Photos By Joe Kerlin
Feature photo is of Shoreview, Minnesota, native Alec Abercrombie smiling at the camera with his father John, mother Kristen and little brother John III.
Whenever the Bison play in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it’s a reunion for many players. Through the long winter of traveling from coast to coast, finally playing in the Midwest is an opportunity to play in front of friends, family and former teammates.
Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native Chris Choles had the entire Choles clan at U.S. Bank Stadium to watch the Bison defeat the Golden Gophers.
“He especially gets up for the Gophers,” Fost Choles, Chris’s father, said in the concourse of U.S. Bank Stadium after the game.
Chris Choles entered the game in relief of starter Blake Stockert in the sixth inning. He only surrendered one hit and preserved the Bison lead until he was removed from the game in the bottom of the ninth for Kevin Folman.
Chris Choles poses for photos with his father Fost Choles and his mother Diana (pictured above).
“It was surreal,” Fost Choles said. “He’s worked really hard all year long to do a good job pitching.”
Chris Choles, along with many on the Bison baseball roster were overlooked by the Gophers coming out of high school. But the story after the Gopher game was a number of friends and family who hung around after the 3-1 victory to see the boys for the first time since Winter Break.
“It’s awesome,” said Watertown, Minnesota, native Matt Elsenpeter. He had his parents in the stands watching with the 100-or-so other members of the Bison family. “It’s a blessing to go out there and make them proud.”
The Bison will return to Minneapolis on April 4, before playing their first home game of the season against Minot State on April 5.
