. Due to their past success, they secured the contract for the Lakeville Soccer Club Pan-O-Prog tournament, an enormous event involving four states and 225 teams, 75 of which were located on ten fields at Lakeville South.

The Lakeville Soccer Club awarded the alumni baseball boosters with their third exclusive concessions contract for the huge LSC soccer tournament, which was held the weekend of June 17-19. The Cougar Baseball Boosters ran this twice in the past and have always done very well in organizing and executing this huge concessions event. Normally they have had six months to a year to plan for this, but never have they done it within the insane three week timeframe that this year's event was literally accomplished under. It was, without a doubt, an undeniably and outrageous daunting effort to go after this contract with so little time to pull the event off. Not only did the group pull it off, they did it with even more flare, with more amenities, and a larger menu than in years past. It was an incredible job well done by a very focused team.

Thank you guys for all of your wonderful support!

BUILDING A WINNING PROGRAM FOR SOUTH
Cougar Families Are The Engine To Realize Infrastructure Needs
Op/Ed by Tim Watts

The Cougar Baseball Boosters' long envisioned plans for South Cougar Field are getting dusted off and are finally back on the drawing board. There are many field needs that the original baseball boosters were working on, such as a much needed water tap to take care of the expensive clay mound, and also to water down the infield ag-lime on dry dusty days.

Another must have item is a full wrap-around warning track. This is a safety issue for the outfielders that is long overdue. In the past, players have been injured by crashing into the steel poles because they had no warning that they were near the fence as they tracked fly-balls on a dead run. Anytime you play with an unpadded, non-forgiving fence, you must have a warning track.

Removal of the bullpens from the field is another safety issue for fleet outfielders who can trip over the mounds and pitching rubbers. A proposal has been made for new, fenced off-field bullpens, planned behind the 1st base dugout and next to the fence by the 3rd base dugout.

Opening up the batting cages by removing the unnecessary middle fence is another improvement that makes it easier to access both cages without the need for two separate gates.

Building a dedicated fenced area for the Big Bubba portable batting shell, one that is open to the outfield, is another much needed improvement for the field. The current gate isn't even large enough to get this expensive tool onto the field without torquing and twisting it, causing unnecessary damage.

Click on the image for a larger picture.

A cosmetic need that would be scheduled behind these more necessary items is the purchase of a green outfield fence screen, like the ones used at Alimagnet Fields in Burnsville. It would give Cougar Field a professional look, as well as the class that we all expect for South.

Larger collegiate-style bleachers, encased with beautiful brick on the back and both sides, is also a later plan for down the road, as the team is able to fundraise to meet this larger more expensive goal. This is a must for successful tournaments.

Collegiate-style bleachers would offset both sides of the press box.

Dugout concrete floors for fields 2, 3, and 4 is also sorely needed, as well as a formal chain-link structure and tin roofing.

All of these needs are affordable and easily achievable when good altruistic baseball parents are able to realize the long-term vision for the facility, and can come together to help fundraise to meet these goals for the field that their sons will play on. Many other nearby communities, such as Burnsville, Eagan and Eden Prairie, have already achieved such needs with their fields, but a hamstrung District 194 is unable to compete due to short-sided voters who have continually voted down referendums to fund our schools.

This voter myopia leaves much needed projects such as these up to the baseball program, and those willing to roll up their sleeves and work for something great for the kids of Lakeville.

Sadly, many of these projects would have been realized long ago through the original Cougar Baseball Boosters, a benevolent organization that had painstakingly put into place a number of fundraisers that would annually feed $12,000 into the program, but the school and others asked that the group be disbanded in favor of LSBA. As a result, these projects were soon discarded, as well as $36,000 in set revenue over the last three years, guaranteed money that would have easily made many of these needs a reality by now.

• Spaghetti dinner $1,800
• Pancake breakfast $1,200
• Soccer tournament concessions $4,000
• Pan-O-Prog booth $4,000 to $5,000+
• City of Lakeville fireworks concessions $700

These revenue mechanisms were previously in place and under contract to the Cougar Baseball Boosters, until the group was forced to disband. Please hear me out. This is not meant to be critical as much as it is a factual historical accounting of what had already been done here in the past, as well as an indicator of what can be done, but only if parents are willing to work to help our kids and the South baseball program.

It is not the school's fault that the voters of Lakeville refuse to vote for referendums that would adequately fund our district. Likewise, LSBA cannot be expected to achieve these goals either as it struggles annually to make summer baseball affordable for the kids. This is why a separate baseball booster club is still a viable alternative to meeting the needs of South baseball.

