About six years ago the early softball season weather was miserable. Winter storms pounded the central part of the state in way we had not seen in the third week of the season. That season was a harbinger for what we have experienced nearly every succeeding season.
Back then I announced that Poynette would host any teams from north of us at our facility. If my memory serves me correctly we wound up with about six or seven teams.Poynette did not play in the original event.
The event was named the Northwoods Jamboree, offering central and northern Wisconsin teams to play in Poynette for the cost one one umpire per game and a ball. The event has gotten the ball rolling for teams who had not been outside for a single practice.
This year's Northwoods Jamboree featured Gilman, Stanley-Boyd, Thorp, Stratford, Manawa, Wisconsin Heights, River Valley and Poynette. Eight teams playing 8 games in all on April 6th.
Take a look at the current WIAA tourney brackets and you will see that Stratford upset #1 seed Elk Mound and played in a regional final. River Valley also played in a regional final.
An even closer look shows you that Thorp, Wisconsin Heights, Gilman, Stanley-Boyd and Poynette have advanced to the sectional semi-final level.
The 2020 Northwoods Jamboree is slated for April 4th. Gilman head coach Brian Phelps organizes the teams ans schedule while I hire the umpires and do the field prep.
