Baseball (4/7)

Baseball Preview Capsules

Caledonia Warriors

Head Coach: Shawn Bauer 

Where We Left Off in 2024: The Warriors went undefeated (15-0) to win the TRC-East title.  They won their first-round playoff game, then dropped two straight scoring four total runs.  Caledonia finished at 19-3.  

Seniors: Garrett Konz (P/1B), Reid Klug (P/3B), Ben Stemper (CF), Spencer Schaffer (OF/C), Tanner Ginther (2B), Mason King.  Juniors: Landon O’Heron (P/RF), Will Allen (LF), Jack Schmitz (OF), Caden Hauser.  

Outlook: The Warriors rode excellent pitching to a big regular season last year (18-1) only to go 1-2 in the playoffs.  They won 19 in a row at one point.  Caledonia had seven All-TRC picks.  Selections Hunter Goetzinger (C > .369 average, nine 2Bs, 15 RBI), Drew Yahnke (1B/P > 26 1/3 IP, 4-0 record, 6 R, 5 ER, 13 BB, 28 K, 1.33 ERA; 20 RBI), and Owen Denstad (SS > team-best 21 RBIs, 9 R) graduated.  Four All-TRC picks return in Garrett Konz, Reid Klug, Landon O’Heron, and Ben Stemper.  Konz is a two-time All-TRC pick (.357 average, five 2B, two HR, 13 RBI, 28 R; 35 IP, 4-2 record, 17 BB, 46 K, 2.40 ERA).  He was All-Section.  Stemper led the team in hitting (.373, 18 RBI, 16 R) in 2024.  O’Heron pitched the most innings (44 IP, 5-1 record, 9 R, 6 ER, 15 BB, 53 K, .955 ERA).  Klug tossed 26 2/3 inning (4-0 record, 12 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 9 BB, 30 K, .263 ERA).  Also back are All-TRC HM picks Will Allen (.273, 14 R; 15 2/3 IP, 2-0 record, 1.79 ERA) and Tanner Ginther (.257, 12 RBI, 18 R) plus Jack Schmitz (team second-best 24 R).  Caledonia’s pitching will win them a lot of games alone.  Their team ERA last year was 1.32, as the staff combined for 177 strikeouts, 77 walks in 149 innings (with only Yahnke graduating). Improving on a team .270 average will help the Warriors avoid an early post-season exit.   Caledonia scored 6.4 runs per game, gave up 1.9.  

Chatfield Gophers

Head Coach: Brian Baum 

Where We Left Off in 2024:  Chatfield went 7-7 in the TRC.  They fell to Cannon Falls 10-2 in the 1AA Round of 16 and finished 9-11.  

Seniors: Ethan Eickhoff (OF), Cole Ramaker (P/IF), Chase Johnston (P/IF), Aiden Johnsrud (P/2B), Thane Schild (3B), Ben Carrier (OF), Ryan Rindels (OF), Westin Nolte (P/1B).  Juniors: Kaisen Johnson (C/OF), Sam Ruskell (IF/OF), Jackson Bernard (P/1B), Brody Whalen (OF), Andrew Eickhoff (P/1B), Ryan Eickhoff (P/SS).  

Outlook: Coming off a section third place finish in 2023, the Gophers did not win a playoff game last year  They had four All-TRC picks and three graduated; Jack Dornack (C > team-best .492 average, seven 2B, team-high 16 RBI), who made All-Section, most used pitcher Caden Boyum (P/SS > 42 1/3 IP, 3-5 record, 36 BB, 56 K, 4.30 ERA; .282 average, 21 R), and two-time All-TRC pick Kail Schott (OF > .311, 9 RBI, 8 R).  The returning All-TRC pick is Westin Nolte (.328, HR, 8 RBI, 12 R; 23 IP, 1-3 record, 11 BB, 19 K, 3.96 ERA).  All-TRC HM pick Cole Ramaker (team second-best 26 2/3 IP, 4-0 record, 20 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 15 BB, 14 K, team-best 1.84 ERA) also returns.  Nolte and Ramaker are their top returning pitchers.  Chase Johnston (11 RBI, 9 R) is another notable returnee, while Aiden Johnsrud, Ben Carrier and Kaisen Johnson also saw 20-plus at bats last year.   The Gophers are upperclassmen led with eight seniors and six juniors.  Nolte is their only full-time batter to hit above .300 last year though.  

