PHOTO OF THE DAY: SERVING UP STICKS

Jake Weier, right, and Austin Smidt tend the grills at the chislic stand during Sunday’s Independence Day celebration in Freeman, which was once again sponsored by Merchants State Bank and staffed by volunteers with the Freeman Baseball Association. Sunday’s celebration was a hot one and featured youth baseball and softball games, as well as teener and a amateur baseball. The 14U Sticks defeated Scotland/Menno 12-2 while the 16U Sticks beat the Trappers 5-4 in extra innings. In the evening game, the Freeman Blacksox lost to Tabor 7-0. The night ended with fireworks.