If the Pirates win out, they will likely be co-conference champions with the winner of the SCF@Unity game, unless Unity beats SCF then loses to Webster, the Pirates would have it outright or if SCF beats Unity then loses to Clear Lake, then Grantsburg would have it outright. Remember, this is assuming Grantsburg wins out.

Sept. 30	@ Unity	SCF	@ Clear Lake
Oct. 7	@ St. Croix Central (NC)	Webster	@ Flambeau
Oct. 13	Clear Lake	@ Grantsburg	Unity

For the Pirates to make it to the playoffs they technically only have to win one more game, however that would give them a 3-6 overall record and that probably wouldn't get them in. In order to qualify for the playoffs a team must be at least a .500 team in their conference. If they're above .500 they're automatically in… for those at the .500 mark it goes to an at-large system where it's left in the hands of a committee as to who gets the final playoff positions.

The Pirates need to win two out of their next three to ensure a conference championship.

In summary:

Pirates don't win another game: No playoffs

Pirates win one more game: Playoff eligible, but a longshot

Pirates win two more games: Playoffs here we come (possible, but unlikely, conference champs)

Pirates win three more games: Playoffs are a lock and so is a conference championship.

So in summary of the summary: win and good things happen.

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Scenarios

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Grantsburg vs. Webster GB Tourney

I anticipate that we will broadcast all but the Frederic match because I'll be covering the wiener dog races at Grantoberfest! What a busy and fun time we'll have this Saturday!

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Grantsburg tourney schedule set

Don't put too much stock in Grantsburg's early win/loss record yet. Sure it would be nice to have a couple wins right now, but remember that the teams the Pirates played to start the season are a combined 9-0.

I have yet to see either Grantsburg or Webster play this season. I know Webster's win came against a pretty suspect team (Washburn/Bayfield), but hey… you play who's on your schedule. It looks like Webster is starting a sophomore at quarterback. Both teams have a nice contingent of seniors this year tallying nine a piece.

What I do know is that Grantsburg has high hopes this year coming off a year that saw them finish the season in the second round of the playoffs. Building off of that strong finish and with the senior class as big and talented as it is, it seems that they should vie for the conference crown. Their offensive and defensive lines are huge, averaging over six feet tall and over 200 lbs.

Defensively there have been some struggles which at this point in the season I am attributing to learning a new defensive scheme. However, with three games under their belts, and many more practices, they should be finding their groove.

But, now's the time for them to come together and I believe it will happen.

You can find out how the boys come out on Friday night by setting your browser to wearegrantsburg.com to catch all the action LIVE and streaming. If you can't for some reason, don't worry, we'll archive it for you!

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Now’s the time

2011 West Lakeland All-Conference

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Softball all-conference announced

They've not only done it, but they've done it BIG!

They've outscored their opponents 262-18…

Played a full game (7 innings) just once, the rest were 10-run rule games…

Shut out opponents 10 times…

Gave up just one run 4 times…

One of only four undefeated high school fastpitch teams in the state Wisconsin…

They have the highest team batting average (.462) in team history…

They have the most home runs (8) in team history…

They have four pitchers who have combined for the stats listed above (with some help from a very good defense)…

Kylie Pewe has a .643 batting average. .643! That's going to beat the all time team record set in 2010 (.610) by, um, her.

And they have the funkiest website in America…

They have accomplished this run with an unorthodox approach to pitching, if you've seen the games then you'll know what I'm talking about.

Are they a shoe-in for state? No. Do they have a chance? You better believe it!

As we learned last year, there are no "for sure's" in this game… except that girl from Arcadia was "for sure" out at home… but I digress….

Its another great season put out there by the Pirate gals and they're so much fun to watch… seems like they're always smiling and having fun and relaxed, but they do everything right… or at least the come close to doing everything right… not many strikeouts… lots of walks, hits, and putting the ball in play….

It seems like a lot of the competition has trouble with knowing where to throw the ball… situational stuff… not always an athletic problem… a thinking ahead problem Throwing the ball around and giving up extra bases because of that has not been an issue for Grantsburg.

What I'm getting at is there are some pretty fantastic coaches working with the team and it starts with Don Bjelland and Steve Johnson. They have a lot of differences, but they both know the game and have a knack for teaching it. Then it moves down to the "minor leagues" and those teams are staffed with coaches who care and are also knowledgeable in the basics and fundamentals of the game. It is truly a great system in Grantsburg with parents and coaches who really care a lot about this sport and the ones playing it.

Congratulations on a fantastic REGULAR season… *the real season starts now.

Juniors then… taken at the 2010 season banquet. Photo courtesy of Scott Hoffman.

Grantsburg seniors walk away from their home field after the last regular season game of their careers. Photo courtesy of Steve Johnson.

Post from: We are Grantsburg

Softball finishes* 18-0

Thursday: Grantsburg (19-5) vs. Phillips (12-11) boys in Rice Lake 7pm

Friday: Spring Valley (2-21) @ Grantsburg (14-7) girls 7pm

Saturday: Grantsburg boys Sectional Final 1pm from Chippewa Falls

Saturday: Grantsburg Regional final in Osceola (or Siren in Spooner if the Pirate girls lose on Friday). This game has to potential to be Grantsburg vs. Webster if the Tigers can get by #1 seed Boyceville. Webster won in overtime in their game against Glenwood City on Tuesday night 62-56.

Boys

Division 3 Unity

Division 4 Grantsburg

Division 5 Luck

Girls

Division 3 nobody left for the West Lakeland. St. Croix Falls and Unity both lost on Tuesday

Division 4 Grantsburg and Webster

Division 5 Siren, Luck and Frederic

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Not counting chickens quite yet…

Listen to the postgame to hear Austin Elliott and Greg McIntyre recap their final game in front of their home crowd.

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Boyceville @ Webster audio

The Pirates will wait to play until Friday, March 4th as a benefit of receiving a first round bye while Webster will host #6 Boyceville on Tuesday, March 1st.

Webster had their conference championship hopes dashed when they lost to Luck last Friday (31-22). Coincidentally, that loss also eliminated Grantsburg from contention and Luck will be the top team in the West Lakeland again this year. The Pirates host Luck this week in what is now a fairly meaningless game (somewhat like your second semester as a senior).

In other news:

Unity received a number one seed in D3 while St. Croix Falls nabbed a #6 seeding.

Luck got a #1 seed, Siren received a #2 seed and Frederic secured the #3 seed. All three teams are in the same region! That's some West Lakeland power!

All told the West Lakeland had THREE number one seeds, a number two, two number three seeds and a number six. That's a total of three first round byes and six first game home games.

Nice year, boys!

D3 Bracket (Unity, SCF)

D4 Bracket (Grantsburg and Webster)

D5 Bracket (Luck, Siren, Frederic)

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Boys basketball brackets

Here's the audio of the girls game.

The boys game was very good with Webster coming out victorious in overtime, 69-64. Austin Elliott had 25 and James Wethern was clutch as was Greg McIntyre with some great free throws to seal the deal in overtime.

For Grantsburg it was a night of playing from behind. They led for less than 5% of the game, but they did lead by two with three seconds left in regulation when Elliott got the ball through the hoop to tie it up.

Here's the audio of the boys game.

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Grantsburg splits vs. Webster