Community Involvement/Activities
2013 Batting Cage
Lake Region Electric Cooperative donated and erected the poles with hardware for a new batting cage on September 30th 2013. Thanks to Sid Wisness who played an integral part in making this happen.
2013 2nd Annual Dick Buntje golf tournament held August 17th at Balmoral Golf Course.
Two OTC Teams at the Max Bat hole competing for the longest drive. Participants used a wood bat to hit a golf ball on this hole. "Friends of Baseball" put this event on raising money for the OTC summer baseball program.
2013 West Battle Lake Spring Clean-up was a late one and took place on Sunday evening April 28th.
This event tool place starting at 7 pm at the Lions Park Lake Access but was moved to the Shoreline area due to open water. There were approximately twelve players and four adults assisting in the cleanup. Three 4-wheelers were used in the cleanup.
2012 1st Annual Dick Buntje Golf Scramble
The 1st Annual Dick Buntje Golf Scramble took place at 1:30 Saturday, August 18th at Balmoral Golf Course near Battle Lake. Sixty golfers, comprised of 15 teams of 4 players each competed to benefit Battle Lake Youth Baseball.
The tournament also included putting a baseball 25 feet across a home plate and into a catcher's mitt. Those who succeeded were given a ticket for a drawing for a Ping putter, held at the end of the tournament. Another event required the players to tee off on #15, a par three, by hitting their golf ball with a baseball bat. A new Club Car was offered as a prize by Alexandria Golf Cars, for a hole in one on hole #7.
The innaugural golf tournament which was coordinated by Battle Lake High Alums Gene Kelm and Barry Nelson raised over $4,000.
Dick Buntje was a Business Education Teacher, Athletic Director and taught Drivers Education beginning in 1959. He also coached Basketball and Baseball for Battle Lake High School, retiring in 1993.
The winning golf team consisting of Brian H, Monte H, John M, and Sean K received a Max bat.
2012 New Concession Stand and seating area
A seating area and baseball concession stand were erected July 2012 near Dick Buntje Field prior to the Babe Ruth District Tournament. A special thanks goes out to Joe H, Gene K, Jon T, Doug T for all the work on the Concession Stand and all of the Babe Ruth/Legion parents who helped as well.
2012 Mike Malecki Tree Planting Event
The friends and family of the late Mike Malecki had a Tree Planting Ceremony near the Dick Buntje Baseball field during the Spring of 2012. A plaque was placed near the tree in June 2012.
2010 Tree Planting Event
2010 Tree Planting Event around the Dugouts at the Dick Buntje Baseball Field in Battle Lake. Three replacement trees were planted in 2012 along with six pine trees beyond the center field fence.
West Battle Lake Cleanup
The annual West Battle Lake Cleanup event done by members of the OTC High School Baseball team, the Malmstrom families and several community members during the spring after the ice fishing season. This event began in 2008.
New Dugouts and Scoreboard
New Dugouts were constructed and a scoreboard was placed in 2009. A ceremony took place with media in attendance and ceremonial first pitches thrown out by Dick Buntje's grandsons during the OTC vs B-H High School Varsity Baseball Game.
