New Munich SilverStreaks
New Munich has the makings of a successful team as the 2025 season begins. Its hitters are developing and can get on base. Six New Munich players accumulated over 10 hits. Carter Birr stood out among that group with 17, including four for doubles.
Caden Sand’s 16 hits led to nine runs and six RBIs. Devin Hansen, Brandon Holm (team leader with 10 runs and 12 walks) and Ty Reller all had 15 hits. Reller was particularly effective, driving in 10 runs.
The SilverStreaks
also managed to create runs with speed. Birr, Hansen and Will Funk finished with seven, six and five steals, respectively, getting into position to score. New Munich’s pitching staff includes two very strong pitchers. Reller has established himself as one of best in the area. In his 63 1/3 innings, he struck out 67 batters and finished with a 2.56 ERA. Will Funk did
well in relief, and Sand provided innings when needed. The latter two each worked over 30 innings.
The SilverStreaks are working to be more consistent defensively. Last year, errors took them out of some games. As the team, they gained experience, and they should be a contending unit this season.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Caden Sand’s baserunning has led to SilverStreak
him on base.
of the deepest and most effective pitching units in the league. They all
piled up over 20 innings pitched on the season, striking out over 180 batters.
Elrosa’s experience cannot be overlooked, especially on defense, where Peyton Winter, Kuefler and Blaine Fischer have earned the respect of opponents. In addition,
younger players Luke Illies, Ethan Mueller and Hayden Sobiech have shown promise.
The Saints will lose the services of Brandon Roelike, Matt Schmitz and Riley Lenarz this season, but they have the depth, experience and players to be a strong team again.
With Will VanBeck, Ashton Dingmann and Ethan Vogt, Elrosa boasts one
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Blaine Fischer has learned the art of defensive catching for the Elrosa Saints. He gives the team a steady player behind the plate.
Meire Grove Grovers
2024 record: Overall 1-12 and Regular Season 1-12.
The Grovers will be looking for a more effective offense this season in the Stearns County League. Meire Grove has players who showed potential for doing so. Four players recorded at least 10 hits during the season, with Jordan Klaphake’s 17 leading the team. Klaphake further helped the team offensively and with pitching. Ryan Olmscheid led the team’s average at a .353 clip. Others regularly putting the ball in play were Josh Olmscheid and Alex Welle. What the Grovers need to develop is additional run-producing hitting. That may come with maturity. The Grovers had many young players last season, and with their experiences, they may well be ready to take the team to the next level.
Meire Grove’s pitching is centered around Matt Imdieke. When he pitches, the Grovers have a chance to win the game. Last year, Josh Olmscheid, Joe Schwinghamer and Klaphake also pitched regularly.
The Grovers will again be challenged this year, but they should be able to meet those challenges.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Josh Olmscheid (front) and Jordan Klaphake provide leadership and defense for the Grover infield. They provide consistent hitting for the offense.
Pork at
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Strong defense by Dylan Gertken (left) and Eric Terres are among the reasons the Chargers contain opponents’ runs. Spring Hill has one of the better infields in the SCL North.
Spring Hill Hill Chargers
2024 record:Overall 12-9, Regular Season 9-4, Playoffs: 1-1, Regions 0-2 and Exhibition 2-2.
Eric Schoenberg assumes the reins of a team with a solid tradition of winning in the Stearns County League. He will be managing a team that can hit. Led by Jamie Terres, whose .525 batting average was top among area hitters, Spring Hill consistently put runners on base and across the plate.
Spring Hill page 7
2024 record: Overall 9-13, Regular Season 6-7, Playoffs 1-1, Regions 0-1 and Exhibition 1-3.
replace the retiring trio of Tylers (Engelmeyer, Hoffman and Thomas). They have been mainstays for a few years, but the Cubs showed last year they possess the players who have learned how to win.
The Cubs have been an improving team over the last few years and returned to regional competition a year ago. This year, they will be looking to continue that improvement.