There can exist two groups, with one goal in mind. It happened before and it is possible again, if parents are willing to selflessly embrace the dream with good faith, and with a passionate determination to reach for something better for the kids of South.

The beautiful press box and concession stand is a testament and tribute to what can be achieved by parents who saw that vision and worked extremely hard to achieve it.

I must digress for a moment though, because I am greatly disturbed and disappointed when I hear parents blustering that they will do nothing for this program until they personally hear that the new coach and staff will do things their way, or make guarantees to them regarding the direction of the program or its fundraising. That just isn't a fair. It's a new program that has only been here for barely a year. I would simply ask all to be open-minded and extend some courtesy to the new staff and give them the benefit of the doubt. As a new program, they at least deserve that much.

We are damn lucky to have such a highly regarded head coach, and an extremely talented coaching staff. I can assure any doubters, this coach and his staff are here to win. Your sons will be better ballplayers and be ready to reach the next level if and when they decide to play in college. That is not to diminish the resolve of the previous coach, because his heart was in the right place as well. The indisputable truth is... Coach Iverson and his staff are proven winners that want your kids to succeed on and off the field.

Fortunately the new Coach Iverson program has dedicated itself to not only improving the level of play for Lakeville South, but also the facilities that the kids will play on. While many schools already enjoy the field amenities as described above, South players have been forced to go without for six years now. The South Cougar kids deserve these necessary improvements as much as any other school district, but with funding sorely lacking here in Lakeville, there is no way that these needs can become a reality in the current economic environment, unless dedicated booster parents are willing to take the proverbial bull by the horns and step up to the plate with fundraising projects to help our kids.

Foresight, planning, hard work and perseverance are the keys to bringing these projects to fruition for Lakeville South. These fundraisers could very easily be called "fun-raisers," because those who have worked them in the past will tell you that they truly enjoyed the social camaraderie that helped us to build a South family. At one time, South baseball and its boosters were the envied model of the conference, helping spark similar groups in neighboring communities throughout the conference and beyond. While those groups now flourish, South languishes behind with unfulfilled dreams.

We can have that family network back again. Past families will tell you that they still hold fond memories for the get-togethers and fundraisers that we all worked at together, all for the sake of our kids. It was fun to come together and mingle, having fun as we worked side by side, or ate together at team dinners and breakfasts. These events gave us a united purpose, one that was fostered through a shared goal that we all believed in, making South baseball as good as it could be.

This much I can tell you as fact, four years goes by too fast folks. We need to make the most of it together while we can.

Whenever you come to the South field and see the press box and concession stand, understand that it was the passion of families before you that worked hard to bring something good for our kids and for the future of Cougar baseball. We did it as a team, by working together on fundraisers. To paraphrase a famous well known historic saying, they had a dream.

This may very well sound hokey to some, but to this person, it is a fire that runs through my veins, and I know it does with others here as well, most especially with our new coaches.

I have seen many families come and go here since this school opened. I don't have a proverbial dog in this show. I'm here for one reason, to see South become a winning baseball school. God willing, I pray I will still be here when I am 75. In our house baseball is king. If you've never felt the emotional tug from listening to James Earl Jones' speech in Field of Dreams, maybe you don't share that same feeling. It is a speech that says everything for me and many others as well. It's truly hard to keep a dry eye when you listen as he recounts how baseball is the one constant in America throughout the years.

Baseball for South needs that passion. It will have it again. It doesn't just come from the coaches and players, it comes from united families with a common purpose. South families were the engine that helped us before. We desperately need that resolve and commitment once again.

A renewed baseball booster group, along with dedicated South families, and an equally committed LSBA, all working in unison and trust with our coaches, can resurrect a passion that once began to build here before - the desire to be the best that we can be.

It's simply called Cougar pride and a love for all things baseball.

Let the next generation of passionate dreamers and achievers begin.

NEW PRESSBOX / CONCESSION STAND OPENS
Long Awaited Cougar Baseball Facility Greets New Coach Iverson Era

The new Lakeville South facility is valued at $47,000 with labor and materials.

The long awaited Cougar Baseball Boosters press box facility is now open. After over three years of planning and setbacks, one year of building, and one year of finish and touch up, the project is for all intents and purposes complete, save for a little ceiling trim molding, and some minor tile floor grout clean-up.