Rushford-Peterson Trojans

Head Coach: Blake Lea 

Where We Left Off in 2024:  The Trojans went 4-11 in the TRC and 7-13 in the regular season but posted a trio of 1A playoff wins, season ending versus Southland 3-0 in a section final four game.  They finished at 10-15.  

Seniors: Jonah Bunke (P/2B), Caden Johnson (P/1B), Cade Hanson, Braden Danielson.  Juniors: Zach Baker (OF), Connor Vaughn, Max Smith, Avery Kammerer.  Key Returning Underclassmen: Cayden Lea (So. P/SS), Carson Johnson (So. OF), Owen Lange (So. C), Creighton Hoiness (So. OF).  

Outlook: R-P had a nice playoff run last year, graduating five seniors, three key starters.  Top pitcher Rylan Schneider (P/IF > .316 average, five 2B, team-high 20 RBI, 14 R, team-high 60 IP, 4-7 record, 16 BB, 51 K, 3.96 ERA), an All-Section pick, was the top departure.  Returnee Jonah Bunke (team-best .434 average, 10 2B, HR, 26 R, 16 RBI; 27 IP, 2-2 record, 4 BB, 24 K, 2.59 ERA) was their sole All-TRC pick.  Carson Johnson (.312, 10 RBI, 14 R), Zach Baker (.262, 11 RBI, 12 R), Caden Johnson (.250, 8 RBI, 15 R; 34 2/3 IP, 15 BB, 26 K, 6.66 ERA), and Cayden Lea (32 2/3 IP, 3-0 record, 7 BB, 20 K, 2.79 ERA; 10 RBI, 13 R) are four more every-game returnees.  Creighton Hoiness (.250, 15 RBI, 10 R) and Owen Lange are a couple more experienced assets.  R-P returns three of its top four pitchers (Bunke, Caden J., Lea), as the Trojans look for more wins and to contend in Section 1A. 

Spring Grove Lions

Head Coach: Chris Strinmoen. 

Where We Left Off in 2024: The Lions finished 15-9, the second most wins in program history. They took third in the SEC at 9-5.  SG went 2-2 in the playoffs, losing a third time to state-ranked teams, Southland and Lyle/Pacelli.

Seniors: Zach Brumm (OF), Ben Udstuen (P/IF), Brandon Jahnke (P/1B), Ezra Griffin (C/P).  Juniors: Jacob Solum (OF), Tysen Moen (1B), Christian Bjerke (RF), Cashton Newgaard (3B), Kolton Nerstad (2B/SS/P), Gabe Klug (3B/P) Karson Betcher (P/OF).  Key Returning Underclassmen: Sam Klug (So. RF/IF/C), Ezra Konkel (Fr. RF)

Outlook: Lost to graduation were three position starters, including All-SEC pick Jaxon Strinmoen.  He led the pitching staff in wins (6), saves (2) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.53).  He also led SG in fielding percentage (1.000) while batting .304 and breaking the program base-stealing record (59).  The two returning All-SEC players are two-time honoree Brandon Jahnke and Ben Udstuen.  Jahnke led the Lions in average (.329) and RBI (19).  He was the third most-used pitcher (24 1/3 IP, 3-2 record, save, 20 BB, 25 K, 2.30 ERA). Udstuen led SG in runs scored (25) and had the second-best batting average (.314) and was the second most-used pitcher (44 1/3 IP, 4-5 record, save, 30 BB, 41 K, 3.00 ERA). The battery includes three-time All-SEC HM pick Ezra Griffin, who led the team in extra-base hits, drawing walks and was second in RBI (.246, three 2B, 3B, two HR, 18 RBI).  Griffin, who has been the starting catcher since the eighth grade, will also see some time on the mound as will Kolton Nerstad and Gabe Klug (14 RBI, 13 R).  Returning to the outfield is Zach Brumm (.283, three 2B, 3B, 15 RBI, 21 R, 15 SB). Jacob Solum should start in left field while Sam Klug will likely start in right field or play whatever position the pitcher of the game vacates, including catcher. Overall, two of the top three pitchers are back along with a five-season catcher.  Defensively, there is a veteran infield, and Brumm is an accomplished outfielder. Two .300 hitters return, but hitting appears to be the main challenge as the Lions seek to break L/P and Southland’s three-year stranglehold on the conference.

