An upgraded Field 2 contrasts with the old Jordan High School baseball field just as Target Field contrasts with the Metrodome.

“It’s going to be, in essence, like the Twins going from the Dome to the new field – a tremendous upgrade,” baseball coach Brent Goracke said.

Bowlers will descend on Shakopee next week in the hope of striking out a rare disease.

Todd and Julie Buckner of Shakopee are sponsoring “Pinning Down a Cure for HLH” in honor of their daughter, Abigail, who died from hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in February 2009. The fundraiser features bowling and silent auction from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7 at Louisville Lanes in Shakopee.

HLH is a rare disorder of the immune system, primarily affecting young infants and children.

Autocross was a hit at the Scott County Fair on July 30. See the video of one heat of the Compact Truck division below:

As they say, they just plain go together – beer and baseball, er, bull rides.

Scott County Fair’s beer garden sponsor is trying to “spice it up” with free rides on a mechanical bull tonight in St. Lawrence Township, near Jordan, said Jerry Lang, a Jordan resident and representative for MillerCoors.

Patrons of the fair’s Miller Lite beer garden – that means adults only – can ride the mechanical bull for free, beginning 6 p.m. Friday, July 30 and ending at midnight.

The Scott County Fair opened Wednesday at the fairgrounds at 7151 190th St. W. in St. Lawrence Township near Jordan Wednesday for a five-day run that ends Sunday.

Music, entertainment, food and livestock shows take place all weekend. Merriam’s Midway will also be open selected hours.

Grandstand events start at 7 p.m. through Saturday and include a motorcycle Supercross, truck and tractor pull and demo derby. New this year is an Autocross event Friday evening.

Runaway steer, a huge cabbage, a rabbit show and the opening ceremony are only a few of the highlights from the first day of Scott County Fair on July 28. Also, a few of the fog over the Minnesota River July 29 are included. See the photos below:

A press release from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR):

The DNR is accepting applications for six inland commercial fishing areas.

Those areas are:

• Area 13 - Becker County west of U.S. Highway 59.

• Area 14 - Portions of Becker, Wadena, and Hubbard counties.

• Area 25 - Portions of Beltrami and Clearwater counties.

• Area 30 - Includes Aitkin and Mille Lacs counties.

• Area 31 - Includes Pine, Isanti, Kanabec, and Chisago counties.

• Area 32 - Includes Cass and Crow Wing counties.

A press release from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR):

Minnesota’s 2010 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook is now available wherever hunting and angling licenses are sold, online at www.mndnr.gov, and in many Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offices across the state.

Hunters should familiarize themselves with the regulations book before the hunting season begins, since there are a number of new regulations.