March 17, 2007
For
the third time in as many years the Belle Plaine Town Team will have
a new skipper, although there is nothing new about this manager. Johan
Miller has been around since the time of the Big Bambino, in fact they
were bunk mates at a Yankees summer camp, Miller a young rookie and
the Sultan of Swat a crafty veteran. Miller learned a lot from the Babe
that summer. Miller will bring a new found beech wood age feel to the
team as his son "Hot Dog" Miller and Jeff Bruder will raise
the average age of the team well over 30. Add in Brett Kruschke, Tim
Huber, Trace Selly and Shane Hofmann you have yourself a team of veterans
all that can recite lines from Alf. Look for big things from this year’s
squad!!
April 17, 2006
After one
year under his belt in Tigertown, Dave
Kreft has been named skipper for the 2006 season.
Having already mastered the game between the lines (Kreft hit .194 last
year), the only challenge remaining was to engage in the chess match that
is managing the local nine. It won't be for a lack of bodies:
the Tigers have no less than 25 eager sailors suiting up this year.
Kreft succeeds Shane Hofmann, who
led the Tigers to a plucky 15-20 record last year.
The new Tiger helmsman models himself a thinker, along the lines of Plato and Aristotle, only in pinstripes (and a goatee). Kreft is not the rah-rah sort; but then again, he only had 14 hits last year, so it is kind of hard to tell. Anyways, if you've liked what you've seen of Mr. Kreft as manager of the Belle Plaine high school Tigers, you'll really like what he brings to the table in Tigertown.
HOFMANN TABBED AS FIELD MANAGER
Feb. 21, 2005
Shane
Hofmann, self-proclaimed “ace of the staff,” will now be “ace
of the dugout” as well, as he has agreed to manage the Tigers in 2005.
Hofmann is a familiar face, as this year will be his tenth in a Tiger uniform.
Hofmann offered a “no comment” when offered to share his thoughts
for this interview. However, he did release a bio that included mention of
leading Borough Bowl to the 1987 Little League World Series. His hire follows
a recent trend of dugout tacticians in Brent Meyer, Hot Dog Miller, and most
recently, Brett Kruschke.
Kruschke stepped down after six years at the helm. The Tigers made one state tournament appearance during this span, in 2001, and had an overall record of 99-91 (.521). Season-ticket holder should rest easy – Kruschke is still going to try out for the team as left-handed bunt power off the bench
Kruschke Steps Down As Manager
Brett Kruschke
Belle Plaine Tiger Manager
Now in his 13th season, Brett Kruschke was hailed as a decent
high school pitcher from the halls of BPHS but never materialized on the town
team, where he began his career in 1991. Coincidence or not, the Tigers began
a streak of state tournament appearances that year including the Class 'C'
state championship in 1994. Brett took a year off in 1996 to intern with the
Sioux Falls Canaries, and what do you know the Tigers missed the state tournament
for the first time in five years.
In 1999, Brett continued a tradition of fine minds at the helm when by default
he was named manager, and has remained up until, and probably through, today.
Tigertown's warriors returned to the state tournament in 2001 where they lost
a heartbreaker in 14 innings to Sauk Centre at Miesville. Brett has led the
Tigers to the playoffs every year he's managed and most recently boasts a
trip to the Final Four of the Tigertown Classic.
As a batter, Brett has had four different seasons without a hit. He has one
homerun (yes, over the fence), at Waconia in 1999. He once stole 2nd, 3rd,
and home in the same inning at Carver, giving himself the green light all
three attempts. Brett's more famous as a pitcher for Rick Ankiel-type meltdowns,
but has won a few games, including over Chaska in the 1997 playoffs.
