Sugar River Euchre

The 87th Sugar River Euchre League season came to an end for all but 16 players last Thursday night when the results of the Spring Tournament were tallied and announced by League President Jerome Krantz. Thirty-two league players gathered at 5th Quarter in Verona to test their skills and luck against fellow players. Finishing the tournament in first place were Giff Hoesly (S’Wisco Taphaus) and Larry Losenegger (Norsk Pranksters) with 117 points, losing only their fourth game to Dave Herfel (5th Quarter) and Dan Meinholtz (It’s Time). The low score of the night, a 65, was recorded by John Baumgartner (It’s Time) and Keith Wenger (S’Wisco Taphaus). However, it was Keith’s brother Kendal (S’Wisco Taphaus) that caught much of the attention when he and his partner, Jeff Goebler (Kleeman’s), were skunked by Ed Chancellor (5th Quarter) and Don Williams (Kleeman’s) in the third round. This was the second skunk of the season for both Kendal and Jeff. Ed and Don finished second with 113 points, losing just their final two games. Third place went to Dean Dish (Eagle Heights) and Steve Hoffmaster (Hooterville) with 110 points. Leo Humphrey (It’s Time) and Mark Losenegger (Jones’ Plumbing), with 108 points, finished fourth. Steve Vogt and Derek Skogen (both 5th Quarter) finished with 106 points, beating out Harold Grabandt and Tom Magnuson (both It’s Time) with 103 points, for fifth place. Other tournament scores: Tom Meyer (5th Quarter) and Opie Taylor (Hooterville), along with Dan Meinholtz and Dave Herfel, 102 points. Jim Day (It’s Time) and Dean Herfel (Pranksters) had a 98, while Eric Massey and Pat MacLean (both 5th Quarter) had a 97. Don Cleary (Hooterville), Jerry Retrum (Pranksters), Kendal Wenger, Jeff Goebler, Ken Stamn (Eagle Heights) and Mary Humphrey (It’s Time) all finished with a 96. Randy Skogen (5th Quarter) and Janice Magnuson (It’s Time) could only manage a 94, while Chris Hook and Rodney Latham (both Pranksters) with an 81, pushed John Baumgartner and Keith Wenger into last place.
Season averages, skunks and perfect scores were posted and scrutinized by those in attendance. Ron (Tiny) Zander (Jones’ Plumbing) soldered together this season’s high average of 104.333. The evening was capped off with a fantastic meal put on by 5th Quarter.
As for the 16 players with one match remaining, they are looking forward to the 2017/18 Championship Match to be played this Thursday, March 15th, at 7:30 p.m., at Hooterville Inn in Blue Mounds. Hooterville Express, the first half winners, will host the 5th Quarter Shufflers, second half winners, in a match that should be a nail biter as each team won one of the two matches played in heads up play earlier this season.