With the help of over 30 benevolent businesses, the boosters were blessed with invaluable and generous donations, as well as great support in bringing this much needed project to fruition for the Lakeville South baseball program.

The project was to be finished during the winter of 2009-2010, but a request was made by the school asking if all work could wait until the spring melt, due to the plowing issues in opening the road. The alumni boosters were forced to abide by the school's wishes. The road to the project is not part of their normal duties and the school couldn't plow it. Unfortunately Spring was the start of the busy season for contractors, so this in effect caused major scheduling issues for the project's completion. Due to the ever worsening economy, the finish contractors were forced to leave the project in an effort to save their own businesses.

The baseball boosters were disbanded by the school, so the finish work was left to a skeleton crew of one. We are deeply sorry for the perceived inconvenience for those waiting to see the new facility in operation. An unfortunate disinformation effort arose from a few individuals who tainted the good efforts put forth by those still working to bring about the completion of the project. We sincerely hope that parents now understand the reasons for the project's untimely delay. This project was a volunteer effort from start to finish by professionals and booster members, with both committed to giving the school the best possible work for free.

This project was made entirely possible by volunteer contractors in a historic down economy. The boosters thank all of our wonderful donators and supporters for their tremendous help and partnership in this project. We sincerely thank them for sticking with us and for honoring their invaluable contributions, despite the economic hardship for all. These companies all have their hearts in the right place and should be forever recognized for their contribution to LSHS and the South baseball program.

See the project chronology at this page: Day By Day Work
 

SAINTS ACADEMY OFFERS OFF-SEASON BASEBALL
Development League Hones Player Skills, Provides top Instruction

SAINTS ACADEMY PARTNERS WITH USA BASEBALL
Sponsoring National Team Identification Series For 17U Players

NEW FACILITY RECEIVES NEW CUSTOM SIGN
New Sign Will Commemorate The Beginning of Cougar Baseball

One of the awaited new pieces for the baseball press box facility will be the addition of a new sign to adorn the building and also commemorate the beginning of South Cougar Baseball and its first season in 2006. Dan Gust of ActionPlus Signs in Apple Valley has been kind enough to donate his time and services to produce a sign designed by the alumni baseball boosters which will hang on the North face of the press box and be visible to all who come to the field. Many thanks to Dan and the folks at ActionPlus Signs for the beautiful donation to the new facility.

CONCESSION STAND PROJECT HAD THREE REVISIONS
Site Restrictions Became Problematic For Booster Plans

The 2006-2008 Cougar Baseball Boosters fought through many setbacks in bringing the new concession stand / press box to LSHS and the baseball program. Site restrictions due to water lines forced the plans through three revisions. Originally planned as a single story facility with a covered patio, the final plan ended up actually being the best, as the building plans had a much needed press box added to the project. This added a significant cost increase due to the new building material needs, but all in all, the program received the best facility in the end. The final plan can be seen below.

Plan # 3 - final version, a two story facility with concession stand and press box.

The photo below shows the very start of it all, a painted outline on the asphalt which marks the site of the new concession stand and press box facility, a much needed field amenity and revenue mechanism for the Cougar baseball program.

Painted outline shows new press box location. (click on picture)
 

COUGARS & GREEN MILL PARTNER FOR CAR SHOW
Baseball Raises Money, Sells Pizza For Pan-O-Prog Cruise Night Event

The Cougar Baseball / Green Mill Concession stand was a popular favorite.

Cougar baseball added to its summer fundraising drive to help achieve field needs by manning a booth for this year's Pan-O-Prog car show and cruise night on Friday, July 8th. The group did not have to travel far as the staging for the event was held in the Lakeville South front parking lot.

Once again the Cougars partnered with longtime food ally and Lakeville pizza favorite Green Mill Restaurant to feed the hungry crowd. Cougar baseball would like to thank Bill Keller and Nicole Anderson for once again stepping up to help the South baseball program. Green Mill has long been a benevolent sponsor and friend of the team. We hope the Cougar faithful will show their thanks by supporting their team at 17733 Kenwood Trail in Lakeville.

A very special thanks goes out to Pan-O-Prog executive Dan Pellinen, as well as Tom Knutson, for their help in making the event a great success. Two great guys who helped give baseball an extra boost for the summer. We sincerely appreciate it guys!

Thanks also to Dale Green at South Metro Rental for providing the pop-up tent. It was shade well needed on a hot sunny afternoon. You can always count on South Metro Rental to have what you need for your next event. Thanks very much Dale!

