The Jackson Bulls looked a little different as they went through their pregame activities Sunday at Heron Lake. And it was for a very good cause.
The Bulls were wearing shirts that were made and sold to support Estherville Lincoln Central baseball coach Lee Evans in his fight with cancer. His son, Blake, is in his second season playing with the Bulls.
According to Jackson Manager Scott Bahr, the plan is to also wear the shirts at Wednesday’s game vs. Fox Lake in Truman and Sunday’s home game at Wacker Field vs. Luverne.
Bulls veteran Andy Wolf is the head baseball coach at Okoboji High School. The native of nearby Bancroft had his team wear the shirts last week when the Pioneers played the Midgets at Hess Limberg in Estherville.
ELC won a one-run game 4-3 over Okoboji which probably bugged the competitive Wolfie, but people will likely remember the night more for the classy gesture by his Pioneers.
Lincoln Wolf
Andy’s son, Lincoln, is a freshman with the Pioneers. He’s made a couple of appearances with the Bulls this season when the Okoboji schedule has allowed.
With the Pioneers he’s played in 21 of the team’s 22 games and is hitting .382 with 13 hits in 34 at bats. He has 15 runs batted in, walked 15 times, has been hit by a pitch four times and has an on-base percentage of .604.
He’s pitched in eight games and has a 3-0 record with a 1.48 earned run average. In 23.2 innings Lincoln has allowed 10 runs (five earned) on 16 hits, walked 13 and struck out 43 (1.8 per inning). Opponents have a .152 batting average.
Okoboji is 11-11 overall, 7-8 in the Siouxland Conference. The Pioneers close out their regular season schedule at home Wednesday vs. Sioux Center.
Postseason play starts next Tuesday (July 8) at 5 p.m. in Spirit Lake. Okoboji will play the winner of a first-round game Saturday between Emmetsburg (14-4) and Cherokee (4-14).
Former Bull Briar Rowley is the head coach of the E-Hawks.
The Pioneers lost 3-1 at Cherokee on Monday and had a scheduled game vs. Emmetsburg canceled.
League standings
Through June 30
First Nite League
Windom 11-1
Jackson 7-4
Fairmont 6-1
Fox Lake 2-7
Lakefield 2-8
Heron Lake 1-10
Gopher League
Milroy Irish 7-3
Hadley 6-4
Pipestone 5-6
Luverne 4-4
Worthington 4-7
League games only
Wednesday, July 2
Jackson at Fox Lake (Truman), 7:30 p.m.
Heron Lake at Lakefield, 7:30 p.m.
Luverne at Milroy Irish, 7:30 p.m.
Hadley at Pipestone, 7:30 p.m.
Fund-raiser
The JCC 10U baseball team will host a fund-raiser during Sunday’s penultimate regular season home game at Wacker Field vs. Luverne.
On the menu is a pork chop on a stick for $3 and there’s a meal deal for $6 that includes water and chips.
Players from the 10U team will be taking the field with the Bulls players during the National Anthem.
The event is sponsored by Sunshine Foods, BoeKett Building Supply and New Fashion Pork.