Two years ago, the Maple Lake Lakers won their second state championship in Class C history, giving the North Star League a state championship. Last year, Waconia defeated Jordan at their home park to take home state. This year, Waconia is back, but the tournament is very different.
Major overhauls took place over the off season, so this season’s state tournament will be a brand-new era at all levels of Minnesota Amateur baseball. One thing that never changes, is the North Star League is well represented!
Below is info on both the Class B and C State tournament, along with a preview for all the North Star League teams competing over the next couple weeks, along with a bracket for both B, and C. KRWC Radio will once again be your home to all the North Star League teams throughout the tournaments! Good luck to all the teams from the North Star League and congrats on reaching the state tournament.
2025 Class B, and C State Baseball Tournament Info:
Where: Brownton, Gaylor, Hutchinson and Glencoe will host.
Dates: First Round, August 15th-17th, 2nd Round, August 22nd-24th, and Quarters, Semis and Finals will take place between August 29th-September 1st.
Class B Finals: Monday, September 1st, 1 PM @ Hutchinson.
Class C Finals: Sunday, August 31st, 7 PM @ Brownton.
Where can I listen? At AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. of course! All pregame will begin about fifteen minutes before first pitch, Schedule subject to change. You can find our state schedule for Class C and B baseball at krwc1360.com in our sports section.
This weekend’s second round matchups involving North Star league teams.
Friday, August 22nd. Bird Island@Hutchinson, 7:30 PM. You can hear this broadcast live at 7:15 at AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app.
Team: Hutch Huskies from Region 6B, went 13-4 this season.
State Tournament History: 21st.
So far at state: Will be their first game after receiving a first-round bye after winning Region 6B.
Key Players: Matt Piechowski (.491 BA, 8 doubles), Jake Wendlund (.383 BA, 4 HR, and 23 RBI.), and K. Schuman who finished second in the NSL with a .465 BA.
Season Recap: The Tigers mashed their way to a second-place finish in the North Star league, led by Wendlund who won the triple crown in the NSL. The Tigers have a deep balanced lineup but will need their pitching staff to step up if they want to go far at state.
The Hutch Huskies are back in state and looking to make a run starting in their home park on Friday night.
Team: Bird Island Bullfrogs from Region 8B, went 11-4 this season.
State Tournament History: 12th. This is the Bullfrogs seventh straight season at state and finished runner up in 2023.
So far at state: Defeated Prior Lake, 3-0 in the first round.
Key Players: Dylan Gass (.429 BA.), Trent Athman (.333 BA, and led the Frogs in doubles.), Aiden Elfering, P.
Season recap: Very young team, but also very talented, as they finished runner up at the 2023 state tournament. Their ace pitcher is Aiden Elfering, who pitches for Dubuque college in Iowa. Elfering struck out sixteen in the Frogs opening round win over Prior Lake. If the Huskies can get to their bullpen, they could be in good shape.
Adam Elfering, above, delivers a pitch against Prior Lake last week in the first round of state.
Saturday, August 23rd. Delano vs. Hinckley@Hutchinson, 1:30 PM. Pregame begins at 1:15 PM on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app.
Team: Delano Athletics, from region 7B, went 21-9 on the season.
State Tournament History: 28th. Class C State Champs in 1988. Last appeared in state in 2023.
So far at state: Defeated Northfield, 2-1 in first round.
Key Players: Toby Hanson (.376 BA, 6 HR, and 25 RBI.), Michael Reem (.308 BA, 1 HR, 23 RBI) and Mason Henry (.368 BA, 3 HR, 22 RBI.)
Season Recap: The A’s started a brand-new era as they left the NSL for the Crow River league this spring. Delano also revamped its lineup, and the results were good. Still a great hitting team, with a deep lineup and received a great start from Watertown draftee Jackson Hunter in the first round. Will they have enough pitching if they get to next weekend? Let’s hope we find out!
Former Gopher and current Delano head baseball coach Toby Hanson smashed six home runs this year for the A’s.
Team: Hinckley Knights, from region 2B, went 15-11 during the regular season.
State Tournament History: 26th.
So far at state: Received a first-round bye as the winner of region 2B.
Key Players: Max Sickler, Dylan Marciliones, and Cale Haugen.
