BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. --- The Minnesota State High
School League’s state baseball tournament, played annually since 1947, is this
week at four championship-round locations. The Class A tournament is played at
Chaska Athletic Park and Jordan; Class AA in St. Cloud, Class AAA at Siebert
Field on the University of Minnesota campus and Class AAAA at CHS Field in
downtown St. Paul. Championship games in the four enrollment classes are
scheduled for Saturday, June 16 at Target Field. In the event of inclement
weather, the make-up date is Monday, June 18 at Target Field.
FAST FACTS
The Schedule
CLASS A
Thursday, June 14
At Chaska Athletic Park
Quarterfinals
Sacred Heart (15-5) vs. No. 1 Heritage Christian Academy
(20-3), 10 a.m.
No. 5 Parkers Prairie (18-9) vs. No. 4 Wabasso (14-4),
12:30 p.m.
Hinckley-Finlayson (14-4) vs. No. 2 Sleepy Eye (16-5), 3
p.m.
Rushford Peterson (15-8) vs. No. 3 South Ridge (19-5),
5:30 p.m.
Friday, June 15
At Mini Met, Jordan
Consolation semifinals --- 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m.
Consolation final --- 3 p.m.
At Chaska Athletic Park
Championship semifinals --- Noon, 2:30 p.m.
Third place --- 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 16, at Target Field
Championship --- 10 a.m.
CLASS AA
Thursday, June 14
At Dick Putz Field, St. Cloud
Quarterfinals
St. Cloud Cathedral (17-8) vs. No. 1 Marshall School,
Duluth (21-4), 10 a.m.
No. 5 Caledonia (21-2) vs. No. 4 Minnehaha Academy
(16-5), 12:30 p.m.
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (22-2) vs. No. 2 Maple Lake
(22-2), 3 p.m.
Jordan (14-8) vs. No. 3 Paynesville Area (19-4), 5:30
p.m.
Friday, June 15
At Joe Faber Field, St. Cloud
Consolation semifinals --- 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m.
Consolation final --- 3 p.m.
At Dick Putz Field, St. Cloud
Championship semifinals --- Noon, 2:30 p.m.
Third place --- 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 16, at Target Field
Championship --- 1 p.m.
CLASS AAA
Thursday, June 14
At Siebert Field, University of Minnesota
Quarterfinals
Grand Rapids (10-15) vs. No. 1 Mahtomedi (16-4), 10 a.m.
No. 5 Willmar (13-6) vs. No. 4 Alexandria Area (15-6), 12:30
p.m.
Red Wing (14-9) vs. No. 2 Rocori (20-5), 3 p.m.
South St. Paul (14-9) vs. No. 3 New Ulm (20-3), 5:30 p.m.
Friday, June 15
At University of Northwestern, St. Paul
Consolation semifinals --- Noon, 2:30 p.m.
Consolation final --- 5 p.m.
At Siebert Field, University of Minnesota
Championship semifinals --- Noon, 2:30 p.m.
Third place --- 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 16, at Target Field
Championship --- 4 p.m.
CLASS AAAA
Thursday, June 14
At CHS Field, St. Paul
Quarterfinals
Eastview (15-9) vs. No. 1 Minnetonka (20-4), 10 a.m.
No. 5 Lakeville North (16-7) vs. No. 4 St.
Michael-Albertville (21-4), 12:30 p.m.
Mounds View (17-9) vs. No. 2 Stillwater (21-3), 3 p.m.
Wayzata (11-10) vs. No. 3 Blaine (21-3), 5:30 p.m.
Friday, June 15
At Hopkins High School
Consolation semifinals --- 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m.
Consolation final --- 3 p.m.
At CHS Field, St. Paul
Championship semifinals --- Noon, 2:30 p.m.
Third place --- 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 16, at Target Field
Championship --- 7 p.m.
Official Tournament Ball: Wilson WTA1010 BHS1-SST
Tickets: St. Cloud, single session --- $8 adults, $5
student; CHS Field and Siebert Field, single session --- $9 adults; $6 student;
Target Field, championship session --- $10 adult; $7 student.
GrandStadiumTV: GrandStadiumTV will live stream the
championship games from Target Field. For more information, www.prep45.com .
News media credentials: A news media credential is
required to cover this event.
