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HS Sports Round Up – 3/19/2021

By Adam Roberts – 3/19/2021

While the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament heats up today, let’s run down some results you may have missed from last night’s prep sports action:

Girls Basketball Playoffs

Caledonia 56 St. Charles 44

Caledonia boasts excellent boys AND girls basketball teams, and last night the ladies took care of business against St. Charles 56-44. The starters were clicking on offense for the Warriors with four players over 10 points for the game. Alexis Schroeder led the way with 15 followed by Ava Privet with 13.

Boys Hockey Playoffs

La Crescent-Hokah 3 Mankato East 1

The Lancers have had the odds stacked against them this postseason, but continued to chug along defeating a highly touted Mankato East team 3-1. Sawyer Christianson, Wyatt Ferrel, and Liam Ferrel all scored for L-H, which already has an upset over Minnesota River Under their belt. The Lancers will make their first ever section semifinal appearance tomorrow against Mankato West.

Girls Volleyball

Holmen 3 Central 0

The Vikings remained undefeated with a straight sets win over the Riverhawks last night. Sydney Jahr was the star for Holmen with 7 kills.

Sparta 3 Eau Claire Memorial 0

Holmen wasn’t the only area team with a straight sets win yesterday as the Spartans knocked off the Old Abes. Callie Ziebell was effective from start to finish with 13 kills.

Cashton 3 Bangor 2

A back and forth affair unfolded in Bangor yesterday, with the Eagles of Cashton fighting back to take set four and then staved off a Cardinal rally in the fifth. The Scenic Bluffs race is close with Cashton a game behind Bangor.

Packers Tender Four ERFA’s

By Adam Roberts – 3/19/2021

The 2021 balancing of the Packers’ checkbook continues this week.

Green Bay is tending offers to all four of their exclusive rights free agents. Receivers Allen Lazard and Malik Taylor, offensive tackle Yosh Nijman and outside linebacker Randy Ramsey will all be back with Green Bay.

Lazard is the biggest name of the bunch that will be back; he had 451 yards receiving and three TD’s last year, serving as a nice #2 option for Rodgers when the weight needed to be lifted off of Davante Adams’ shoulders.

This marks the end of quite a busy week for Green Bay, which included a new deal for running back Aaron Jones, the restructuring of Za’Darius Smith’s contract, and the departure of fellow back Jamaal Williams to Detroit.

P Brandon Woodruff Named Opening Day Starter

By Adam Roberts – 3/18/2021

The Brewers have a starter for April 1st against the Twins.

Brandon Woodruff is getting the nod for the second year in a row on Opening Day, solidifying his spot at the top of the Brewers’ rotation. It’s the first time a Brewer pitcher has started consecutive Opening Days since Yovani Gallardo opening a franchise-record five straight openers between 2010 and 2014.

Woodruff has thrown in two games this spring and recorded two strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA. He’s next scheduled to pitch tomorrow against the Diamondbacks.

The Crew have 13 spring training games in Arizona starting today against the Angels.

CB Patrick Peterson Joins Vikings

By Adam Roberts – 3/18/2021

While some would argue that the Vikings’ priority right now should be building up an offense to help Kirk Cousins, when you have an opportunity to pursue a multi-time Pro Bowler I’d say most teams will probably go after them assuming they aren’t complete fossils (Brady is an exception).

Minnesota has agreed to a deal with eight-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson formerly of the Arizona Cardinals. The 30-year-old racked up 28 interceptions in his time with Arizona, earning eight consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2011-18. In 2019, Peterson was suspended for six games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. On top of his Pro Bowl appearances, Peterson also is a three-time All Pro at the corner spot and widely thought of as one of the best corners in the long history of the Cardinals’ organization.

Peterson played all 16 games last season and had 61 tackles and three interceptions.

Bucks Acquire P.J. Tucker From Houston

By Adam Roberts – 3/18/2021

The Houston Rockets have been in fire sale mode most of the year after James Harden got out of Dodge, and when you’re on a franchise-record 18-game losing streak you have to get what you can.