Season Recap: This is another very young team that can absolutely smash the ball. Lots of college kids including Marcilionis from St. John’s and Haugen from Mankato St. The reason the Knights only finished four games above .500 is pitching. They might even have to rely on 48-year-old Chris Olean a former St. Thomas star pitcher, now trying to get by with guile and keeping the opponents off balance. Good matchup for A’s.
Chris Olean, head baseball coach at St. Thomas is also one of the Knights top pitchers at the age of 48.
Sunday, August 23rd, Maple Lake vs. Young America@Hutchinson, 1:30 PM. Pregame starting at 1:15 on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app.
Team: Maple Lake Lakers, from region 6B, went 15-12 overall on the season.
State Tournament History: 35th, Class B Champs, 1931, Class A Champs, 1939, Class C Champs, 2012, and 2023. Last season lost to Farming in first round, 4-1 as defending state champs.
So far at state: Defeated Ada, 2-1 in the first round.
Key Players: Ben Clapp, .558 BA, 2 HR, 26 RBI, Nate Zander, .440 BA, 9 extra base hits, Donnie Mavencamp, .408 BA, 17 RBI, Logan Orazem, .301 BA, and Hayden Frank, P, 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA.
Season Recap: INJURIES! Losing do everything Hunter Malachek for the season and Ben Clapp for the beginning of the season set the Lakers back, but here we are in August and Maple Lake is back at state! Last week the Lakers once again found magic at state as Ben Goelz homered in the 9th, and Nathan Zander homered in the 10th to lift the Lakers to the second round.
Nathan Zander, above, hit the go-ahead home run for Maple Lake in the 10th inning last week in a 2-1 win over Ada.
Team: Young America Cardinals, from region 7B, went 16-6-1 this season.
State Tournament History: 12th. Finished 3rd at state last season.
So far at state: Received first round bye as winners of region 7B.
Key Players: Dane Pauly (.400 BA), Braydon Kohls (led the team in doubles) and Brice Panning, P (Avg. 10 Ks per 9 innings.).
Season Recap: Penning at 28 years old is their ace pitcher and is tough to hit as a lefty. Their top hitter Pauly is only 17 years old but is a very tough out at the plate. The Cards who have a good mix of young players and veterans at times struggles at the plate, which could go to the Lakers advantage if Hayden Frank is on.
The Cards leading hitter Dane Pauly, above, is entering his Senior year of High School at Norwood Young America.
Sunday, August 23rd. Howard Lake vs. Windom@Brownton, 4 PM. Pregame begins at 3:45 PM on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app.
Team: Howard Lake Orphans from region 6C, went 11-8-1 overall this season.
State Tournament History: 18th, first appearance since 2020.
So far at state: Defeated Brownton, 4-2 in the first round.
Key Players: Garret Zander (.404 BA), Jake Gruenhagen (.355 BA), Jared Koch, P (3-3 with a 3.72 ERA.), Bennett Anderson (.317 BA), and Noah Bush.
Season Recap: After a slow start the Orphans went 8-3 down the stretch and have five hitters on the leaderboard for batting avg in the North Star League. Deep pitching staff may be aging a little, but still a tough out. Last week the Orphans knocked off the home team Brownton Bruins as Zach Kuefler went 3-4 at the plate with two RBI.
The Orphans, above, got hot down the stretch including a 4-2 win at Brownton in the first round of the state tournament last weekend.
Team: Windom Pirates from Region 10C, went 24-1 during the regular season.
State Tournament History: 21st. Last appearance 2021.
So far at state: Defeated Elrosa, 8-2 in the first round.
Key Players: Lake Gilbertson (2-4 with a HR in first round), Quentin Tietz (2-4 with 4 SB in first round) and Collin Lowell (picked up win vs Elrosa in first round.)
Season Recap: The Pirates sport a gaudy 25-1 record coming into this game and have seven hitters that are hitting over .300. This is a very deep team, and if Tietz gets on, he causes all kinds of problems with his speed. The one Achilles heel is the Pirates do not have a true ace on the mound.
Alex Fink #2, above, celebrates a home run during the Pirates Region 10 Tournament run.
Class C State Amateur Baseball Bracket: 2025 State Tournament Bracket – Class C
Class B State Amateur Baseball Bracket: https://minnesotabaseballassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-State-Tournament-Bracket-Class-B-Class-B-10.pdf
