The latest book from August Publications is now shipping: Baseball Like It Oughta Be: How a Shoe Salesman’s Madison Mallards and His Renegade Staff Ignited the Summer-Collegiate Baseball Revolution!
Today is also your chance to snare an autographed copy of Baseball Like It Oughta Be at a big event at Warner Park, as the Mallards are hosting a free celebration marking the 25th anniversary of the team. You’l be able to buy a copy and have author Tom Alesia sign it, and we’re guessing you’ll be able to persuade Steve Schmitt and Vern Stenman to sign copies as well. In addition, the bash will feature free hot dogs and pop, a cash bar, a full complement of mascots on two and four legs, and plenty of games for kids. The celebration runs from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
It’s highly fitting the Madison book release comes at the ballpark. Here’s the inside story of how the Madison Mallards became summer-collegiate baseball’s top draw, changed the face of the sport and brought new life to a downtrodden neighborhood and ballpark.
Since 2002, the Mallards have become the biggest box-office hit among hundreds of similar teams nationwide, drawing more than 4.3 million fans in team history. Baseball Like It Oughta Be is the phenomenal story of how owner Steve Schmitt, a rural Wisconsin shoe sales marvel, and his young, aggressive staff turned dust into gold. Celebrating their 25th year, the Mallards have an entertaining and hilarious history that combines marketing prowess, customer service and anything-goes promotions with stories ranging from Gary Coleman’s outrageous appearance to slugger Pete Alonso’s amazing season as a Mallard. Schmitt and team president Vern Stenman turned a downtrodden ballpark into a must-experience destination. The Mallards never went bananas on the field, churning out future pro players like Alonso, Nico Hoerner, Tony Gonsolin and Ryan Spilborghs. Along the way, they’ve become one of America’s most extraordinary sports teams.
Tom Alesia tells the Mallards story, following an owner’s obsession; the dreamland of a young marketing director, who quit an NHL front-office job; relentless customer service for their fans; fresh promotions annually; belief in what many viewed as a struggling neighborhood; and the embracement of America’s least likely renowned ballpark.
“Upon first visiting Madison in 2012, I sensed something extraordinary at the Duck Pond. While nothing lasts forever, the Mallards have now thrived for nearly 25 years and just continue to crush it, one summer after another. This book is a remarkable testament to owner Steve Schmitt and his dedicated team throughout the years and should be studied by every minor- and summer-league executive in North America. The Mallards’ success story is filled with resilience, creativity, and community spirit.”—Rob Neyer, Commissioner, West Coast League, and author of Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game
“The Mallards inspired a revolution in baseball. Since their launch in 2001, summer collegiate baseball has blown up across the country and brought quality baseball and entertainment to hundreds of communities. The Mallards focus on both fun and great baseball has created a template for others to emulate. Tom Alesia does a great job telling the entertaining story of the team’s launch and their broader impact on the game.”—Doug Melvin, Milwaukee Brewers Senior Advisor and former General Manager
“It is well overdue to put a spotlight on the Madison Mallards operation. Owner Steve Schmitt is a marketing and retail savant. When you combine that with the ambition and progressive ideas of President Vern Stenman, you are able to make history. There is no team in summer collegiate baseball that is close to them in attendance and there probably will not be in the foreseeable future. Their story is an important piece in the Northwoods League becoming the largest organized baseball league in the history of the sport. I can’t wait to see what they will do for women’s softball.”–Dick Radatz, Jr., Chairman, Northwoods League
“An entertaining look at how to build an audience for a sports team when the result on the field is less important to many fans than the entertainment and atmosphere of it. Plenty of interesting characters! Pretty sure it’s the only book to mention Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Gary Coleman and Pete Alonso. A fun read!”—Sports Book Reviews
“What a hoot! I still have a Mallards’ uniform hanging on my wall! (Team owner) Steve Schmitt loved to compete. Go Mallards!”—Bill “Spaceman” Lee, renowned pitcher for 14 major league seasons
“Long before the Savannah Bananas became a household name, the Madison Mallards took a broken-down ballpark in a failed baseball market and started outdrawing virtually every team in the minor leagues. Tom Alesia skillfully describes their story in this entertaining narrative. This book should be a must-read for anyone in sport!”—Mark Cryan, professor of sport management, former minor league general manager, and co-founder of the Coastal Plain League
JAMESTOWN — Julia Skari has a history with excellence when it comes to athletics.