We also thank PJ and the McStop McDonad's for their help with ice for the beverages. Thanks for keeping the drinks cold PJ!

Cougar baseball is extremely grateful to these wonderful people for their very much appreciated support for the LSHS program.

Jeannie Watts checks out the cars as she works the baseball pizza booth.

COUGAR ANNOUNCERS SOMETHING SPECIAL IN 2011
North Duo Gives South Baseball Great Inaugural Start In PA Booth

The Cougars wish to thank Jim Carlson for manning the varsity announcing duties for the inaugural kickoff of the new press box facility. Carlson has been calling hockey and football for years, but this was his first year doing baseball for South. A longtime veteran in the booth, Carlson has never had any formal training, but like the fictitious baseball movie character Roy Hobbs, he is a pure natural. Gifted with great vocal chops, Jim is extremely easy to listen to and is as professional as any legend of the game. Jim is as good as they come and should certainly be recognized as such, one of the absolute best. He truly has an undeniable talent behind the mic and is, without a doubt, a local sports treasure to behold. If he ever lost his day job, he could easily be a major market broadcast talent.

Carlson is also hands down one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. We at South were most fortunate to have him in the booth with us this past season, mainly because he wanted to see his son Matt's senior season with the Cougars. Jim is also a highly successful softball coach of over 30-plus years at Lakeville North, and thus will be back in the dugout next season following his other passion, coaching girl's softball. He certainly set the bar high for future announcers at South. We thank Jim for his wonderful contribution behind the mic and will miss his great voice and fabulous talent in 2012.

With that praise for one announcer. we would be remiss in not also thanking another North connection, Jason Gangeness, for his handling of the microphone duties for the JV games. Jason gamely volunteered to help out in the booth so that the junior varsity had every amenity that the varsity had. Another person without professional training, it certainly didn't show as Jason jumped in running and never looked back. A LNHS teacher, he too is also one of the nicest guys you would want to meet and was very easy to be around. We sincerely thank Jason for his utmost professional announcing efforts and we appreciate his outstanding contribution in the booth this past baseball season.

All in all, it was the tag-team duo of North connections, Carlson and Gangeness, who gave South baseball the best PA duo in the South Suburban Conference, if not MSHSL baseball. I will very much cherish the time spent in the booth with both of these fine gentlemen. The South Cougars thank both of them for their outstanding work behind the mic in 2011. Thanks guys!

COUGAR SENIORS TOP SPECIAL NIGHT WITH 5-4 WIN
Senior Recognition Night Is A Big Hit, Literally. Three Bombs Cap Victory

The 2011 Cougar senior varsity members mug for a shot behind home plate.

Senior night was a huge success as an all senior starting line-up showed what they were made of with a 5-4 win over the Farmington Tigers. Every senior got to play and a few of them even put on a home run show for the Cougar parents being honored for the day. Mike Grazzini started it off with a bomb to left-center and then followed up with a double to the right-center gap. Ryan Todorvich hit a shot down the left field line and Benny St. Martin launched a blast of his own over the left field fence. Nate Gelle picked up the win, with Jordan Bratten earning the save. Senior catcher Alex Continenza threw out the tying Tiger run trying to advance to 3rd in the 7th to seal the win for South. The Cougars wish the class of 2011 all the best on and off the field as they graduate from South High School. This year's senior class is: Ben Adelmann, Derek Buermann, Jordan Bratten, Matt Carlson, Alex Continenza, Matt Erdal, Nate Gelle, Mike Grazzini, Matt Heilmann, Donny Mattia, Ben St. Martin, and Ryan Todorovich.

COACH GOLBERG INDUCTED INTO OWATONNA HOF
Sophomore Baseball Coach Receives Long Overdue Football Recognition

Sophomore baseball coach Kirk Golberg, one of the nicest guys on a baseball diamond, has received prestigious recognition as a Hall of Fame inductee for Owatonna High School. Golberg played baseball, basketball and football for OHS. At the time of his graduation in 1982, Coach Golberg held the following OHS records: career receptions (45), career touchdowns (11), and receptions in a season (24). He was also tied for 2nd in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in a season (7). Congratulations to Coach Golberg for an honor well deserved!