Results: Results, boxscores and summaries will be posted
on the League’s website, www.mshsl.org
Social media: Follow the tournament on Twitter @MSHSLJohn
and @MSHSL.
2018 Tournament Preview
Class A
Sacred Heart (15-5) vs. No. 1 Heritage Christian Academy
(20-3) --- This is the third state tournament trip for Sacred Heart and first
since 2006. Juniors Evan Sczepanski and Brenden Bethke are the Eagles’ potent
pitching duo. Both have earned-run averages just over two runs per game.
Heritage Christian Academy is making its state tournament debut. Minnesota
Twins draft pick Seth Halvorson, a senior pitcher, has a 1.14 ERA. The Eagles
have a team ERA of 1.55.
No. 5 Parkers Prairie (18-9) vs. No. 4 Wabasso (14-4) ---
Parkers Prairie, the defending Class A champion, is making its third
consecutive state tournament trip. Durin the section tournament, Parkers
Prairie had to come through the elimination bracket, winning five games in four
days. This is the fourth state tournament trip for Wabasso and first since
2008. The Rabbits hit .358 as a team and are lead by senior infielder Jacob
Plaetz at .541.
Hinckley-Finlayson (14-4) vs. No. 2 Sleepy Eye (16-5) ---
Hinckley-Finlayson returns after a one-year hiatus. The Jaguars enter the state
tournament on an 11-game winning streak. Sleepy Eye has qualified for the first
time since 2000. The Indians were 5-0 in Section 2A play, including an 11-5
victory over Springfield, who defeated Sleepy Eye in a doubleheader sweep on
May 17. Those are the last two losses for the Indians.
Rushford Peterson (15-8) vs. No. 3 South Ridge (19-5) ---
Rushford-Peterson’s only other state tournament appearance was in 2005. The
Trojans, on a six-game winning streak, are paced offensively by senior Dawson
Dahl, who is batting .500. South Ridge, the Section 7A champion, is making its
state tournament debut. Senior pitcher Nick Carlson has a 0.85 ERA in just more
than 41 innings of work.
Class AA
St. Cloud Cathedral (17-8) vs. No. 1 Marshall School,
Duluth (21-4) --- St. Cloud Cathedral, one of the most storied high school
baseball programs in Minnesota, is making its 18th state tournament
appearance. The Crusaders ended the regular season with a doubleheader loss to
Pierz, but then defeated the Pioneers in the Section 6AA finale. Marshall
School finished fourth in the 2017 state tournament in its debut. A loss to
Esko in the Section 7AA tournament sent the Hilltoppers to the elimination
bracket. To win the section crown, Marshall had to beat Esko twice, which it
did, including 23-1 in the final. Junior pitcher Ben Pedersen has allowed just
two earned runs this season.
No. 5 Caledonia (21-2) vs. No. 4 Minnehaha Academy (16-5)
--- This is the state tournament debut for Caledonia. Junior second baseman Payton
Schott leads the Warriors with a .479 batting average. Junior pitcher Casey
Storlie is close behind at .468. Minnehaha Academy is the two-time defending
Class AA champion. Senior Noah Dehne leads the Redhawks with a .467 batting
average while junior pitcher Brock Brumley is 8-1 with a 1.17 ERA.
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (22-2) vs. No. 2 Maple Lake
(22-2) --- Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton is in the tournament for the second time and
first since 2015. The Rebels are on a nine-game winning streak entering the state
tournament. D-G-F has hit 22 home runs this season. Maple Lake is making its
third consecutive state tournament appearance and third overall. The Irish
finished third in last season’s state tournament. Senior Grant Mergen is the
program’s record holder for career innings pitched and strikeouts.
Jordan (14-8) vs. No. 3 Paynesville Area (19-4) ---
Jordan returns to the state tournament for the first time since 2007. The
Hubmen ended that state tournament drought with a 5-0 run through the Section
2AA tournament. Paynesville Area bounced back from a loss to Luverne in the
Section 3AA playoffs to defeat the Cardinals with the section crown on the
line. Senior third baseman Grant Ludwig has already played in the state
football tournament this school year and participated in the wrestling state
tournament.
Class AAA
Grand Rapids (10-15) vs. No. 1 Mahtomedi (16-4) --- Grand
Rapids has qualified for the state tournament for the 18th time and
first since 2012. The Thunderhawks have won five of their past six games
entering the tournament. Senior Mike Heitkamp is hitting a team-best .394. Two
seasons ago, Mahtomedi lost in the Class AAA championship game, and last
season, the Zephyrs were sixth in the field. They enter the tournament on a
seven-game winning streak.
