Senior infielder inducted into Hall of Fame

Look to the skies July 4 for Miss Mitchell

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Norm Setnicker, a longtime softball standout still going strong at age 82, is a recent inductee to the Minnesota Senior Sports Association Hall of Fame.

A Mahtomedi resident for 23 years, and White Bear Lake for 34 years before that, he was among eight senior athletes recently inducted.

“I have stayed physically fit, playing softball, biking, and light weight-lifting at the YMCA. I have to stay active,” said Setnicker, having just returned from helping a Minnesota team win a tournament for 80-year-olds in Rock Island, Illinois.

In senior national tournaments (age 60-80), Setnicker played for eight championship teams with the Minnesota Mavericks and Minnesota Masters. He made the all-tournament team seven times and was tournament Most Valuable Player three times. A shortstop and center fielder, he’s known for excellent glove work and a strong arm in the field, and as a switch hitter with power from both sides at the plate.

The retired teacher/coach plays two days a week in a Roseville senior league in the summer and in the Stillwater dome in the winter. He journeys to tournaments in Arizona, Florida and Las Vegas each year. In another recent tourney, he helped his Minnesota Masters team place second in Reno, Nevada.

Asked about career softball highlights he said,“Winning the defensive MVP (award) at the Minnesota Twins Fantasy Campwhen I was 73 years old. Another was winning our first Senior tournament in Plano, Texas, when I was 60. That got me hooked into traveling and competing at the national level.”

His trip to Fort Myers for the Twins Fantasy Camp was a surprise gift from his wife, Mary Ann, for their 50th anniversary. His glove work there earned him the Kirby Puckett Award.

Setnicker taught at Tartan for 34 years, retiring in 1997. He was the Titans first

College Athlete Names In The News

Colin Hagstrom of Mahtomedi experienced an NCAA Division I championship as a member of the Notre Dame lacrosse team. Hagstrom, a junior, was the backup faceoff specialist for the Fighting Irish, who defeated No. 1 ranked Duke 13-9 in the championship game in Philadelphia and finished 14-2. Hagstrom won 61 of 146 face-offs in 16 games, playing behind sophomore Will Lynch (156 of 313). In the finals, Hagstrom was 2-for-5 and Lynch 12-for19. It was Notre Dame’s first championship in lacrosse.

Ernest Mattson, Iowa State freshman runner from White Bear Lake, posted season-bests of 1:54.22 in the 800 (placed fourth in Graduate Classic in January at Nebraska), 4:07.47 in the mile (13th in the ISU Classic in February), and 2:33.03 in 1000 (11th in the Graduate Classic).

THE CHICK WILL CELEBRATE ITS ONEMONTH BIRTHDAY ON JULY 1, AND IS NOW TOO BIG TO RIDE ON EITHER PARENT’S BACK. NOTHING BUT SAD NEWS TO REPORT ON THE OTHER NEST. A FEW WEEKS AGO, ONE OF THE EGGS WAS FOUND ON THE SHORE NEAR THE NEST. THE LOON PARENTS CONTINUED TO SHARE NEST DUTY, FOR THE REMAINING EGG, UNTIL JUNE 22, BUT FOR REASONS UNKNOWN ABANDONED THE NEST THE NEXT DAY.

Derrick Smith, North Carolina State baseball freshman pitcher from White Bear Lake, pitched in three games for the Wolfpack (3621) this season, logging three innings with one strikeout and one run allowed.

Jordan Hull, Dakota County Technical College freshman outfielder from Mahtomedi, batted .333 (16-for-48) in 17 games with two doubles, two triples and seven stolen bases. DCTC had a 20-7 record.

Sarah Stellmach, Bethel University sophomore sprinter from Mahtomedi, won the 200 dash in the MIAC meet in 24.60 and placed third in the 100 with 11.94. Her 4x400 team placed 10th at nationals.

Readers: If you’d like to notify us about college athletes from local schools please contact news@presspubs.com.

coach when fast-pitch softball became an MSHSL sport in 1976, and headed three conference champion teams and one state runner-up team. After coaching, Setnicker umpired high school softball for 17 years.

He is also a member of the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame, Minnesota High School Coaches Hall of Fame for softball.

In high school at Biwabik, Setnicker played football, basketball and baseball. He played fast-pitch softball for five years, starting at age 17, and switched to slow-pitch at 24, which he has played continuously ever since. He started senior softball at age 55.

Setnicker has coached daughters Jenny and Nicole in the White Bear Lake softball recreation leagues, and helped coach sons Mark and Michael in the White Bear Lake Hockey Association. Nicole, who lives in Singapore, made the trip home to be there for his induction. It’s not all softball for Norm; having dual citizenship with the USA and Slovenia, he is learning the Slovenian language as a hobby.