Northern State University is hoping history keeps repeating itself.
Skari, a Jamestown High School Class of 2025 graduate, is currently training and competing for the Northern State University track and field team.
“I was so excited to go to college and have a little bit of change,” Skari said. “I knew going into college I wouldn’t know anyone since no one from Jamestown went to NSU (Northern State University), so I was a bit scared for that, but I was excited to meet new people. … Within the first week at Northern State it was clear that I made the best academic and athletic decision, I can’t imagine not being there.”
Skari began running track in 2021 as an eighth grader. She is a five-time state placer in the 300 hurdles and a two-time state placer in the 100 hurdles. Skari also competed in triple jump and the sprint relays when she was with the Blue Jays.
In her senior year, Skari was crowned the WDA champion in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at the West Region Track and Field Meet. Skari clocked times of 15.59 and 45.62 seconds, respectively, in her races. The senior sprinter also placed eighth in the 100-meter dash and fifth in the 200.
At State, Skari placed third in the 300 hurdles, posting a season-best time of 45.35 seconds. In the 100 hurdles, the Blue Jay senior finished second 0.38 seconds behind Fargo Davies’ Kate Laqua who crossed the finish line at 14.38 seconds.
Her resume made her a natural recruit target for Northern State’s track coaches. The Wolves announced Skari’s signing via social media in May. Skari is planning to compete in both the 100- and 400-meter hurdles. The freshman said she is also hoping to compete in some relays but is open to wherever her coaches put her.
“It is both nervewracking and exciting to be a freshman,” Skari said. “I have a lot to learn, improve and build on throughout this year and the following years. Being a freshman is nervewracking because I know I have to prove myself to not only coaches but my teammates. It’s exciting because it’s a fresh new start with whole new experiences with a new team, coaches and level of competition. The upperclassmen are so willing to take time, critique my form and give advice.”
Northern State opened the indoor track and field season on Nov. 24 with the school’s Maroon vs. Gold Meet. Skari and the Wolves competed again on Dec. 5 at South Dakota State University’s Holiday Meet.
“Coming into my first collegiate meet I was very nervous,” Skari said. “The thought of competing against not only (Division) two athletes but also (Division) one made the nervous go up more. After I competed in my first event … I had a huge sign of relief realizing it’s not much different then high school, just more teams and more competitive.”
Contributed / Julia Skari
In her first meet, Skari competed in the 60-meter hurdles and the 4-by-400 meter relay.
“For my first meet I knew I just had to get my nervousness out of the way so my standards weren’t very high besides I just wanted to get my first meet done and get the feeling of how the meets feel,” Skari said. “My time in the 60-meter hurdles was almost my PR (personal record) in high school which means I only plan on getting faster.”
Skari’s continual progression is a testament to how hard she trains with her team.
Skari said as a team, the Wolves train Monday through Saturday with days switching either from a hurdles to sprinting to cross-training on her own time. The team lifts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“I train hurdles on Monday and Thursday,” Skari said. “Tuesday is normally a sprinting workout which is our hard workout. On Wednesday and Saturday we train on our own and on Fridays we switch from sprinting or either hurdle work again. We normally practice around three or three and a half hours a day when we lift and practice.
“Workouts became more intense than high school, so it definitely was a good change,” she said. “College track differs from high school track because practices started back in the beginning of September and it lasts til May. It takes more time than any of my other sports did because it is a bigger commitment.”
The Wolves’ next indoor meet is scheduled for Jan. 15 against the University of Jamestown.
Northern State’s conference indoor track and field season will conclude at the end of February. The NCAA Division 2 Indoor Championships will be held March 13-14. The outdoor season will begin with a three-day invite in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“No matter how I do (this season), I know I can always get better but I think my main goal is to just train hard, believe in myself and give it my best effort,” Skari said. “I think that’s would make me have a successful first year of colligate track and field athlete. In order for me to be at my best I need to have a positive mindset and be willing to do the hard stuff.”