Greenwald will be challenged, as it needs to
BY HERMAN
LENSING
Brett Engelmeyer helps the team offensively, but is better known for his pitching. Last year, he was among the best in the SCLNorth. Greenwald page 7
Sam Frieler hit just below a .300 clip and got around the bases and scored. Breydon Dobmeier, Gabe Schwieters and Tyler Engelmeyer were all threats to get on base and had 10 or more hits. That said, the Cubs hope to get more consistent hitting from other players throughout the lineup.
Greenwald’s pitching corps, led by Brett Engelmeyer, is back. Ethan Ettel and Grant Moscho both strung together great outings from the mound as well, as they helped the Cubs to six wins against SCL opponents. Brett Engelmeyer has established himself as one of better pitchers in the SCL North.
The Cubs complimented their pitching with speed and defense and should do so again this year. The addition of Ryan Herdering should only help the team’s play.
PHOTO
St. Martin Martins
Besides being a threat to hit in the Martin offense, Tanner Arceneau is a big part of the team’s
His infield has helped the Martins turn double plays and eliminate base runners.
The consistency and power by hitters Ethan Meyer and Eric Terres regularly drive in runs. Combine that trio with Dylan Gertken and Austin Schoenberg, and you have a formula for runs. Last year, six players scored at least 10 runs for the Chargers.
The runs they produce often give Chargers leads, which are then protected by the pitching of Ben Welle, Anthony Revermann and Carter Tschida. All three have shown they can get people out and keep opponents from scoring. Revermann, 68 2/3 innings, and Welle, 50 2/3 innings, can go deep into games. Tschida can be counted on for quality relief, as can Reegan Nelson. Supporting their efforts when on the mound is the defensive play of Austin Schoenberg, Owen Meyer and Eric Terres. Few teams are as solid guarding second base as the shortstop-second base combination of Eric and Jamie Terres.
When all three elements are working together, the Chargers are a formidable team. With consistent play across the line, the Chargers will again be in the thick of the SCL North race.
Look for the St. Martin Martins to again be a strong team in the Stearns County League.
The Martins will be playing all year knowing they are now classified as a Class B team and have a strong corps of proven players in their lineup. They are solid in every area of play.
When opponents think of the Martins, most think of the pitching of Scott Lieser, and with good reason. He is an excellent control pitcher who walked seven and hit only two batters last year in over 70 innings. He struck out 73 and boasted a 1.43 ERA.
Lieser is not the only one who controlled opponents’ bats last year.
Bryan Schlangen was effective as a starter and reliever and Tanner
Arceneau struck out 25 in 24 innings. All three are back this year.
St. Martin’s defense has been solid, including Kyle Lieser, Kurt Schlangen and Brady Goebel. It rarely makes errors and has consistently makes plays needed to prevent runs.
Where the Martins have improved in the past few years is run production. Leadoff batter Kyle Lieser scored 20 runs and the bats of Tanner Arceneau, Carter Thelen and Goebel kept pounding out hits. Tanner Arceneau and Thelen both had over 20 hits.
The Martins have depth and are looking forward to have Bryan Schlangen, Zach Moritz and Kurt Schlangen back and healthy. Keenan Dingmann and Tate Winter both showed promise in limited time last year.
The Martins will again be a fun team to watch and a difficult team to defeat.
from page 6
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Richmond Royals
2024 record: Overall 13-12, Regular Season 7-6, Playoffs 1-1, Regions 2-2, State 0-1 and Exhibition 3-2.
Richmond will have a say in how the Stearns County League rankings play out this season.
The Royals return almost everyone from a lineup that reached the Class C Minnesota Amateur Baseball Tournament last year. They showed their batters can get on base and produce runs, as five of their players logged over 20 hits in the team’s 20 games in 2024.
Leading that offense are the bats of Cole Schmitz, who had 21 hits and drove in 15 runs; Justin Schroeder, 24 hits and 15 RBIs; and Dalton Thelen, who matches his 23 hits with 23 runs. Not to be overlooked are Jack Boos and Tyler Prom, 25 and 21 hits, respectively.
