Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
SARTELL — The Sartell Stone Poneys will hold a Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness day prior to their amateur baseball game against the Mora Blue Devils on Saturday, May 9.
A pre-game ceremony will be held prior to the 1 p.m. game at St. Cloud Orthopedics Field in Sartell. The Stone Poneys will honor former player Reece Johnson and Jaydan Pautzke, who lived and grew up in Mora, during the ceremony. Pautzke is the daughter of Mora manager Jayson Pautzke.
Johnson, who was a pitcher for the Stone Poneys, died by suicide on Oct. 22, 2023. He pitched for St. Cloud Apollo and was a key member of the Stone Poneys from 2020-2023.
Pautzke died by suicide on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. She was a 2021 Mora High School graduate and was employed at Ogilvie Elementary School as a para-professional.
It’s the third straight year that the teams have met to help raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health.
Donations will be given to mental health awareness and suicide prevention organizations. There will also be suicide prevention organizations present with resources available.
The day will include a 50/50 raffle and silent auction with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Sophie’s Squad and HOPE Community — Mora.
If you can’t attend the game and still want to support the cause,
has been set up to make a contribution.
Andy Rennecke is sports editor for St. Cloud LIVE. He focuses on writing in-depth high school and college features for the St. Cloud metro area (including Sartell, Sauk Rapids and St. Joseph) and for the ROCORI, Albany, Foley and Holdingford School Districts. Send him story ideas or feedback at andy@stcloudlive.com.