No. 5 Willmar (13-6) vs. No. 4 Alexandria Area (15-6) ---
Willmar snapped a 31-year state tournament dryspell with four victories in the
Section 6AAA playoffs, including one of Waconia, the 2017 Class AAA champion.
Senior shortstop Jon Broman is batting .350 for the Cardinals. Alexandria Area
defeated Willmar twice during the Central Lakes Conference schedule. Alexandria
was fourth in the eight-team field in 2017. Senior pitcher Brock Anderson, a
North Dakota State recruit, is batting .444.
Red Wing (14-9) vs. No. 2 Rocori (20-5) --- Red Wing is
making its fourth state tournament appearance and second in a row. Senior
pitcher Teddy Tauer is the school’s all-times victories leader. Rocori is in
the tournament for the ninth time and first since 2016. The Spartans won five
elimination games in the section tournament.
South St. Paul (14-9) vs. No. 3 New Ulm (20-3) --- It’s
been nearly 50 years since South St. Paul has played in the baseball state
tournament. The Packers, whose only other appearance was in 1969, knocked of
Holy Angels twice in the section tournament to advance. Senior infielder Nathan
Brandecker leads the Packers in hitting with a .344 average. New Ulm is no
stranger to the state tournament with 20 previous appearances. The Eagles are paced
by senior catcher Hunter Ranweiler with a .433 batting average.
Class AAAA
Eastview (15-9) vs. No. 1 Minnetonka (20-4) --- Eastview,
the Class AAA champion in 2012, is making its second state tournament
appearance. Senior pitcher Tommy Springer has thrown two no-hitters and has
five complete-game shutouts. He has a 0.65 ERA. Minnetonka, which returns for
the first time since 2013, is led by skipper Paul Twenge, who recorded his 900th
career victory this season. Senior Ben Stolar has a .996 fielding percentage.
No. 5 Lakeville North (16-7) vs. No. 4 St.
Michael-Albertville (21-4) --- Lakeville North placed third during the 2017
state tournament. The Panthers, making their sixth consecutive state tournament
appearance, Oklahoma State recruit Nathanial Peterson is 5-0 with a 0.98 ERA
and is batting .312. St. Michael-Albertville is in the state tournament for the
sixth time and first since 2015. The Knights are 6-1 in their past five games.
Mounds View (17-9) vs. No. 2 Stillwater (21-3) --- Mounds
View was the Class AAA champion in 2013 and 2014. The Mustangs have qualified
eight times overall. Senior outfielder Ty Koehn leads Mounds View with a .474
average. Stillwater, making its eighth state tournament appearance, defeated
Mounds View 5-3 during the Suburban East Conference schedule. Junior pitcher
Drew Gilbert has 75 strikeouts in 42 innings.
Wayzata (11-10) vs. No. 3 Blaine (21-3) --- Wayzata was
the Class AAAA champion in 2016, the first year of the four-class event. The
Trojans are led by junior infielder Keegan Nickel, who is batting .385. Blaine
returns for the second time and first since 2016. The Bengals bat .339 as a
team, and is paced by senior infielder Jake Dorf at .436. Senior pitcher Seth
Miller and junior pitcher Jason Kaul each threw no-hitters this season.
2017 State Tournament Recap
Class A
Championship --- Parkers Prairie 6, Legacy Christian
Academy 3
Third place --- Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove
12, Wabasha-Kellogg 0, 5 inn.
Consolation final --- Fosston 10, Martin Luther/GHEC/Truman
0, 6 inn.
Class AA
Championship --- Minnehaha Academy 6, Pierz 4
Third place --- Maple Lake 7, Marshall School, Duluth 6
Consolation final --- Rochester Lourdes 11, New
London-Spicer 5
Class AAA
Championship --- Waconia 6, Hibbing 1
Third place --- Marshall 10, Alexandria Area 9
Consolation final --- St. Thomas Academy 9, Mahtomedi 1
Class AAAA
Championship --- Eden Prairie 5, Forest Lake 1
Third place --- Lakeville North 4, Woodbury 3
Consolation final --- Wayzata 11, Maple Grove 3
