The Delano Tigers have reached the state tournament in baseball and open up State play today (Wednesday, June 11th) at the Mini Met in Jordan. In fact, as I write this, one game is already in the books and it’s a big surprise! Below is a preview of the state tournament for Class AAA, which starts today, and runs through Saturday, with the Championship game on Saturday, June 14th at the Target Field. AM 1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and our app. will have every Delano state game this week. Below is a preview for the Class AAA state tournament. Good luck to the Tigers!
2025 Class AAA State Baseball Tournament
When? Wed, June 11th, Thursday, June 12th, and Saturday, June 14th.
Where? Mini Met in Jordan for Wed, and Thursday, Target Field, home of the Twins on Saturday.
Times: Wed, 10 AM, 12:30 PM, 3 PM, and 5:30 PM. Thursday, semifinals are at 12 Noon, and 2:30 PM. Saturday, 4:30 PM.
When does Delano Play? Wed, at 5:30 PM vs. Grand Rapids, Thursday, TBD, and if they win both games on Wed, and Thursday, they will advance to the championship game at the Target Field on Saturday and play at 4:30 PM.
Will KRWC have coverage? Yes! You can hear every game at AM 1360KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app.
Let’s take a look at the teams!
#1 Seed: Totino-Grace Eagles, 20-7.
How they got here: Won Section 5, with a 6-1 record, defeating Princeton in the finals, 2-1.
Key Players: Tommy Heifort (.306 BA, 2 HR, 15 RBI, and a 2.18 ERA on the mound.), Tyler Hand (324. BA, 2 HR, 21 RBI.) and Jack Goldsberry (5-1, 1.34 ERA.)
About the Eagles: TG is the defending state champs, and come in ranked #1 in the state, and are making their fourth state tournament appearance and their second straight.
Tommy Heifort, above, leads the Eagles both at the plate and on the mound.
#2 Seed: Mankato East Cougars, 21-3.
How they got here: Went 4-0 in Section 2, defeating Mankato West, 6-3 in the finals.
Key Players: Zach Bosse (.314 BA, 5 XB, and 20 RBI.), Tyler Randle (.329 BA, 14 RBI.), and Keaton Wojcik (7-0, 1.65 ERA.)
About the Cougars: This is just Mankato East’s third state tournament appearance, but their second straight. East had to win a very tough Section, including their rivals from Mankato West who finished ranked #2 in the state.
Mankato East, above, will rely on its deep pitching staff as they look for their first state championship in school history.
#3 Seed: Mahtomedi Zephyrs, 16-7.
How they got here: Won Section 4, going 4-0, and defeating Hill Murray in the finals, 4-2.
Key Players: Winston Wisely (Top on team in RBI’s and ace pitcher.), Cody Loida (.333 BA.) and Connor Finn (.333 BA.)
About the Zephyrs: They finished the season #6 in the state and are making their 10th state tournament appearance, winning it all in 2018 and 2021. Mahtomedi has finished as the runner up at state the last two years.
Winston Wisely, above in white, is the ace of the Zephyrs staff.
#4 Seed: Delano Tigers, 19-4.
How they got here: Won Section 6, going 4-1, defeating Orono, 8-2 in the finals.
Key Players: Brody Geislinger (.405 BA, and ace pitcher.), Carter VanBeusekom (.468 BA, 19 RBI.) and Andrew Bruett (.419 BA, and 15 RBI.)
About the Tigers: Delano is making its 10th state tournament appearance, and it’s first since 2014, where it was led by first year head coach Toby Hanson, who went on to star for the Gophers.
The Delano Tigers, above, are making their first state tournament appearance since 2014.
#5 Seed: Grand Rapids Thunderhawk’s, 17-7.
How they got here: Won Section 7, going 4-0 and defeating Hermantown in the final, 12-2.
Key Players: Caleb Gunderson (.300 BA, 2.21 ERA on the mound.), Klous Jones (.333 BA, 1.05 ERA as a pitcher.), and Joe Dick (Second on team in RBI’s.)
About the Thunderhawk’s: This will be Grand Rapids, 23rd appearance in the state tournament! Grand Rapids won it all in 1978 and 1984. This will be the fifth straight year GR has made state and outscored their opponents 32-5 in the sections.
Caleb Gunderson, above, scores a run in the Section final game vs. Hermantown.
#6 Seed: Simley Spartans, 15-7.
How they got here: Won Section 3, going 4-1 and defeating St. Thomas Academy in the finals, 4-0.
Key Players: Joe Anderson (.447 BA, 16 RBI.), Brandon Koester (.351 BA, 24 RBI.) and Caiden Peters (1.45 ERA.)
About the Spartans: Simley is making their first state tournament appearance in school history! Simley finally got past rival St. Thomas Academy in the Section finals, ending many years of coming close, but not quite getting there.
Joe Anderson, above, helped lead Simley to their first state tournament appearance in baseball in school history.
#7 Seed: Hutchinson Tigers, 18-9.
How they got here: Won Section 8, going 5-1, and defeating Fergus Falls, 12-5 in the finals.
Key Players: Brady Larson (.321, 5 XB, 1 HR, and 15 RBI.), Nathan Thode (.482, 8XB, and 14 RBI.) and Hudson Lien (2.36 ERA, 1 shutout.)
About the Tigers: Hutch is making its first state tournament appearance since 1960, and already have pulled off a huge upset, defeating the defending state champs from Totino, 5-3 in the opening round of the tournament on Wed morning at Jordan.
Nathan Thode, above, was the top hitter on the Tigers this season, hitting almost .500.
#8 Seed: Stewartville Tigers, 11-11.
How they got here: Won Section 1, going 4-0, and defeating Kasson-Mantorville, 8-4 in the finals.
Key Players: Jacob Anderson (.503 BA, 12 RBI.), Ronald Mitchell (.444 BA, 5XB.), and Jayce Klug (2.08 ERA.)
About the Tigers: The Tigers are the surprise team of the state tournament as they started the season 1-6, before rallying down the stretch and capturing a state tournament appearance with a dominating performance in Section 1AAA.