Katie Ringer is a sports reporter for the Jamestown Sun. Katie joined the Sun staff in the summer of 2019 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a degree in journalism. She can be reached by email at kringer@jamestownsun.com or by phone at 701-952-8460.
Izzy Starck has found a new home.
The former Nittany Lion will stay in the Keystone State as she has transferred to Pitt.
Starck was Freshman of the Year, an All-American and won a national championship in her lone full season with the blue and white.
Starck will now face Penn State at least once a season with the Panthers, in the annual Keystone State Rivalry match.
MORE VOLLEYBALL COVERAGE
It’s a rare occurrence for Penn State in the rankings.
Dec. 24, 2025, 5:15 a.m. CT
Wisconsin volleyball has found its backup setter.
Class of 2026 setter Isabelle Hoppe has flipped her commitment from Pittsburgh to Wisconsin, she announced on Dec. 23 via Instagram.
She fills the void left by Addy Horner – Wisconsin’s 2025 backup setter and the starter while Charlie Fuerbringer was out – who announced her plans to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 19 and committed to TCU earlier on Dec. 23.
Hoppe was rated No. 21 nationally and No. 3 among setters in Prep Dig’s 2026 recruiting rankings. Her outlook at Pitt recently changed as the Panthers signed former Penn State setter Izzy Starck, who was the 2024 AVCA national freshman of the year.
Hoppe is 5-foot-8 and hails from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. She was named an Under Armour All-American and competed on USA Volleyball’s 2025 U19 world championship team. When she signed with Pitt earlier this year, Pitt coach Dan Fisher said she was a “proven setter at the high school, club and USA Volleyball levels.”
She is the fifth incoming freshman for the Badgers in 2026, joining outside hitters Halle Thompson and Audrey Flanagan and middle blockers Lynney Tarnow and Kymora Scott.
The Homewood High School volleyball team finished as one of the top eight teams in Class 6A this fall, making its appearance at the state volleyball tournament Oct. 28 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
The Patriots matched up with a stout Saraland team in the opening round of the tournament, falling in three sets to close the season with a 25-20 record.
Homewood was in the state tournament for the first time since 2021. The Patriots won three straight matches in the North Super Regional Tournament last week to advance.
“I’m so grateful for our community, our kids and for this to be the new standard; to expect to be here and want to be here,” Homewood head coach Grace Burgess said. “The kids worked so hard with that in mind the whole season, but without talking too much about it. They believe in themselves and they’re confident kids.
Saraland won the state tournament match in straight sets: 25-20, 25-21, 27-25. The Spartans put forth a tremendous rally to draw even late in the third set and eventually prevailed.
For Homewood, Mary Ellis Jarmon led the offense with 12 kills, adding a pair of aces. Walker Binkley added seven kills and four blocks. Kamryn Coleman directed things with 34 assists, also compiling eight digs and four aces. Sarah Johnson nearly had a double-double, finishing with nine kills and nine digs. Addison Wood had six digs and an ace as well.
The Patriots will conclude their season as the only team from Alabama to knock off 7A favorite McGill-Toolen. They also defeated 6A semifinalist Saraland during the year. They won the area championship, finished runner-up at regionals and advanced to the gold bracket in all but one of their tournaments this year.
“The season was up and down, but they never stopped working when things weren’t going well,” Burgess said. “They didn’t listen when people said they couldn’t accomplish anything. The fact it worked out for them makes me really happy for them.”
The University of Wisconsin volleyball program saw significant transfer portal action as soon as the Badgers’ season ended.
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Photos: Wisconsin volleyball 2025 season in photos
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) serves against UW Milwaukee on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin middle blocker Alicia Andrew (17) is greeted by fans after taking the floor prior to a match against Southern California at the Wisconsin Fieldhouse in Madison, Wis. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin defenders jump to block a spike by Kansas outside hitter Jovana Zelenovic (9) on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
The Wisconsin student section reacts after Wisconsin wins the third set against Kansas on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) sets the ball for a spike against Texas on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) sets the ball against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wiss.
