Olson conference performer of year

DECORAH, Iowa -- Former Wadena-Deer Creek athlete Johanna Olson of Luther College competed in her final Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Track and Field Championship meet at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last weekend.

Olson was honored with the conference most valuable performer award for her wins in the 3000- and 5000-meter runs. Her time of 10:02 in the 3000 broke the previous conference mark by 12 seconds and her 5000 time of 17:21 bettered the conference record by 27 seconds. Her victories helped Luther to a third-place finish.

This season, Olson has qualified for the national meet in four events: 1500 (metric mile), 3,000, 5,000 (3.1 miles) and 10,000 (6.2 miles). The national championship is May 23-25 at Millikan University in Rock Island, Ill.

Openings remain in girls' softball leagues

The Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department has openings in the girls' petite, junior and senior softball leagues.

Anyone interested should sign up before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Players will be placed on teams at the draft that night through a hat draw. Practices will begin May 21 with games beginning June 4.

Bees open season with 4-1 victory

The Brainerd Bees opened their amateur baseball season with a 4-1 win over the St. Cloud Orthopedics Ice at Mills Field Sunday.

Nate Thomas was the only Bee with two hits. Bruce Ericson was the winning pitcher. He pitched five solid innings, giving up an unearned run on six hits while striking out four and walking none. Peterson pitched four innings of shutout relief, giving up two hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Rob Lien hit a solo home run for the Bees in the second. Orthopedics tied it in the fourth on a run-scoring double by Adam Iten. In the fourth, Lien walked and scored on a single by Dave Stengrim.

The Bees host the defending Class B state champion Cold Spring Springers at 1:30 p.m. next Sunday at Mills Field. The Bees-Brainerd Braves game scheduled Wednesday has been postponed.