The Bucks took advantage yesterday, acquiring forward P.J. Tucker in a trade that sends D.J.s Augustin and Wilson to Houston and also brings fellow forward Rodions Kurucs to Milwaukee. There is also some draft pick shuffling connected to the deal: Woj reports that the Rockets will push back their 2022 first-round selection that the BUcks owe them to the unprotected 2023 draft. Furthermore, the Rockets can swap their 2021 second-rounder for the Bucks 2021 first, unless Milwaukee completely free falls and that pick is before the tenth spot.

The Bucks also made a deal with the Phoenix Suns to send forward Torrey Craig out to Arizona.

Vikings Releasing DT Stephen

By Adam Roberts – 3/17/2021

The Vikings are parting ways with defensive tackle Shamar Stephen ahead of the new league year, which officially began today.

He was released yesterday, clearing 3.75-million dollars in salary cap space.

Stephen has spent six of his first seven seasons in Minnesota.

The move comes after Minnesota brought in Dalvin Tomlinson from the New York Giants on a two-year, 22 million dollar deal.

RB Jamaal Williams Signs Deal With Lions

By Adam Roberts – 3/17/2021

As the new NFL league year begins, it marks the date that teams have to be under the salary cap and as such moves must be made.

That means players who haven’t resigned or had their contracts restructured are likely finding new options, and this is the case with running back Jamaal Williams. The writing was on the wall when Aaron Jones was given a new four-year deal over the weekend, but things were official yesterday when Williams signed a new two-year deal with the rival Detroit Lions.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted the deal will be worth up to 7.5 million dollars, more than he was going to receive from the Packers to be a special situations back. This along with the restructuring of Za’Darius Smith’s contract should help Green Bay reach the cap that this season is down notably due to COVID-19.

Brewers Add 3B Shaw To 40-Man Roster

By Adam Roberts – 3/17/2021

During his previous stint with the Brewers, Travis Shaw became very well-liked by fans. This made his split with the team after a difficult 2019 season harder to swallow after Shaw and the Brewers couldn’t settle on a salary for the 2020 season.

At least now, he’ll have an opportunity to rejuvenate his great relationship with fans and teammates alike. Yesterday Shaw was added to the team’s official 40-man roster; the 30-year-old third baseman signed a minor-league contract with Milwaukee last month. Shaw could have requested his release otherwise. He spent last year with Toronto after the previous three seasons with the Crew.

Shaw reportedly stayed close with his Brewer teammates after joining the Blue Jays, and also regularly talked with manager Craig Counsell. Some had wondered if he would make the cut for the team this spring, or if his invitation to spring training was more fan service than actual strategy. But since spring ball has started, Shaw has played in 11 of 15 games, recording four hits including a double and home run with 4 RBIs in 29 at-bats. While is spot at the position is hardly a guaranteed thing, it could provide a little more flexibility for the team to focus on other areas that need improving.

CB Tramon Williams Retires

By Adam Roberts – 3/16/2021

Tramon Williams played a cumulative total of 10 seasons for the Packers from 2007-2014 and then 2018 and 19. Over that time, he was named to a Pro Bowl in 2010, started 122 games and recorded 30 interceptions, forced six fumbles, and made 461 solo tackles. Today, the 38 year old called it a career.

Williams also had stints in Cleveland, Arizona, and mostly recently in Baltimore, but will always be remembered for his presence in the Packers’ secondary. A secondary that has received criticism over the years, but little of that was directed at Williams, who was usually viewed as a reliable veteran figure in a part of the defense filled with young faces.

On Twitter, Williams thanked the Packers, calling them the greatest organization in the NFL, and also sent thanks to the late Ted Thompson, current GM Brian Gutekunst, team president Mark Murphy, and the “best fans in the world”.

UWL Releases Spring Sport Spectator Guidelines

By Adam Roberts – 3/16/2021

Anyone hoping to check out UW-La Crosse spring sports in person this year will want to double check with the school’s spectator guidelines released today.

There are some specifics for each individual sport, but in general facial coverings and space between spectators and student athletes will be required at all events. Certain sports like baseball, lacrosse, and softball will have guidelines for who can view games, and a 100 spectator max will be in place for track and field events at Roger Harring Stadium.

For a full list of sport-specific guidelines, click here.