COLD SPRING &045; The Cold Spring Springers are looking to expand on a number of team and individual Minnesota state records as they enter the 2002 Minnesota Baseball Class B state tournament co-hosted by Cold Spring and St. Cloud starting Thursday, Aug. 15 at 5 p.m.

The Springers are making a Minnesota record 41st overall state baseball tournament appearance. Crookston is second with 24. The Springers first appeared in the state tournament in 1924 when they finished third.

The state amateur baseball tournament began as an idea of Roy Dunlap, city editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch. In 1924, the newspaper sponsored the tournament and invited seven teams, including Cold Spring.

After many years of disagreements and failed setups, a regional format was approved by all leagues in 1934, as eight regional champions, plus eleven outstate league champions went to the tournament. In 1936 the format was changed and just the Regional champions went to the state tournament. In 1966, the format was modified to the present setup with the Regional Champions and Runner-ups advancing to the state tournament.

Cold Spring will extend its state-leading consecutive appearances to 15 years.

The Springers have their

immediate sites set on the most state championships won. Columbia Heights holds the state record with eight. The Springs are second with seven, capturing state titles in 1955, 1973, 1981, 1986, 1996 and most recently back to back state championships in 2000 and 2001. The great Albert Lea Packers teams of the ’40s hold the record for most consecutive state tournaments won with five. The Packers won in 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, and 1948. Albert Lea is third in the state with six state championships.