Rapid City native Mark Ellis went on the disabled list on June 7. His replacement, Jemile Weeks, hit .362 in 13 games during his absence. (Photo courtesy of the Oakland A's/Michael Zagaris)

The Oakland Athletics baseball team is faced with an age-old dilemma–youth or experience.

At the center of it all is Rapid City’s pride, Mark Ellis, who is the longest tenured player on the A’s roster. Ellis has been the starting second baseman for Oakland for nine years. But in 2008 Oakland used it’s first-round draft pick to select University of Miami second baseman Jemile Weeks, and they have been grooming him to take over. But is the future now?

Ryan Menei is interviewed by the Rapid City media following the announcement that he will return to the Rush for the 2011-12 season with teammate Konrad Reeder. Menei broke the single-season franchise records for goals and points scored during his first year with the club. (Photo Seth A. McConnell/IDS)

The phrase of the day from the Rush camp was, “bringing back these two was a no-brainer,” as the club announced the first two signings for the 2011-12 season: Ryan Menei and Konrad Reeder at Boston’s Pizza on Monday.

In Menei’s first year in Rapid City he broke the single-season records for goals scored (39), points (87), and powerplay goals (11).

“I tried to get Ryan for three years, and I think eventually he got sick of me calling him. To come one goal shy of 40 in a 66-game season and lead our team with 7 game-winning goals is an incredible accomplishment,” said Rush head coach Joe Ferras. “Ryan gave the fans not only several highlight-reel goals, but the timing of the goals, evident by his 7 game-winners, was instrumental in us claiming the regular season Turner Conference Title.”

Tanner Chleborad was selected in the 24th round of the MLB draft on Tuesday. (Photo Kevin Cox/IDS)

Rapid City Post 22’s standout pitcher, Tanner Chleborad, was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 24th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday.

The 6’5” 185 pound Chleborad was the 723rd pick overall and found out just prior to Post 22 taking the field Tuesday night against Pierre.

“Awesome,” Chleborad told IDS about how he was feeling after being selected. “I wasn’t expecting it. I have been watching since this morning and wasn’t expecting to be drafted period. But then my dad called me, and my heart just dropped. It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m still shaking.”

Tanner Chleborad and Sam Wolff projected to be drafted

Uncertainty surrounds Post 22's Tanner Chleborad entering the MLB Draft June 6-8. However, he has been projected within the top 20 rounds by several teams. (Photo Kevin Cox/IDS)

(Rapid City, SD.)—The 1st round of the Major League Baseball Draft starts today and IDS has learned that two Rapid City players are projected selections. The question is: how high will they go?

The answer is quite complex.

Unlike the NFL draft, which has 7 rounds, and the vast majority of players are selected from elite NCAA programs, the MLB draft is an entirely different beast. It has 50 rounds, and players are selected from high school, junior college, and from four-year college programs.

Brian VanOverschelde, owner of Outlaw Indoor Skate Park in Black Hawk, seemingly defies gravity at the apex of a ramp trick. (Kevin Cox/IDS)

Adam Erickson is just 21 years old, and he has already snapped both ankles. He’s knocked out his two front teeth and shattered his nose.  Most recently, he cracked vertebrae in his back. On a random Tuesday night at the Outlaw Indoor Skateboard Park in Blackhawk, Erickson aims his skateboard at a 10-foot ramp going full speed. A group of 11 other young men watch with their boards on the opposite end, waiting their turn. It’s quiet, except for the rolling echo of wheels on wood. Erickson’s approach is spot on, but he’s made a slight miscalculation. His bottom foot is about an eighth of an inch too low. It’s just enough to throw off his balance when he reaches the sharp rise of the half pipe. His board comes out from underneath him, his feet point to the sky, his head and back gravitate downward. Erickson’s helmet hits first, followed by his shoulders.

“Ooohhh,” the group lets out a collective sigh.

Erickson slides down the ramp headfirst and comes to a stop. No one says anything. No one comes down to his end to offer assistance. He lays on the ramp, holding his head. He blinks his eyes a few times, trying to regain a sense of his surroundings. After a moment he pushes himself up, grabs his board, and skates to the back of the line. The next skater is already on his way down the ramp by the time Erickson gets there. He gets a little pat on the shoulder, and a few skaters later, Erickson lands the trick he tried only five minutes prior.

Series defined by unusual moments

The controversial "no goal" decision in Game 5 was just one of the unusual moments in the Turner Conference Finals. (Photo Seth A. McConnell/IDS)

Loveland, COLORADO — It seems fitting after all of the wild events of the Turner Conference Finals that it is knotted at 3-3 and going to a Game 7.

We’ve seen records fall, a triple overtime, penalty shots, a controversial “no goal” that may have been a goal, and a hand pass that shouldn’t have been a goal. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what is in store for Game 7 tonight.

When the Rush played against Fort Wayne in the conference semis, the series was filled with drama: suspensions, great goals, and trash talking from fans, players and a general manger. On top of it all, the series went to a decisive Game 5.

Even though the Colorado Eagles and the Rush have the best rivalry in the CHL, I couldn’t possibly imagine a series any stranger than the one with Fort Wayne. I was wrong.

Commentary by Jake Nordbye

Fort Wayne Komets general manager/vice president David Franke may receive a fine this week from the Central Hockey League resulting from comments he made to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette in the aftermath of Ryan Menei’s concussion. The most serious criticism of Franke’s irresponsible tirade against the Rush coaching and medical staff is that he crossed the line from good old-fashioned hockey trash-talking into the arena of science and medical diagnosis where he has no expertise and no business. The last thing hockey needs right now is a general manager who tries to undermine the CHL’s effort to reduce and treat dangerous, potentially career-ending concussions.

Mr. Franke should receive a hefty fine and he should apologize to the Rush medical staff and players. Here’s why:

Ryan Menei rides his stick like a horse at the end of the morning skate Friday in Fort Wayne. (Photo Seth A. McConnell/IDS)

Ryan Menei arrived in Fort Wayne, Indiana last night and will play tonight in Game 4 when the Rush meet the Komets’ at 6:05 p.m. MST.. The Rush lead the best-of-five series, 2-1.

I caught up with Menei after the morning skate for a quick interview.

Jake Nordbye:

Ryan, first of all it’s good to see you back man. I know a lot of Rush fans out there feel the same. It must be good to be back on the ice.

Ryan Menei:

Actually, you know what, it is kind of surreal. With the travel day yesterday and what happened Wednesday night. It was 4-1 with ten minutes to play and I was unpacking my bags at that point. I had to pass a few concussion tests and I had to skate. I was headache free and all went according to plan. It was just a matter of the outcome of the game two night’s ago.

Timetable for the star forward’s return unknown

Ryan Menei (left) and Sean O'Connor (right) just before the hit that knocked Menei out of the game with a concussion. (Photo Seth A. McConnell/IDS)

Two minutes and 27 seconds into Saturday night’s game, Rapid City Rush forward Ryan Menei was on the receiving end of a blindside hit by Fort Wayne’s Sean O’Connor. Menei then laid on the ice for several minutes before being assisted to the bench. He left the game and did not return. After the game, the Rush confirmed that Menei did suffer a concussion as a result of the blow and that it is not yet known how long Menei will be out of action.

“He was held out for precautionary reasons because he showed signs of a concussion as a result of the hit,” said Rush trainer Osama Kassab. “We honestly don’t know the severity of it and we won’t know his time frame until we observe him over the next 24 hours.”

IDS Podcast: Rapid City Rush versus Fort Wayne

Let us know your thoughts. What do you see as key factors in the series? How many games will it go? Predictions?