Three teams from the Wright County Area have advanced to the 2026 Class B, and Class C State Amateur Baseball tournament, Maple Lake, Howard Lake and Delano. Delano the defending state champs in Class B, won District 7B and received a first round bye, and will start their defense of their championship next Saturday, August 29th. Meanwhile, Maple Lake, and Howard Lake will both play this weekend. Included below is a preview of both Maple Lake and Howard Lake’s games this weekend, and a bracket for the Class B and C state tournament. You can hear both Maple Lake and Howard Lake’s games on AM1360 KRWC, krwc1360.com and on our app. good luck to the Lakers and Orphans this weekend!
Class B First Round, Maple Lake vs. Watertown @ Shakopee, Saturday, August 22nd, 11 AM.
Maple Lake Lakers:
Record, District: 14-12, 6B.
State Tournament Appearance: #36, 11th straight, state champs in 1931, 1939, 2012, and 2023.
Last Year at state: Defeated Ada, 2-1 and then lost to Young America, 7-3.
Key Players: Hunter Malachek, (.397 BA, 6 doubles and 14 RBIs. 5-3 on the mound with 109 k’s in 73 innings.), Nate Zander, (.299 BA, 5 HR, 5 doubles and 18 RBI.), and Ben Clapp, (.347, 2 HR, 17 RBI.)
About the Lakers: Forget about the record, like every year it’s irrelevant, all the Lakers do is win this time of year! Malacheck who led the North Star league in strikeouts and was 2023 state tourney MVP can pitch them into the final weekend, but this team is so much more than Malachek. Deep, hard hitting veteran lineup, led by Clapp and rising star Zander have seen it all over the last ten years and they always show up for state. Only issue for the Lakers is pitching depth. The Lakers did add veteran John Euerle and Joh Webber from Buffalo for their state run.
Hunter Malachek, above, the 2023 Class C State Tournament MVP, is back to lead the Lakers to state for the twelfth straight year.
Watertown Red Devils.
Record District: 20-9, 7B.
State Tournament Appearance: 14th, state champs in 1951.
Last year at state: Did not qualify.
Key Players: Pat Tschida, 2022 All-state selection and Jackson Hunter, pitcher, all state 2025.
About the Red Devils: Very interesting and dangerous team. This will be the Red Devils first appearance at state since they finished 3rd in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022. Pat Tschida who was named all state in 2022, and pitched Jackson Hunter, will be tough matchup for the Lakers in the first round as he was named all state as a pitched last summer. The Red Devils also feature eight players that either played college ball or are still playing college ball right now. Watertown comes into the state tournament on a hot streak, winning 8 of their last 9 games. The Lakers have the experience edge for sure, but the Red Devils are playing great baseball coming into state, should be a great matchup.
Pat Tschida, above, was named all state for Class C at the 2022 State Tournament.
Class C First Round, Howard Lake vs. Glencoe @ Shakopee, Sunday, August 23rd, 11 AM.
Howard Lake Orphans.
Record, District: 13-5 in North Star League, 6C.
State Tournament Appearance # 19th.
Last year at State: Defeated El Rosa, 6-2, and Windom, 3-1, before losing to Pierz, 5-2.
Key Players: Garrett Zander, (.406 BA, 9 xtra base hits.), Colton Long, (4 HR, 24 RBI at the plate, while going 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA on the mound.), Noah Bush, (.324 BA, 5 GWRBI.)
About the Orphans: These are not your grandparents Orphans! Remember the days of coach Gagnon finding ways to win with small ball? It was fun to watch, but those days are gone! This team is up there to mash. Deep lineup, led at the top by Zander, who hit .406 in 69 at bats, and Anderson who hit .349 with 21 runs scored on the year, setting up sluggers Long who led the North Star League with 4 home runs, and 24 RBI’s and Bush who hit .324 with 5 game winning RBIs on the season. The Orphans also have pitching with Long, and Cole Maczewski, who went 6-0 with a 3.80 ERA on the season. The Orphans have the talent to match or even surpass their best ever finish at state, finishing 3rd twice in their history.
Colton Long, above, led the North Star League with 4 home runs and 24 rbi’s this season.
Glencoe Brewers:
Record, District: 20-6, 7C.
State Tournament Appearance # 11th, 98C Champs.
Last Year at State: Defeated Morris, 5-0, and Paynesville, 10-3, before losing to Roseau, 8-7.
Key Players: Korey Johnson, (.450 BA, RBI leader.), Teddy Peterson, (.500 BA), Jake Christianson, (.333 BA.)
About the Brewers: The Brew crew had a long state tournament drought that lasted from 2009 until last year, but Glencoe put on good show last summer advancing to the final eight and they are back for more this season. The Brewers can really hit, as Glencoe has scored eight runs or more thirteen times this season. Another advantage for Glencoe is they are fundamentally sound as many of their players played for the great Panthers HS program, and they don’t make many mistakes. Pitching depth could be an issue, and one thing I noticed was against North Star teams Dassel-Cokato and Hutch, the Brewers were outscored, 10-1, so how tough is their region? Bracket did neither the Orphans or Brewers any favors, as this is a very tough first round matchup for both teams.
Glencoe, above, is back in the state tournament for the second straight season.
Class C Bracket: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1we626QLig9DcJ2yJw4UBIlSSkZQxLiRecIGb6EYvvMw/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Class B Bracket: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tBf-lyqH-PZH1xk2DWGyCpJncP1GjkcNhQ09tmLuRN0/edit?gid=0#gid=0
