Concerts in the Park continued on Wednesday evenings throughout the month of July at Lions Park in Victoria.  Attendance remained good, although the Wednesday evenings in June were a bit cooler.  One of the entertaining groups that was a really bit hit with the kids was the Teddy Bear Band & Panda.  The Band and the Panda led the little ones in follow-the-leader and other musical adventures.  Squeaky the Clown also showed up on the Panda night, performing amazing tricks for kids and their parents.  Again, thank you, Kristy Mock, for your hard work organizing Concerts in the Park.  Hope it happens again next summer.  ~S.O.

Baseball Champions.  A-Z Rental of School District 112 Youth Baseball Program won the 9-10-year old Baseball Championship.  Front (l-r):  Joe Rosburg, Steven Tetrick, Marc Hyman, Dylan Loomis.  Middle:  Grant Aplin of Victoria, Devon Bratz of Victoria, Lucas Ward, John Statsick, Landon Kimm, Ryan Boonstra.  Back:  Coach Kevin Aplin of Victoria, Coach Matt Ward, Coach Scott Hyman.  Not pictured:  Zach O'Neil and Justin Stewart.
Kevin Aplin, Victoria, Minnesota

Double First.  In the Cal Ripkin Tier One 11-12-year old division, Chanhassen Community Bank ended the year with a "Double First."  The team took First Place in their division and ended the year with First in Tournament Play, winning four games in a row.  Two homeruns by Zach Lindquist helped clinch the final game, beating Tires Plus 11-10 for the Championship.
Front (l-r):  Mason Shinn, Brooks Wineberg, Kyle Hoyt of Victoria, Joey Traxler of Victoria, Tim Shiffer of Victoria, Cade Gersich.  Back:  Head Coach Chris Hollen of Victoria, Evan Hurrell, Zach Lindquist, Steven Gitzen, of Victoria, Nick Noble, Jordan Hollen of Victoria, Nick Jensen, Assistant Coach Bill Traxler of Victoria.  Missing:  Assistant Coach Bill Jensen.
Lora Gitzen, Victoria, Minnesota

Our Son Brady Griffith is a member and captain of the Eden Prairie U16 Boys Premier Soccer that recently captured the Minnesota State Championship in June.  The Eden Prairie team traveled to region-al competition to compete with 14 other state champions for the right to partici-pate in the national finals.  Brady attends South West Christian High School in Chaska where he maintains a GPA of 4.0.
Tom and Nancy Griffith, Victoria, Minnesota

Many Hands Make Light Work.  Here are some Victoria Lions hard at work on Friday, July 14^th, getting ready for their big tournament weekend, July 14-16.
(L-r):  Lion Pete Kerber, Lion Jeff Chapman, Lion Steve Schmieg, Lion Kurt Zuppke, Lion Loane Burau.
Kristy Mock, Parks and Recreation Supervisor
Victoria, Minnesota

At Lions Park.  Bill Kottke of Golden Valley Umpires is the Umpire Director and 30-year veteran of our annual Lions Tournament Weekend here in Victoria.  Bill is only 76 years old so we should have him around for many more tournaments.  Dawn Schmieg, wife of former Victoria Lions President Joe Schmieg, and their daughter Natalie are two summer beauties enjoying an outing at the Lions ballpark. 
Kurt Zuppke, Past President of the Victoria Lions
Victoria, Minnesota

After the Ballgames on a hot day of Lions Softball, there is camaraderie in the evening, under the Lions Shelter, with other friends and town folk.  That's Dan Schrempp, son of Dee and the late Jerry Schrempp, and Jeff Chapman, son of Marge and the late Chuck Chapman.  ~S.O.

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