By Daniel Huss

They parked in the Eden Prairie Center parking lot, strutted across Prairie Center Drive and then buzzed the The Colony of Eden Prairie lobby like a swarm of bees.

The Colony’s residents got out of their way, but not without smiling.
The buzz?

Eden Prairie’s World Series run culminates with runner-up finish

By Daniel Huss

The Eden Prairie American Legion baseball team finished its storybook season late Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning actually, by living a dream, playing in the American Legion World Series Championship game.

In truth, Eden Prairie played in two American Legion World Series Championship games, one in the heat of a Spokane, Wash., afternoon
and one in a muggy nightcap.

The Eden Prairie American Legion baseball team is like the uninvited relative who won't go home.

But that's the plan and it has been all along.

"We go into a tournament hoping to stay until the last day," said Eden Prairie Head Coach Scott Hackett.

Scott Hackett, head coach of the Eden Prairie American Legion baseball team, has said that he never counts his team out. Not only do they find a way, but they've been doing so all year.

Sunday, Eden Prairie found the way, again, scoring three runs in the ninth inning to beat Las Vegas 6-4. As a result, Eden Prairie is the only undefeated team remaining in the Americna Legion World Series Tournament.

By Daniel Huss

Matt Hamada remembers when he and buddies used to ride their BMX bikes at Eden Prairie’s skate park and then get an earful from the Eden Prairie police.

“They banned us from all EP parks,” he said, “but we kept on riding. Once, we even ran from the police.”

Eventually, Hamada worked up the nerve to show up at a city meeting.
“I figured it was my one chance to be heard,” he said.

Reluctantly, the city acquiesced.

This year the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders partnered with two Eden Prairie businesses to create their 2010/2011 Swimwear Calendar, according to a news release. Steve Lucas Photography took all the photos and the cheerleaders are wearing swimwear by The Line Up.

Steve Lucas Photography is the official photographer of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. Lucas has been recognized locally and nationally for innovations in photography and marketing, the release said.

By Daniel Huss

Three weekends ago, the Eden Prairie American Legion baseball team won a District 10 title. Two weekends ago, this same legion team won a state championship. Monday, and after playing through another long weekend, Eden Prairie won the Central Plains Regional Tournament. And did you know they boast a 40-7 record?

Next, they hop a plane and fly to Spokane, Wash., for the American Legion World Series.

What do you do with your weekends?

How do you get eight high school students to go really fast backwards?

Put them in a racing shell and have them compete in the sport of rowing, also known as crew. Crew is a popular collegiate and Olympic sport that is growing rapidly among high-school students here in Minnesota.

In fact, some 150 high school rowers and 30 boats will be at Bryant Lake in Eden Prairie for a rowing competition on Sunday. Twin Cities Youth Rowing, a program that draws high school athletes from over 20 area high schools, is hosting the competition.

By Daniel Huss

Fantasy Football guru Paul Charchian, founder of LeagueSafe, hit the start line for Saturday’s Randy’s Run with the speed of turtle; make that a turtle nursing a hamstring injury.

But Charchian didn’t care. He wasn’t there to run; instead, he was there for his good friend Randy Voas, who died last April in Afghanistan, serving his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force.
“He cajoled me into becoming a runner,” remembers Charchian, who graduated from Eden Prairie High School in 1985; “it happened during eighth-grade band camp.”