Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will be riding a sled the next few days here in the Northland.  For a cause.

We are only a week or two away from Minnesota Twins pitchers and catchers reporting to Florida for Spring Training.

But Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire always prepares for spring training by heading to the Northland to help with the ALS Blackwoods Blizzard Snowmobile ride.

The pre–ride banquet was held Wednesday at Blackwoods in Proctor with around 185 riders taking part this year.

A year ago, they raised over $780,000 dollars toward ALS efforts.

It's the largest snowmobiling fundraiser in the country.

It's now in its 14th year and will start Thursday and run through Saturday.

Former Twins Kent Hrbek, Terry Steinbach, and Tim Laudner also taking part in the event this year.

The three day event makes its way to Fortune Bay Lodge and Casino and back.

For Gardy it's a time to have fun and help out a great cause.  He said, “It's kind of like a family reunion when we come back up here every year with a lot of laughs and a lot of serious stuff also, but more than anything we try to raise as much money as we possibly can with a bunch of good people.”

Riders have to collect at least $1,200 dollars for the event and the rider that collects the most will win a snowmobile.  Gardy added, “It’s been a blast weather or not we have had snow or not, it’s been fun.”

Twins pitchers and catchers report to training camp on February 12th, the full squad on the 15th.

Gardenhire got involved because friends Terry Steinbach and Kent Hrbek recommended the event to him and he’s happy to help.  Gardenhire said, “They have both lost their fathers to ALS and they talked about the quality of the people here and we have made a lot of friends and raised a lot of money for a good cause.”

The event wraps-up Saturday.  The Twins manager said he knows it’s an important event, “We are trying to find a cure, but in the meantime we are helping a lot of people that have been affected by the disease.  The money helps them get through their daily lives.”

Good luck and stay warm for all involved in the event!

Basketball Notes:

The UWS women’s basketball team continues to make history.  They now have 17 wins, the most in school history.   Wednesday night they beat UW-Stout 77-52.  Hillary Peterson a senior from Moose Lake High School led the ‘Jackets with 15 points.  Sally Linzmeier added another 12 points in the victory.  UWS lost to Stout earlier in the year on the road.

The UWS mens basketball team lost to Stout on the road Wednesday 90-78.

Both teams will host UW-Oshkosh on Saturday.  The men’s game is at 1pm and the women’s game at 3pm.  It will be the final regular season home game for the women’s team on Saturday.

NBA:

Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the L.A. Clippers on Wednesday 96-90.  The Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Chicago Bulls 104-88.

Prep

Border Battle in high school basketball on Thursday as Superior travels to Duluth East to face the Greyhounds.  It’s a non-conference game but both Spartan teams lead the Lake Superior Conference standings at this point of the year.

Esko girl’s basketball is at McGregor tonight and senior Savanna Trapp could become the all-time leader in blocks tonight.  She is just four away from tying the record and five away from setting the new mark.  She will be playing her college basketball at UCLA next year.

Keep Smile’n Northland! I will.

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