GMLOK Bulldogs

Head Coach: Brad Reiter (new – coached GMLOK previously from 2012-2015).  

Where We Left Off in 2024: GMLOK went 6-8 in the SEC, 6-15 overall, losing to Z-M 15-0 in the first round of the 1AA playoffs.  

Seniors: Tyson Stevens (P/IF), Parker Johnson (SS/P), Sam Howard (LF), Blake Hershberger (P), Caden Reiter (P/IF), Blake Oeltjen (CF), Ira Schmidt (1B).  Juniors: Logan Diemer (RF), Jayden Smith, Carter Stroble.    

Outlook: The Bulldogs won just six games all in league a year ago. They had one All-SEC pick in Connor Tangen (IF/P > 23 IP, 2-3 record, 26 K; .512 average, five 2B, two HR, 12 RBI in SEC games) and one All-SEC HM pick in Noah Mundfrom (C/P > .489, five 2B, 3B, HR, 16 RBI, 16 IP, 2-1 record, 20 Ks, 10 ER in SEC games), both of whom graduated (of just three seniors).  But Tyson Stevens (IF/P), an All-SEC pick at Southland last year, joins the team.  Parker Johnson, Sam Howard, Caden Reiter, Blake Hershberger, Ira Schmidt and Blake Oeltjen give the Bulldogs a seven-man senior class.  Logan Deimer is a key returning junior.  Reiter is back for his second stint as head coach.  

Houston Hurricanes 

Head Coach: Jason Carrier 

Where We Left Off in 2024: Houston went 7-7 in the SEC and 9-12 overall.  The season ended via a 2-1 loss to Goodhue in the Section 1A Round of 16.  

Seniors: Morgan Rohweder (P/SS), Zach Olson (P/IF), Dawson Pedretti (1B).  Juniors: Grayden Beckman (C) Key Returning Underclassmen: Hector Steinfeldt (So. P)  

Outlook:  Houston had just two seniors last year.  An eight-man junior class last year got whittled down to three this year.  All-SEC picks Morgan Rohweder (.429 average, seven 2B, HR, 27 RBI, 13 R; team-high 49 2/3 IP, 15 BB, 87 Ks, 2.96 ERA) and Zach Olson (.371, eight 2B, 23 R, 14 RBI) are the top two returnees, last year’s top two hitters.  Grayden Beckman, Dawson Pedretti and Hector Steinfeldt are their other three key returnees.  The Hurricanes will have a bunch of new faces, as 11 of 15 players on varsity are freshman or sophomores.  Rohweder (87 K’s last year) can be a force, as he tossed 49 2/3 of Houston’s 134 2/3 innings pitched.  

Mabel-Canton Cougars

Head Coach: Paul Tollefsrud 

Where We Left Off in 2024: M-C went 6-8 in the SEC.  They won a playoff game versus Kenyon-Wanamingo, then fell twice in Austin.  R-P ended their season by 11-9 final, as M-C finished 7-16. 

Seniors: Tyler Larson (C/P), Bode Weidemann (OF), Teddy Torgerson (OF), Cameron McKelvey (OF).  Juniors: Darian Hershberger (IF/OF/P), Milton Hutchinson (IF), Isaac Underbakke (IF/P), Kale Tollefsrud (OF/P), Andrej Bulatovic (OF).  Key Returning Underclassmen: Nolan Garness (Fr. P/IF). 

Outlook: The Cougars got a playoff win for a three-game post-season last year.  They graduated four seniors, the biggest being four-time All-SEC pick Cayden Tollefsrud (.269 average, four 2B, two 3B, 13 RBI, 17 R; 50 1/3 IP, 3-6 record, 20 BB, 63 K, 2.70 ERA).  Two All-SEC picks, Isaac Underbakke (team-best .370 average, 12 RBI, 17 R; 32 2/3 IP, 2-4 record, 24 BB, 41 K, 5.63 ERA) and Tyler Larson (.368, 15 RBI, 13 R; 28 2/3 IP, 22 BB, 16 K, 5.30 ERA) return.  The duo were M-C’s top hitters by average a year ago, and the top returning pitchers.  Also back is their sole All-SEC HM pick, Kale Tollefsrud (.265, 14 R).  From there, Darian Hershberger (.246, 11 RBI, 9 R), Nolan Garness (18 IP, 2-0 record, 6 BB, 20 K, 3.11 ERA), Milton Hutchinson, Kale Eiken and Bode Weidemann each return after accumulating at least 30 at bats.  M-C returns six of eight guys who played in 18-plus games last year.  

