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.
Class B State Quarterfinal Preview
Saturday, August 30th – Delano @ Hutchinson, 11 AM. Live on KRWC – Pregame begins at 10:45 AM.
Team: Hutch Huskies from Region 6B, went 15-4 this season.
State Tournament History: 21st.
So far at state: After a first-round bye, the Huskies defeated Bird Island last weekend, 5-4. Tyler Schiller went 2-4 with a double and 3 RBIs in the win.
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 Huskies have a deep balanced lineup but will need their pitching staff to step up if they want to go far at state. Last week the Huskies banged the ball around the ballpark, but Bird Island collected eleven hits in the loss. Huskies will have to pitch better against a lineup as deep as Delano’s.
The Huskies, above, have home field advantage this weekend, but face a very familiar face in Delano on Saturday.
Team: Delano Athletics, from region 7B, went 22-9 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, and Hinckley, 7-2 in the second round. Jackson Hunter (A Watertown draftee) went eight innings allowing two runs and striking out eight.
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 two rounds. A’s are very familiar with the Huskies from their days in the NSL, but if they win over Hutch, will they have enough pitching if they get to next weekend?
Toby Hanson, above, #24, celebrates a home run at last years Regions, led the A’s with six home runs this year, and added another one last weekend.
Quarterfinal Matchups in Class B.
Saturday, Delano @ Hutchinson, 11 AM @Hutchinson, winner gets winner of Raymond and Young America.
Saturday, Raymond vs. Young America @ Brownton, 1:30 PM. Raymond from 8B have reached the quarterfinals by defeating Webster, 3-0 and St. Stephen, 6-2. Young America after a first-round bye, knocked out Maple Lake last week, 7-3.
Saturday, Cold Spring vs. Nisswa @ Brownton, 4 PM. The Springers out hit Union Hill, 8-5 in the first round, and got past Red Wing, 4-1 in 10 innings in the second round. Nisswa had cruised so far, with wins over Kimball, 6-0 and Fergus Falls, 8-2.
Saturday, Foley vs. New Ulm @ Brownton, 6:30 PM. The Lumberjacks have been on point so far, rolling over Watkins, 8-4 and shutting out Jordan, 4-0. New Ulm received a first-round bye, before sneaking past Pierz, 3-2 in 10 last weekend.
Class C Quarterfinals Preview.
Team: Howard Lake Orphans from region 6C, went 13-8-1 overall this season.
State Tournament History: 18th, first appearance since 2020.
So far at state: Defeated Brownton, 4-2 in the first round, and Windom, 3-1 in the second round. Jared Koch picked up the win vs. Windom, while Noah Bush went 2-4.
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. Even more impressive was their 3-1 win over 24-1 Windom last week. The Orphans have caught fire at the right time.
The Orphans, above, have hit their stride in the postseason, and are just one win away from the state quarterfinals.
Team: Pierz Lakers from Region 9C, went 16-1 on the season.
State Tournament History: 16th, lost to Carver, 4-1 in the first-round last summer.
So far at state: Defeated Mora, 2-1 in the first round, and shut out Courtland, 9-0 in the second round.
Key Players: Ryan Chmieleski, P (0.64 ERA.), Kaden Happke (.475 BA.) and Carson Petron (.429 BA.)
Season Recap: The Lakers have rolled all season and after a scare in first round against Mora, the Lakers blasted one of the favorites to win it all, Courtland, 9-0 in the second round. At the plate the Happke’s have been hot! Kaden, and Kolton, went a combined, 3-7 with 4 RBI in the Pierz win over Courtland. The biggest challenge for the Orphans will be Pitcher Ryan Chmieleski, who sports a 2-0 record with 0.25 ERA in the first two state games, including ten strikeouts in the first round.
Pierz, above, can beat you two ways on offense with the home run and with the small ball approach.
Quarterfinal Matchup’s in Class C.
Saturday, Farming vs. Hanska @ Brownton, 11 AM. Farming is 2-0 so far with a 7-0 shutout of Milroy and a 2-1 victory over Cologne. Hanska defeated Hawley, 6-4 in the first round and the Pierz Brewers, 2-0 in the second round.
Saturday, Le Seaur vs. Regal @ Hutchinson, 1:30 PM. Le Seur has relied on pitching its first two rounds with a 2-0, and 1-0 win over Zumbrota, and Leavenworth. Regal also has had staller pitching, defeating Drummond, 2-0 and Waconia, 3-1.
Saturday, Glencoe vs. Roseau @ Hutchinson, 4:00 PM. Glencoe shut out Morris, 5-0 in the first round, and then exploded for seven runs in the 10th to pull away from Paynesville in the second round. Roseau cruised past Cannon Falls, 12-0 in the first round, and Opole in the second round.
Saturday, Howard Lake vs. Pierz @ Hutchinson, 6:30 PM. Winner of this game will get the winner of Glencoe and Roseau.
2025 Class B Baseball Bracket:
2025 Class C Baseball Bracket:
