The opening night of the 86th Sugar River Euchre League season saw Norsk Golf Bowl becoming the new host of Captain Harold Schlimgen and the Cowboys. The Cowboys did not disappoint their fan(s) as they rode into Norsk Golf Bowl with their lassos a twirlin’ and guns a blazin’, rounding up 31 points more than the Shenanigans Pranksters. The evening was not all bad for the Pranksters though, as Larry Losenegger and Rodney Latham were perfect going into the eighth round and ended the evening with this week’s second highest score, 111 out of a possible 115 points. It is my understanding that both teams were very pleased with the Cowboy’s new home and I look forward to playing there at the end of the season.

The Cheese-Eaters of New Glarus won their opener by 28 points over last year’s champions Hooterville-Express. John Blum and Cheese-Eater Captain Kendal Wenger loss only three morsels of cheese to end up at 112 points for this week’s high score. I’m sure the Cheese-Eaters are relieved to win their first match after the struggles they’ve endured the past two seasons. Speaking of cheese, the J&M Bar River-Rats put up a good fight, but were bent 28° short of a win by the Jones’ Plumbing Pipe-Benders. Monte’s Mounties also put a mark in the win column when they kept the Screaming Eagles of Eagle Heights trapped in their nest, Mounties win by 15.

The Hooterville Shufflers were in total disarray after being shaken and forked by Kleeman’s Hay-Shakers to a stack of 38 points. In the sixth round, Derek Skogen called a lone-hand in spades. Holding the cards that could possibly set Derek, Jeff Judd gambled and took Derek cross-corners. With Derek and Jeff each taking two of the first four tricks, it came down to the fifth and final trick. Jeff led a suit ace and Derek was out of trump. Jeff’s cards and play were just good enough for him to take three of the five tricks and the 4 points away from Derek. This match also saw the low score of the week as Dewey Haag and Randy Skogen were shuffling most of the night for better cards but could only accumulate 77 points for the evening.

Standings: Kleeman’s 1-0; Jones’ Plumbing 1-0; Monte’s 1-0; New Glarus 1-0; Norsk 1-0; Eagle Heights 0-1; Hooterville Express 0-1; Hooterville Shufflers 0-1; J&M Bar 0-1; Shenanigans 0-1.

Schedule for October 8: Kleeman’s @ Hooterville Express (8:00); New Glarus @ Hooterville Shufflers (8:00); Norsk Golf Bowl @ Monte’s (7:30); Eagle Heights @ J&M Bar (8:00); Jones’ Plumbing @ Shenanigans (8:00).