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan, left, and middle blocker Carter Booth, right, go up for a block against UC-Davis Sept. 4.
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) and Wisconsin middle blocker Carter Booth (52) yell after a block to win the first set against Purdue on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) elevates to contest a ball at the net against Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) is introduced prior to the match against Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) high-fives kids lined up before playing UC-Davis on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) hits the floor after saving the ball from touching the ground against Texas on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) helps setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) off the floor after losing a point to Texas on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield huddles with his senior players following the teamÕs win over UNC during a second round NCAA Tournament match between the teams at the Wisconsin Fieldhouse in Madison, Wis. Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) watches as the ball flies in the air before a serve against Notre Dame on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) goes up for a spike against UC-Davis on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin players react after a Minnesota touch goes out of bounds on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
The Wisconsin bench celebrates after a point against UW Milwaukee on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) attempts to spike over three Iowa defenders on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Nebraska middle blocker Rebekah Allick (5) yells after a block on Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
A young fan smiles after getting a high-five from a Wisconsin player during introductions against Minnesota on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Una Vajagic (1) dives for a ball flying out of bounds against Michigan on Saturday, Oct.5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) is introduced prior to the teamÕs non-conference match against Florida at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) blocks a spike against Michigan on Saturday, Oct.5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Madison Quest (10) emerges from the locker room before playing Michigan on Saturday, Oct.5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin right side hitter Addy Horner (2) and Wisconsin middle blocker Natalie Wardlow (12) collide trying to set the ball against Nebraska on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) extends to hit a ball going out of bounds against Minnesota on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin middle blocker Alicia Andrew (17) and right side hitter Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) put up a block against Indiana outside hitter Jaidyn Jager (24) in the first set of a match at the UW Field House in Madison, Wis. Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) lines up a bump after a return by Iowa on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin middle blocker Carter Booth (52) reacts after a point against Kansas on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin players, including Wisconsin middle blocker Alicia Andrew, left, and libero/defensive specialist Kristen Simon (7) celebrate the teamÕs win over UNC during a second round NCAA Tournament match between the teams at the Wisconsin Fieldhouse in Madison, Wis. Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Contact Jim Polzin at jpolzin@madison.com.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Just two days after winning a national championship, Jamie Morrison and Aggie volleyball announced the signing of two Division One transfers.
Texas A&M added graduate transfer and All-American Natalie Ring from Marquette and Ohio State’s Kaia Castle.
Volleyball is one of six revenue-sharing sports at Texas A&M, and following the national title match, Morrison acknowledged the university’s financial commitment to recruiting.
“Our administration’s really stepped up and said, hey, we really want you to be competitive on the national landscape. And I couldn’t be more grateful for that,” Morrison said.
Ring led the Golden Eagles to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and landed on the All-America third team. She was also named a unanimous All-Big East selection. She had a career-high 29 kills in a close loss to No. 2 Louisville in the NCAA Tournament.
The Madison, Wisconsin native ranked No. 16 in the nation with 4.60 kills per set.
“We are excited to add Natalie to our Aggie family here in Aggieland,” Morrison said. “She brings a wealth of experience as a well-rounded outside hitter and is a relentless competitor who consistently raised her level against the best competition. The 12th Man is going to love her fire, spirit and the way she plays the game.”
Castle is a redshirt sophomore and averaged 1.94 kills per set as a middle blocker.
“We value speed at the middle blocker position and it’s rare to see someone with Kaia’s length who can move the way she does,” Morrison said. “Beyond the physical tools, she is an incredible human. I truly enjoyed every part of the recruiting process with Kaia and can’t wait to have her here in Aggieland.”
Castle recorded 91 blocks this year for the Buckeyes and broke the program’s single-match block record with 15 against Troy.
The Aggies were quick to get to work on building for next season and remaining at the top of the college volleyball landscape.
“We’re going to sit down, and we’re going to enjoy this as much as we possibly can,” Morrison said. “And then we’re going to get to work and go do it again.”
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