Submitted Article

 

The 11th annual Santiago Open Horseshoe Tournament was held in historic Santiago last weekend. Twenty-seven pitchers from around the state entered. They ranged in age from 12 year old, Tyler Condon of Annandale to 85 year old Bob Knutson of Columbia Heights. 

Jeff Washburn, 6’3” and left-handed from Shoreview, won the tournament championship by winning the Class A title with a 5-0 record. He defeated the defending champion, Ray Volkers of Maplewood, in the final game with a score of 41 to 40. Dick Dvorak of St. Paul traveled 100 miles from his cabin in Wisconsin for the tourney and took second place.

Four women competed in Class B with Marlys Timm of Loretto taking first with a 6-1 record. Local pitcher, Brian Wipper of Palmer, took second place with a 6-1 record, but lost on the tie-breaker. Ben LaCoursiere of Brooklyn Park finished third at 5-2.

Class C champion was Stan Barney of Clara City with a 4 ½-1 ½ record. Don Claseman of St. Cloud was second at 3 ½ and 1 ½.

Twelve-year-old Tyler Condon, who pitches as a cadet from half court, captured first place in Class D at 6+3. Ron Ruch of Becker took second at 5-2, and Tom Strandquist of Brooklyn Center rounded out the winners at 5-2, good for third place. Tyler, along with six other pitchers from this tourney, are heading for the National Horseshoe Pitching Tournament in South Carolina this week.