By Ryan Simonson
Contributing Writer
For those familiar with Minnesota amateur baseball inside the metro loop, the Minneapolis Cobras have been a mainstay in what was formerly known as Class A townball since entering the Park National league in 1999. Familiar faces Mason Reinhart and Matt Germar have been at the center of the Snakes’ braintrust for most of two decades, serving key roles as players and now managers. In many ways, though, the Cobras have become a new-look club in recent years, undergoing a youth movement that included signing 17 new players in 2024 — many of them born after Germar first suited up with the team.
Similar to the Cobras, Elko’s roster features a healthy crop of young talent with and assortment of familiar names whose baseball experience is measured in decades, not years. Chief among them, 36-year-old starting pitcher Jake Petricka, who pitched eight seasons in the Major Leagues between 2013-2021 and led the Express to a 23-9 overall record in 2024.
Through the first three frames, Petricka seemed well in control of the game. The Cobras reached base on two infield singles in the first inning, but went hitless in the second and third. Meanwhile on the offensive end, Elko threatened to score in the second and finally broke through in the third inning with three runs coming from two bunt singles, a two-RBI double by T.J. Evanson, and an RBI single by Chase Hentges. Elko would not see another runner cross home plate in the game.
The Cobras were able to take advantage of an Elko error to put an run on the board in the fourth inning, and despite a lot of traffic on the bases from both ballclubs, the score remained 3-1 until the bottom of the seventh when Minneapolis scored a run on Elko pitcher Easton Richter after an Express error, cutting their deficit to 3-2.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, following a single and a walk, pinch hitter Ray Rosenstein dropped a seeing-eye flare over third base to push the tying run across for the Cobras, and the game that seemed well in hand for Elko headed into extra innings when neither club could manufacture a run in the ninth.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Jake Krause reached on a single for the Cobras, and took advantage of a throwing error to advance all the way to third base. And for the second time in the ballgame, reserve player Ray Rosenstein delivered a flare single into the left field grass to drive in a run—this time for a walk-off victory before being chased into the outfield grass and piled on by his elated teammates.
The Cobras advance to play the Champlin Park LoGators on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 11 a.m. in Jordan.
Burnsville Bobcats 7, Stillwater Loggers 4
Burnsville emerged the winner of a back-and-forth battle which featured five lead changes and two full team sets of dirty uniforms after posting three runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by Andrew Hanson’s towering two-run homer to center field.
The teams combined for 18 total hits and 21 runners left on base. Hanson had two hits and three RBIs for the Bobcats, who also got multiple hits from catcher Tim Urlaub and a pair of RBIs from first baseman Matt Trocke. Reliever Kody Dalen struck out six for the Kitties in 4 innings, allowing a single run.
Third baseman Austin Buck led the way for the Loggers, with a pair of RBIs on two hits, including a triple.
Burnsville advances to face the Moorhead Mudcats on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 1:30 p.m. in Green Isle.
Victoria Vics 8, North Saint Paul Snowmen 2
The Vics entered the top of the ninth inning trailing the Snowmen 2-1 and struggling to generate much offense off either North Saint Paul starter Mitch Gutknecht or Matthew Forrest, who had taken over in the seventh inning. The pair had struck out nine Vics while allowing only a few hits before 16-year-old Owen Strey connected with an RBI single to tie the ballgame at 2-2 and set off a Snowman meltdown that led to Victoria hanging seven total runs on the board in the half-inning and walking away with an 8-2 victory.
Gutknecht went six innings for North Saint Paul, allowing only two hits while striking out six. Adam Wall and Will Husemann each had RBI doubles for the Snowmen.
Catcher Jeffrey Kressler led the way for Victoria with three hits, while Corey Binger struck out three in the final two innings of work, allowing only one hit.
Victoria advances to play Hopkins on Saturday, August 24 at 11am in Green Isle.