Fillmore Central/Lanesboro

Head Coach: Josh Jones 

Where We Left Off in 2024:  A year after taking third place in Section 1A in 2023, FC/L started over with a new young group last year.  They went 0-15 in the TRC, 1-20 overall, losing to Lyle/Pacelli 11-1 in the 1A Round of 16.  

Seniors: Tyson Sprenger (OF/P), Carter O’Connor (OF/IF), Owen Schoepski (IF). Juniors: Clayton Schoepski (IF), Thomas Pikula (IF/OF), Levi Rogers (C/P), Jerek Schultz (1B), Reid Olson (OF).  Key Returning Underclassmen: Bridon Bahl (So. P/OF/IF), Joey Pederson (So. DH). 

Outlook: Without a senior, FC/L battled through a tough season last year as basically a junior varsity.  Top returnees are All-TRC pick Thomas Pikula (team best 6 RBIs; team-high 42 1/3 IP, 9.92 ERA) and All-Section selection Levi Rogers (23 1/3 IP, 22 BB, 40 K, 3.00 ERA). Each was a holdover from the 2022-2023 squad.  Bridon Bahl (team-best 8 runs; 14 2/3 IP), Carter O’Connor (19 IP), Tyson Sprenger (17 1/3 IP), Joey Pederson, Reid Olson, Clayton Schoepski, Owen Schoepski and Jerek Schultz all return after playing a lot.  But no Falcon hit above .250.  FC/L returns every inning pitched a year ago, but the team ERA was 7.48.

Southeast Conference Baseball (3/27 & 3/28)

Houston 3, Mabel-Canton 0 (H: Grayden Beckman 3-3, 2 R; M. Rohweder 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, Win; H. Steinfeldt 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 2-4; C.J. Wruck 1-3, RBI; Dawson Pedretti 1-2, RBI.  MC: Isaac Underbakke 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, Loss; Nolan Garness 2-2, 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, No Decision; Kale Tollefsrud 3-4, 2B)  

Schaeffer Academy 0, Spring Grove 22 [5] (SG: B. Udstuen 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, Win; 2-2, 4 RBI; K. Nerstad 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K; G. Klug 2-3, 3B, 4 RBI; Brandon Jahnke 1-1, 2 RBI; Ezra Griffin 2-3, 2 RBI; Jacob Solum 2-3, RBI: Sam Klug 1-2, RBI)

GMLOK 26, Alden-Conger/G-E 7 [6] (GMLOK: P. Johnson 2-3, 2B, GS-HR (1), 6 RBI, 4 R; J. Soltau 3-3, 2 RBI, 5 R; Sam Howard 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R; Caden Reiter 2-6, 2 R; M. Janssen 2-2, 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R; Ira Schmidt 1-6, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R; Logan Diemer 1-3, RBI, 2 R; Tyson Stevens 3 2/3 IP, 1 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 6 K, Win.  GMLOK had 10 and 11-run innings.  Bulldogs > 1-0, 1-1) 

Lyle/Pacelli 8, Mabel-Canton 4 (M-C: N. Garness 1-2, RBI; Darian Hershberger 1-3, RBI; Milton Hutchinson 1-4, RBI, R; Tyler Larson 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, Loss.  L/P led 8-0 before M-C scored four in the 7th.  Cougars > 0-2, 0-2)  

Non-Conference Baseball (3/27) 

GMLOK 4, Blooming Prairie 6 (GMLOK: Blake Hershberger 2-3, RBI, 6 IP, 1 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, Loss; T. Stevens 2-3, R; J. Soltau 1-3, 2B, R.  Seven Bulldog errors helped plate six Blossom runs)