Born and raised in Moorhead, Minnesota, Don played both Little League and high school baseball.  He was a pitcher for the Moorhead Dragons from 1953-1956.  He played baseball with the Williston Oilers, New Prague, the Valentine Hearts in Nebraska.  He settled in Granite Falls and was pitcher there for the Kilowatts from 1960-1972.  Over his career Don pitched 50 shut-outs and 6 No Hitters.  Betzen led Granite Falls to seven state tournaments from 1960-1974. 

Born in Litchfield and grew up in Atwater where he lived the rest of his life.  Allen served in the Army from 1951-1953.  He worked at the Atwater Post Office from 1950-1984.  Allen graduated from Atwater High School in 1947 where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball and named 1947’s most valuable senior athlete.  He played town team ball in Lake Lillian and Atwater from 1947-1960.  He coached Atwater Summer recreation boy’s baseball, Atwater BorGreLegion baseball and Atwater/Grove City High School. 

Earl was born in Kerkhoven and graduated from Morris Ag School.  He served in the Navy during World War II.  After returning to Willmar, Smith began his 32-year career of being an umpire.  He umpired high school, town team and church league games.  He was a member of the Willmar Baseball Boosters and the Southwest Minnesota Umpires Association.  Smith give Left Ranweiler credit for his umpiring career as Lefty was the one who encouraged him to start.  

After graduating from Twin Valley High School in 1952, Quinten went on to play baseball for Eastern Arizona College and Colorado State College.  He participated in the College World Series in 1955.  Quinten played amateur baseball for 25 years with the Belgrade Redmen and Dassel-Cokato Saints where he played in five state baseball tournaments.  Quinten coached high school and Legion baseball for a number of years.  He received the R.M. Farrish Award for American Legion baseball.  He was inducted into the University of Northern Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

Harlen played high school baseball with Browns Valley High School.  He also played Legion baseball with Browns Valley and New Effington, SD from ages 16-18.  Harlen played one year at SDSU.  From 1962-64, he played amateur baseball for New Effington.  He played with the Browns Valley Bombers from 1965-1986.  Harlen missed three years playing baseball locally while serving in the Army.  He pitched a perfect game for the Browns Valley Bombers in 1975.  Harlen has pitched in six decades.  Harlen is responsible for restarting the baseball program for the town of Raymond.  He coached and played for the Raymond Rockets from 1989 to the present.  He coached them to 12 MN State Tournaments and won the state championship in 2016. Harlen was involved in upgrading the Raymond Baseball Field.  Harlen is a member of the Raymond Rocket Hall of Fame and was involved in getting that program started in 2002.

Rudy began is his career in 1970 playing for Willmar’s Tee-League.  Rudy played for Willmar High School, Willmar VFW, Willmar Legion, and Willmar Rails baseball from 1978-1981.  Rudy played for two years at the Willmar Community College.  In 1984 Rudy was recruited to play first base for the University of Minnesota.  In 1985, Rudy returned to Willmar and continued to play town team baseball.  He played for the New London Spicer Twins, Raymond Rockets, and Atwater Chuckers from 1979-1999.  Rudy is known for hitting.  During the years of 1998 & 1991, Rudy batted .434 and .442 and had 103 runs batted in and hit 28 home runs. 

Steve Schneider
(Willmar, Mn)