SOUTHSIDE BEATS NORTH 7-6, SWEEPS SEASON SERIES
Long Time Coming, Iverson Team Delivers, Heilmann Pitches a Gem

It was a miserable night for baseball, but not for the Southside Cougars, as they downed cross-town rival Lakeville North in a cold rain soaked game played at Elko's Fredrickson Field. The Cougars had never beaten North until the Iverson era. They knocked off North on the Panther's own field on April 18th by a 9-4 score. They secured the series sweep with a 7-6 home win under the lights on Thursday night at Elko. The game was more lopsided than the final score showed, as senior Matt Heilmann absolutely dominated on the mound and carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning, with South holding a commanding 7-0 lead. The Panthers rallied for six runs in the 7th, but it wasn't enough as the Cougars outlasted them for their second cross-town win and first series sweep ever, with Heilmann taking the win. Congrats to Coach Iverson and staff, and the Southside Cougars!

GROWING PAINS; TEAM STUMBLES, BUT LEARNING FAST
Cougars Pressing At Times, Other Times Just Can't Catch A Break

The Southside Cougars have recently gone South, but it's not for the lack of talent, effort, or proper coaching. Errors have been a significant downside in this team reaching their true ability, as they struggle to adjust to a disciplined program of baseball. The direct result has seemingly been a mental block that has kept their confidence at bay as they search for team solidarity on the field. If there is any South Suburban team that could break through at any moment, it is the Cougars. The talent is truly there, and the coaching is without doubt on the right track. One thing players needs to learn is how to forget. Once they are able to shake off the mistakes, the good things will soon come.

One thing is certain, the program is moving in the right direction, with tremendous promise for this year's MSHSL Sectionals, and the following 2012 season. A solid crop of pitchers is developing at the JV level, with a good group of talented ballplayers there to support them. The Cougars are not heading South, but heading, well, for lack of a better non-competitive compass reference, up.

GREEN MILL, STARBUCKS DONATE TO COUGARS
Local Businesses Continue Support For LSHS Cougar Baseball

Loyal Supporters of Cougar Baseball

Once again the wonderful folks at Green Mill Restaurant and Starbucks coffee have partnered with Cougar baseball to help the team with its fundraising efforts. Both Lakeville companies are generously donating product for varsity and junior varsity games. Green Mill is providing its mouthwatering hand-tossed pizza, while Starbucks has offered up its delicious gourmet coffee. These two outstanding companies have been longtime sponsors of Cougar baseball. We thank Bill Keller of Green Mill Restaurant, as well as Ken Kooyer of Starbucks Coffee in Lakeville for their most valued support. Please help show your thanks by supporting them with your patronage of these fine businesses. Thanks guys!

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IVERSON ERA OFF TO GREAT START; COUGARS 4-1
Team Playing New Brand of Baseball; Players Buying Into New Program

Iverson's teams are well known for sound fundamental baseball, and playing the game the right way, and he is certainly never out-coached on the field. A tenacious competitor with a true passion for the game, Iverson's attitude is quickly rubbing off on his players, and it is showing through immediately as the new head coach shapes his team to be competitive right from the start. Iverson has always been known as a keen judge of talent, but is also well known for his ability to coach his players up.

IVERSON NAMED NEW COUGAR BASEBALL COACH
Former Apple Valley Head Coach Will Lead Team For 2011 Season

Lakeville South has named Apple Valley High School coach Al Iverson as the new head coach for Cougar baseball. Iverson was previously head coach at Apple Valley High School where they were Lake Conference Champions in 2002, 2004 and 2007. They won the state championship in 2006. Iverson took over the program in 2001 and only had two down years as he guided the Eagles to winning seasons in seven out of his nine years as head coach there. (See coaching record below)

Iverson played his high school ball at Oak Lawn Community High School in Illinois as a catcher. From there he attended Luther College in Iowa. He served as the JV assistant there in 1988. From there he moved on to become an assistant coach at Decorah through the '89 season. He then took a year off in 1990 and was later married in 1991. He guided the Lakeville Legion team that same summer of '91. The next year he was an assistant for Rosemount in the spring of 92. In 1993, Al came to Lakeville and was an integral cog in coach Zeise's program, acting as head JV baseball coach and also as the Panthers pitching coach. He was part of the state runner-up season in 2000 before moving on to become head coach at Apple Valley in 2001.

Iverson resides in Lakeville and also teaches here at Lakeview Elementary. He is married to wife Sigrid and has two daughters and two sons. He is a true baseball fanatic and loves White Sox baseball. His favorite saying is, "Eat a little dirt to get to the ball." He brings with him a history of developing players as well as a tenacious attitude for winning baseball.

Welcome to Cougar baseball Coach Iverson!

Apple Valley Record: