Vernon 'Bud' Blindt
Granite Falls, MN

Bud began his baseball career in high school as a player for the Kilowatts and played collegiate baseball in Mankato.   He played amateur baseball in the Golden Valley League for the Granite Falls Red Sox. In 1960 he became the official score keeper for Granite Falls baseball, a position he still holds today.  Bud became close friends with Butch Richter and joined him in taking over as groundskeeper for the baseball field which means carefully mowing, dragging, lining, and caring for the pitcher’s mound. Bud also worked in the concession stand.  Bud and his wife Joyce wrote the history of Granite Falls baseball. He was a key member when Granite Falls hosted state tournaments in 1989 and 1999.

Tom Gwalntey
Lake City, MN

Tom has dedicated more than thirty years to Lake City baseball.  He has coached VFW, Legion and Town baseball during that time.  Tom organized the amateur team the Lake City Serpants in 1989 and continues to manage in 2009. He took on the duties of the field manager of the Serpants which meant that he acted as the grounds crew, equipment manager and transportation provider.  Tom also compiled all the stats and wrote the columns for the local paper.  He used his personal resources to keep the team afloat through the years.  He is responsible for keeping baseball alive in Lake City.

Joe Kreger
Green Isle, MN

Joe began his baseball career as a player for the Arlington-Green Isle High School team; he continued at Mankato State.  His dedication to amateur baseball now spans more than four decades.  He has coached VFW and Legion baseball. As a player and manager, he holds many records.  Joe has appeared in twenty state tournaments as a player and manager.  His endless dedication to Green Isle baseball included helping to turn the Green Isle Park into one of the finest in the state with the addition of lights for which Joe led the successful campaign.  Joe has also been an umpire for the past thirty years.  Joe has been a member of the local Lion’s club, a reader at St. Brendan’s church, a member of the park board, and a member of the Minnesota Amateur Baseball State Board of Directors.

Tom Marquardt
Kimball, MN

Tom has been a key part of Kimball baseball since 1974.  The Kimball baseball field was flooded in the late 1980” so the team was forced to play all games away from Kimball.  In the early 1990’s Tom helped to get the ballpark in Kimball back into playing shape.
Tom has spearheaded the improvements made to Kimball Veteran’s Memorial Field. In 2006 Tom helped construct new dugouts and a new backstop, in 2007 a new concession stand, pitching mound and home plate.  From 2001 to the present Tom has been a manager/player for the Kimball Express. He has led the Express to the region tournament every year as a manager. He also raises money, organizes equipment, ticket takers, concession stand workers, and works on the field.  Tom umpires youth baseball and assigns umpires in the Highway 55 League.  He is also very active in high school athletics.

Bryce Pack
Lamberton, MN

Bryce began his baseball career in high school at Walnut Grove; he continued at Southwest State University.  His amateur career included the Wanda Mudhens, Tracy Engineers, Marshall A’s, Redwood Falls , and Lamberton Long Sox.  As a player coach Bryce was instrumental and responsible for every aspect of running the teams.  He spent many hours working on the field before and after the games and on days in between. When he moved to Lamberton, he coached high school baseball.  In 2002 he helped to bring amateur baseball back to Lamberton.  Bryce serves as the team secretary/treasurer and operates the scoreboard.  He is the Region 2C commissioner.  Bryce umpired for twenty years in the 1980’s and 1990’s.