Question: How long have you been associated with the CRBL?

Answer: I have been connected to the CRBL for almost 20 years; Two as a player, 16 years as a manager/GM, and two years as a CRBL board member.

Question: What are your early memories of the CRBL and how did you ever get started in the league?

Answer: I was a fan of the league even before the Merchants organization started up. I grew up playing baseball with my cousin Jeremiah Paulson. We lived one mile apart and got together almost daily to throw the ball around. He would later go on to greatness with Augusta and the Cavaliers.

Question: How well does the Osseo community support the Merchants. 

Answer: After years of planning, a group of local baseball enthusiasts from Osseo started the Merchants. Many businessmen and community members had a hand in starting the team and building our ballpark.

The Osseo community has been there for the organization from day one. They have supported the team in person, and financially. Anybody who has tried to run a team knows you can’t do it alone. I remember the excitement of playing for a team run by Rocky Thompson and Brandt “Dusty” Freitag. They taught the finer points of the game, which helped me when I became the coach. It’s hard to keep players on the roster if they aren’t having fun.

Question: Have you had family members play or manage in the CRBL?

Answer: Yes, my cousin Jeremiah Paulson, a CRBL Hall of Famer.

Question: What are some of your fondness memories of playing or coaching in the league?

Answer: I enjoyed the excitement surrounding the team as we went from a mediocre squad fighting to be playoff eligible to a perennial powerhouse and eventually State Champions in 2018 on our home field.

Question: What are the biggest changes you seen over your tenure as a player, coach and now a board member of the league?

Answer: I have seen the league evolve over the years. In the early 2000’s the change was made to wooden bats, and the games were impacted immediately. Scoring came down. Pitching and defense became more important. No more 20-15 games.  An improvement in my opinion. There is a lot more player movement now than there used to be. Not necessarily a bad thing. Teams struggle to find enough eligible players to fill out their roster, and the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

The past 10 years have shown this league is one of the best in the state. I don’t see that changing.

Question: How do you see the CRBL moving in the future?

Answer: I think moving forward the CRBL will be in good shape as long as young men don’t lose their love for baseball, and guys continue to spend their summers donating their time to this game.