Prairie du Chien American Legion baseball to hold fish fry fundraiser
The Prairie du Chien Grasshoppers pose with the championship trophy they won at the Onalaska Tournament recently. The team is ranked first in the state in Class A with a 10-2 record. Team members are, front row: Grant Martin, Dylan Coleman, Zach Mara, Clayton DuCharme, Gavin Gillitzer, Tyler Smock, Mark Welter, Andrew Waller, and batboys Maddox Cejka and Kale Koenig. Back row: Coach Nate Cejka, Assistant Coach Bjorn Thompson, Drake Coleman, Frank Cipra, Hunter Davis, Aaron Neisius, Cory Check, Jon Dyer, Jacob Joy, Ryan McGrath, Josh Lenzendorf, and coaches Tyler Kozelka, Clay Koenig and Brett Hogan. Chris Check and American Legion President of Baseball Dan Schickert are not pictured.
By Ted Pennekamp
The Prairie du Chien American Legion Baseball program will be hosting a fish fry fundraiser the afternoon and evening of Saturday, July 7.
The fun, family event will begin with an American Legion baseball game beginning at 3 p.m. between the Prairie du Chien junior varsity Legion team and the Viroqua junior varsity team. Also beginning at 3 p.m. will be a game between the Prairie du Chien seventh and eighth-grade team and Viroqua.
The fish fry will start at 3 p.m. and go to 8 p.m. American Legion President of Baseball and the St. Feriole Island Ballpark, Dan Schickert, said there are more than 300 pounds of catfish supplied by and to be cooked by Mike Valley and Brooks Niedziejko. The fish fry will include catfish with all the fixin’s.
“It’s always a day to have fun,” said Schickert. “All funds raised by the fish fry will go to support the American Legion Baseball program. There will be 50/50 raffles throughout the day and the concession stand will be serving beverages, brats and burgers for those who don’t want catfish.”
Schickert said all funds raised by the concession stand will support St. Feriole Island Ballpark.
In addition to the baseball games and delicious fish fry, Little League players and coaches will be announced to the crowd at 6:30 p.m.
Schickert noted that the event will be honoring local veterans and the veterans will be introduced and take the field at 6:45 p.m., along with the Prairie du Chien Honor Guard.
At 7 p.m., the American Legion varsity team will play against the American Legion alumni team. Schickert said 28 alumni will be on hand for the game, which is always a fan favorite.
Following the alumni game, at 9 p.m., the Smoking Gun Showdown Band will hit the stage to provide lively musical entertainment for the enjoyment of all.
The American Legion Grasshoppers varsity is enjoying quite a successful season so far. The team won the Onalaska Tournament recently and is ranked first in the state in Class A, sporting a 10-2 record. In addition to their big fundraising fish fry event, the team will compete in another Onalaska Tournament beginning on July 6.
Everyone is invited to come on out and enjoy the fish fry and support the Grasshoppers all season.