Is it hard to get better at golf?

your right side while staying in the correct position (spine angle doesn’t change) transition to your left side while keeping your balance, and finish all the way on your left side standing tall? Here are a couple of exercises that will give you an idea of where you stand.

you feel loaded into your right cheek? Is the grip pointing in front of the ball? Did you have to stand up to get your shoulders turned all the way, or have to dip? Any of these complications will cause you to lose posture, and make it very difficult to hit a good golf shot.

Tee Time

Betsy Larey

Answering that question depends on how you define “better” and how much effort you’re willing to put into your game. I’ve had players who come to a lesson expecting a couple of tips will lower their score by 5 – 10 strokes. I don’t think that is realistic. On the other hand, there are players who arrive with an open mind and are willing to try a few new things and practice. That player stands a much better chance of seeing progress in their game.

If I had to pick the number one issue I see most often, it’s the inability to stay “in the correct posture” during and after their swing. As we age, we tend to lose flexibility and sometimes struggle with balance issues. The three elements of a good golf swing are mobility, flexibility and stability. Simply put can you get into a good golf posture, turn in your backswing and load into

Standing tall, keep your left foot on the ground, turn to your right and shake hand with the person facing you. You both will be extending your left arm. Can you turn around your base (lower body) while keeping the left foot on the ground? Are you able to turn your shoulders all the way so you’re facing the person? Are you able to separate your upper and lower body?

Next, take a club and put it across your shoulders and cross your arms to keep it there, with the grip aiming to your left. (These drills assume you’re right-handed). Get in your good golf posture, left shoulder higher than right and head behind the ball. Tilt so your shoulders are over your toes. Turn your back to the target, keeping your spine angle the same as set up. Can you turn far enough so your back is completely facing the target? Do

If you really want to improve your game, I highly suggest you see a Physical Therapist and a Qualified Golf Professional. The PT will do a full assessment to see where you are and recommend a series of exercises for you to do with follow up visits. The clients I’ve had who have made this effort are all pleased with the results. The Golf Pro will make modifications in your swing and make changes as your physical self improves. Don’t expect miracles overnight, but if you dedicate yourself this summer, I’m positive you’ll be pleased with the results.

Betsy Larey is an LPGA Pro who has taught adults and juniors for over 25 years. She teaches at Chomonix Golf Course and Keller in St PauL. For more information, contact her at betsylareygolf@ gmail.com or call 651-470-2297.

SOUND ASLEEP ON PAPA’S BACK

Loon Chronicles VIII: Sound asleep on papa’s back

The chick, which has more than quadrupled in size, will reach the age of one month on July 1, 2023. Ten to twelve days, post hatch, Loon chicks typically outgrow the cozy perches on their parents’ backs. The chick outgrew mama Loon’s back by June 10, but we spotted papa Loon sporting the chick on his back until June 16. The photos in the montage show the chick’s last ride on papa’s back. The Loon parents have stepped up their fish deliveries and are leaving the chick to fend for itself for longer periods of time. During one of our morning visits, we watched the parents feed their chick until it had reached its limit and drifted off to take a nap on the north side of the bulrushes. The parents quietly swam to the opening in the bulrushes and took off, in flight, to the other side of the lake. Fortunately, the chick was in a more protected area and there were no waves. Eventually, the parents returned and resumed keeping an eye on their chick. The chick continues to master its Loon skills, by trying to imitate its parents. One morning, while following mama Loon and watching her flex her wings, the chick tried to flex its tiny wings. As you can see, the chick has a long way to go! Unfortunately, we have some sad news to report about the other Loon parents. Loon Whisperer Brad Savage let us know that he had observed what appeared to be a damaged Loon egg on the shoreline. We confirmed that there was only one egg, after carefully looking at our photos. On June 22, we watched mama Loon tend the nest and turn the remaining egg, before gently positioning herself on the nest. Not long after, papa Loon appeared and coaxed her off the nest. The two tapped their bills and quietly hooted at each other, before mama climbed back on the nest. It is possible that the remaining egg was no longer viable, because the number of days spent on the nest, was two weeks beyond the normal 28-day period. Something happened the next day. Both Brad and Shannon reported hearing several Loon calls near the nest. We checked the nest the next morning, hoping for the best, but it was empty. We scoured the lake, hoping to spot the parents and a chick, but no luck. The Loon parents had moved on, far away from the nest. The good news is that these first-time parents now know where to look for their nest when they return next spring. We have watched Loon pairs circle Shannon’s nest for three years. Finally, a promising pair of Loons has claimed Shannon’s nest!