By Nick Gerhardt
nickgerhardt@mnbaseball.org
Windom and Hanska finished Nos. 1 and 2 in the final Class C poll of the season but the two met in the quarterfinals Friday at the Mini Met in Jordan.
In what some expected as a state championship matchup, the Lakers cashed in on their opportunities for an 5-3 victory to advance to the semifinals for the second straight year. Hanska fell 5-4 in 12 innings to last year’s runner-up Le Sueur, which moved to Class B this year.
Just two years ago and for the years since the Lakers finished second in 2009, they found themselves one-and-done in the state tournament. Last season marked the first time in 16 years that Hanska won a first-round game. In 2024, the Lakers faced the likes of now Class A Waconia in the Class C state tournament and other years they faced Sobieski and former ace Tyler Jendro.
“We just couldn’t get over that first-round game,” Hanska manager Chris Koob said. “We’ve faced a lot of really good teams. Waconia, we were probably a little overmatched. That was a good experience for us and I think that helped us last year going to state. The last two years have built to where we’re at now. In ‘14 we were the start of the Jendro train for Sobieski.”
Hanska will make a move up to Class B next season, but not before another chance at making the Class C championship game this season.
The Lakers rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning after Chris Knowles reached on an error and Kevin Larson got hit by a pitch. Brady Mosenden’s single allowed Knowles to score and an outfield error got Larson in to tie the game 2-2.
Hanska pulled ahead 4-2 in the fifth inning after Sam Knowles reached on a lead-off single. Jake Finstad followed with a walk and a throwing error on an infield single that brought Knowles in. Two batters later Mosenden hit a sacrifice fly to score Finstad.
The Lakers added a run in the seventh inning after Chris Knowles reached on an error. He went from first to third on a Larson single and scored on a Tanner Olson sacrifice fly. Larson collected three hits and scored a run. Hanska had just five hits in the game.
Aaron Portner started for the Lakers and went the first six innings. He allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out four. Milroy Yankees draftee Isaac Schmitt threw the final three innings. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out four. Schmitt has thrown 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in his last two appearances.
“He’s been huge,” Koob said. “It’s tough to win this thing without getting a ton of help from a draftee. Schmitty has been that guy. He hasn’t thrown a ton of relief in his life but he’s found a way to get himself ready. He’s a gamer. He’s fit in like a glove with this team and he’ll do whatever’s asked. He’s got ice in his veins.”
Windom rallied for a run in the sixth inning when Alex Borsgard hit a lead-off single, stole second, moved to third and scored on a throwing error following an infield single.
The Pirates, who fell to Howard Lake in the second round last season, jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a run in the third inning. Hayden Tietz hit a lead-off double, moved to third on a ground out to first and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jake Tauer.
Windom added to the lead in the fourth inning after Drew Rothenberger hit a lead-off single. An error and a sacrifice bunt moved him to third and he scored on a ground out to second base for the 2-0 lead.
Collin Lovell started for the Pirates and went the first five innings. He allowed four runs on four hits, walked three and struck out six. Luke Gilbertson pitched the final three innings and allowed a run on one hit, struck out two and walked none.
The two teams each had four errors in the game, but the Pirates left 12 runners on base. Chase McDaniel, Kennan Wenzel and Quintin Tietz each had two hits for Windom, which tallied 11 in the game.
The Lakers move on to face Elrosa, which defeated Glencoe 3-2 in the other quarterfinal game.
“This team is battle-tested and I think we proved it tonight,” Koob said. “The first two innings, just like last week, we weren’t our best but this team battles, it fights and that’s all you can ask for. They didn’t play their best game tonight but that’s a great team over there.”
