Editor’s note: In this file photo, former Mayor Roger Drey threw the first pitch of the Opening Day ceremony of the Morrison Youth Baseball and Softball season. To celebrate the 30 year anniversary, the first pitch of the Friday, May 13, 2016, Morrison vs Princeton game will be thrown out by Gus Linke..
As the Morrison High School baseball season enters the last weeks of the 2016 season, recognition of its revitalization 30 years ago will be offered at the Morrison vs Princeton, IL, game at the Morrison Sports Complex, on Friday, 13, at 4:30 p.m.
In 1986, Gus Linke and Glenn Petersen, teachers at Morrison High School, approached the school board requesting permission for a “trail period.” They were granted a go-ahead, but rhe board would not extend financial support to the program. The entire community responded and donated time, money, and equipment at a time when most schools were making cuts in their programs. The Booster Club donated money to pay the umpires. Parents of the players currently on the Pony League team donated uniforms for 31 players signed up to participate.
The last Morrison Varsity game was played in 1933, so the opening game against Fulton Unity Christian (loss 9-6) was quite an event for the entire sports community! The 15-game schedule included games against Dixon, Princeton, Rochelle, and a night game at Moline, IL, to name a few.
Since that valiant effort in 1986, the Morrison Mustangs have won 571 and lost 206 baseball games. They have won ten Upstate Illini Conference Championships and 11 TRAC Conference Championships.
In 30 years, the Mustangs have been under the direction of three outstanding coaches:
- Gus Linke lead the Mustangs for 17 years (320 wins/114 losses)
- Scott Vance for eight years (146 wins/62 losses
- current coach Ben Sondgeroth for six years (105 wins/30 losses.)
The community and especially former Mustangs are invited to the game to share the anniversary of a community effort,that has provided so much to the youth of Morrison over the past 30 years.