Know Bull
Andy and Lincoln Wolf become the latest father-son combo
One of those moments unique to townball in Minnesota occurred in the Jackson Bulls season opener last Sunday in Heron Lake.
In the seventh inning of its win over the Lakers, Jackson was able to have a father-son combination playing at the same time. And it was the second father-son combination of the day for the Bulls.
In the top of the inning, Lincoln Wolf got his first at bat with the Bulls and reached on an error. He would advance to third base with his dad, Andy, at the plate. Lincoln scored on a balk.
In the bottom of the seventh the two were together in the middle of the infield as Lincoln played shortstop with Andy at second base. They teamed up for the final out of the game with Lincoln fielding a ground ball and making the toss to his dad covering the bag.
“We’ve had a a few of those and today was really cool to have another,” said Bulls manager Scott Bahr. “We were able to have Lincoln lead off that inning and Andy hit third. And then to actually end the game with a ground ball to Lincoln and him flipping to Andy for the force was neat.”
The scenario couldn’t be scripted, but if you did that might be how you would do it.
“Some people ask, ‘how did you know that was going to happen?’” Scott said. “Obviously we didn’t, but if you were going to write it up that’s pretty close to how it would be, so it was pretty cool.
Lincoln is a freshman at Okoboji High School. His head coach? His dad.
The Pioneers open their season Tuesday at Emmetsburg. The E-Hawks are coached by a former Bull, Briar Rowley.
“Lincoln’s going to be playing in Iowa so we’re happy to have him whenever it works for him,” Scott commented “He’s obviously in the future for us and we’re looking forward to that.”
Andy is a long-time fixture for the Bulls and has played everywhere. He started with the team at third base (that’s a story for another day), played center field and has spent most of his time as a middle infielder.
“We’ve talked and I don’t know if the day is ever going to be when Andy retires, I hope it doesn’t, but if it does, it could be Lincoln and Easton up the middle and that will be special,” said Scott.
The last father-son combo was Blaise and Gavin Jacobsen on the same Heron Lake field. On that occasion, Gavin pitched and Blaise was his catcher.
“A few years ago Gavin and Blaise did it and we joked about that maybe it some day it would be Lincoln and me,” Andy said “But three or four years ago I said ‘nah, I’m not worried about that’ and then he grows up a little bit and I’m old, but I still get to play and it came to fruition today and it’s a big deal. It was fun. You never think you’re going to get to play with your kid, that’s for sure. It was awesome. Scott did a good job of managing, and it happened and then we got to make the last out up the middle, so that was really cool.”
There was a little uncertainty as to which Wolf would play where, but in the end the decision was actually pretty easy.
“Scott knows I like to play shortstop, and I don’t get to very often, so I let Lincoln do it instead,” Andy joked. “He put him there and then Scott asked me between innings, and I said ‘no, absolutely, that’s where he plays. He has to get used to it. It was awesome.”
Lincoln Wolf was named in honor of Lincoln Wacker, son of Tyrone and Vereen Wacker. Lincoln Wacker died in automobile accident in September of 1999.
“When he born, my first phone call was to Tyrone Wacker,” Andy said. “I called just to say in honor of your son, Lincoln, would he mind if I named my son Lincoln. He was honored to do it. It was a big deal, a very emotional thing. I have a lot of respect for Tyrone and his family. To have my son named Lincoln and now playing for the Bulls is cool.”
As mentioned, it was the second father-son combo of the day.
Easton Bahr reached base and advanced to third and then he and his dad traded places, with Scott taking over as a base runner and Easton going to the third base coaching box.
They’ve done that on at least one other occasion.
Father-son combos
These are the father-son combinations for the Jackson Bulls. Not all played at the same time.
Tyrone, Wade and Lincoln Wacker
Wade, Josh and Shad Wacker
Chris and Payton Handevidt
Brent and Bryce Christopher
Jeff and Nolan Luhmann
Ed and Ben Gallagher
Blaise and Gavin Jacobsen
Andy and Lincoln Wolf
Back again
One-time Jackson Bulls wins leader Tom Hady is still playing baseball.
In fact, he’s playing on three teams again this season, which is his 37th season of amateur baseball. The 55-year-old Heron Lake-Okabena-Lakefield graduate began playing in 1988.
This year he’s playing with the Class A Shakopee Indians as well as two Over 35 teams.
He’s playing with the Elko Chuggers of the Federal League, and the Southwest Outlaws of the Minnesota Senior Men's Amateur Baseball Association’s River Valley League. The Outlaws are now based in Courtland.
The Outlaws have called several towns home through the years, including (but not exclusively) Welcome, St. James, Lake Crystal and St. Peter).
Region 10C
This week’s schedule involving teams from the First Niter and Gopher leagues:
Sunday, May 18
Jackson at Hadley, 2 p.m.
Worthington at Lakefield, 2 p.m.
Milroy Irish at Heron Lake, 2 p.m.
Pipestone at Fairmont, 2 p.m.
Pipestone at Fox Lake, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 21
Jackson at Blue Earth, 7:30 p.m.
Lakefield at Windom, 7:30 p.m.
Heron Lake at Fox Lake, 7:30 p.m.
Marshall at Pipestone, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 23
Hadley at Luverne, 7:30 p.m.
Milroy Irish at Raymond, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 25
Jackson at Pipestone, 2 p.m.
Lakefield at Heron Lake, 2 p.m.
Luverne at Worthington, 2 p.m.
Monday, May 26
Hadley at Heron Lake, 2 p.m.