By Ryan Simonson
Making their first State Tournament appearance since 2009, the Glencoe Brewers were looking to impress. As a host site for the 2025 tourney, their Vollmer Field was carefully groomed to pristine condition and an excellent 50-foot by 12-foot, two-tiered patio deck added to the first-base side to enhance the fan experience. Hard work, fundraising, and community volunteerism had the Brewers' friendly confines upgraded and ready to host as the August Classic approached. Then, by punching their ticket to the show with an impressive campaign to earn runners-up honors in the newly structured 7C Region tournament, Glencoe earned themselves an opportunity to compete in front of their home town fans to advance to the second round of the MBA Class C tournament. Their opponents: The Morris Eagles, the second seed out of Region 3, runners up to the Dumont Saints.
On the hill for the Brewers was southpaw Ty Christensen, facing Ryan Dalager, a Morris draftee from the Minneota Mudhens. The Eagles' leadoff hitter, Tanner Picht immediately turned up the heat in the already sweltering ballpark with a sharp single, moving then to second base on a sacrifice bunt. But he got cut down at third base attempting to advance on a ball fielded by Glencoe shortstop Jake Christianson, tagged out in a pile of dust as he and third-baseman Colt Trebesch lunged into the bag. The next Morris batter grounded out to end the inning.
Christensen and Dalager continued to duel for several innings, Glencoe's portsider escaping a fifth-inning jam with runners on the corners, the Brewers throwing out a runner at the plate after sniffing out a double steal to keep the game scoreless. The Brewers finally broke through in the sixth inning, after handing the ball off to draftee Hunter Hoen from Belle Plaine, when they crossed the plate on an erratic pitch from Dalager. They added a pair of runs off Dalager in the seventh, then two more on a two-run homer by first baseman Spencer Lilienthal in the eighth, while Hoen cruised through his four innings of work, completing the 5-0 combined shutout.
For the first time in decades, the Glencoe Brewers find themselves in the second weekend of the state tournament, but their fans will have to travel a little further down Hwy. 212 to cheer for them in the second round.
The Brewers will face the Paynesville Pirates on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. in Brownton.
Forest Lake 13, Minneapolis River Rats 1 (7 innings)
Before the Class C Brewers of Glencoe notched a victory on the day, the Class A Brewers of Forest Lake charged to a seven-round KO of the Minneapolis River Rats. The Brew Crew came out swinging in the bottom of the first, plating a run on three well struck balls. They added two more runs in the second, two more in the fifth, and eight in a messy sixth inning to cruise to a 13-1 victory. The Rats' only run came in the fifth inning, as Joe Collier led off with a single, advancing to third on an error, then scoring on a fielder's choice.
Alec Abercrombie had three hits for the Brewers and a pair of RBIs. Gavin Goehner, Michael Schultz, and Mason Molitor each had a pair of hits, including a double for Molitor.
Forest Lake will face the St. Anthony Hogs on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. in Gaylord.
North Saint Paul Snowmen 7, Minneapolis Cobras 3
This Class A showdown started with a bang as the Snowmen opened the top of the first inning with a single, a walk, and a no-doubt three-run homer by center fielder Adam Wall. The Cobras cut the led to 3-1 in the bottom of the first, scoring with the aid of two hits and a costly balk. North Saint Paul added four more runs in the fourth inning, including another three-run homer by Kaden Johnson. The Cobras added runs in the fifth and seventh innings, but never got within striking distance of the Snowmen.
North Saint Paul starting pitcher Jake McNeil was forced to leave the game with a leg injury with two outs in the second inning and was replaced by Winston Wisely, who went 4 1/3 - giving up just one run and striking out four. The Snowmen finished with eight hits from seven different batters. The Cobras got two hits from Isaac Beseman and a pair of RBIs from Mason Reinhart.
North Saint Paul will face the St. Paul Mudhens on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m. in Gaylord.
Waconia Lakers 3, Minnetonka Monarchs 1
This eagerly anticipated showcase matchup between the reclassified 2024 Class C champion Lakers and the perennial Class A (and B) powerhouse Monarchs (formerly Millers) filled the stands at Vollmer field, and the showdown did not disappoint.
The Lakers scored a trio of two-out runs with help from a pair of Monarch errors to open a 3-o lead after a half inning. Undaunted, Minnetonka center fielder Blaine Rutledge launched a lead-off homerun off Laker ace John Bezdicek to make it a 3-1 game. He served as the last run to cross the plate for the remainder of the game.
Bezdicek and Monarchs' pitchers Jake Marsh and Tom Skoro battled the rest of the way, with Bezdicek striking out 11 and walking three while allowing only two hits in a complete-game performance. The Minnetonka duo combined for seven strikeouts and a walk each. Derek Martin and Max Kalenberg had two hits each for Waconia, both hitting doubles.
Waconia will face the Miesville Mudhens on Friday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Gaylord.