The Royals’ pitching, built around Luke Jokela, Dalton Thelen and Talen Braegelman, showed it can handle the bats of the Stearns County League. That trio accounted for 140 strikeouts and all pitched over 40 innings.
The pitching staff is backed up by a solid defense that features Thelen, Brock Rothstein and Prom. All three are outfielders, although they can play a variety of positions. Prom has
also earned respect as a catcher.
The Royals come into the year knowing what it takes to win in the SCL, and they have the players to do so.
2024 record: Overall 19-3, Regular Season
15-1, Playoffs 3-0, Regions 1-2 and Exhibition 2-0.
The Avon Lakers will be playing in Class B this season, but they should do well. They demonstrated that they could play with most opponents in 2024, posting a 19-3 overall record.
Strong features of Avon are its reliable pitch control, good defense and the ability to adjust to situations. That helps Avon get back into the batter’s box.
The Lakers have one of the most consistent and balanced offenses in the area. Ryan Janzen is a player any team would take. Hitting over .400, with some extra-base power, has made him a leader in various categories.
With Reese Gregory, Caleb Curry, Peyton Randall and Joe Dolan following him in the lineup, Janzen scored 30 runs.
A few Lakers players tallied over 20 runs and are looking to score more this season. Combine that
Avon Lakers
with solid fielders that recorded only 11 errors in 22 games, and Avon is tough to score on. With Curry, Joe Dolan and catcher Carter Holthaus in the defense, few teams get a chance at an extra base.
The Lakers pitching staff, built around Matt Pichelmann and Elian Mezquita and enhanced by Drew
Lieser, is solid. They and others have prov-
Good Luck Lakers
en to be durable and dependable, keeping batters and runners in check.
Avon will be without Dom Austing and Adam Harlander this year, but with Lieser, Kadyn Mork and Charlie Dolan, it has the promise of another strong team. The Lakers will again be a factor in the Victory League season and should do well against Class B opponents.
MN
PHOTOS BY HERMAN LENSING
Reese Gregory provides extra-base power to the Laker lineup. His 22 hits drove in 22 runs last season.
Avon’s
St. Wendel Saints
2024 record: Overall 12-13, Regular Season 8-7, Playoffs 2-1, Regions 1-2 and Exhibition 1-3
In the past seven years, the Saints have gone from almost not existing to playing in regions. This has come through the maturation of the team and experience gained by playing some of the best teams in the state.
The Saints offense has become respected in the last few years in part because of the hitting of Austin Dickmann. He not only hits often, but has the power for home runs and deep RBI hits. Tyler Huls has developed into a steady geton-base player and led the team in runs scored. Luke Harren, who may miss this year because of an injury, had 19 hits and six walks. Tanner Reis was another with double-digit hits, and Rolando Ramos finds ways to get on and score.
Scoring runs is only part of the formula for contending teams. The Saints have learned the other part of the formula. They have got a solid first baseman in Brandon Dickmann, whose ability to handle less-than-perfect throws has resulted in putouts for the team. Tanner Tomasek has displayed a solid arm in the outfield and Harren has become a good catcher.
As with hitting, St. Wendel has depended on Austin Dickmann for key pitching. He has showcased control, striking out 90 batters to 47 walks in 85 innings. His durability showed when he pitched 13 1/3 innings against Randall.
Veteran Jake Ethen remains effective and hurled back-to-back complete games. Harren has also helped the pitching staff.
The Saints do face challenges of depth when playing multiple games on a weekend, but no one should overlook them, nor should people be surprised if they have a good season.
St. Stephen St. Steves
2024 record: Overall 11-9, Regular Season 9-5, Playoff 1-2 and Exhibition 1-2.
With a balanced team blending veterans and young talent, the Steves should be a powerhouse in the Victory League this year. They have a proven corps of hitters, can hit for average or power and can run to play small ball. St. Stephen has built up a good pitching staff and has learned to play together to earn wins.
The igniter of the Steves’ offense is Cole Fuecker. His average, extra-base hits and walks have helped set the table. He converted those opportunities into 20 runs. Mat Meyer has also been a key player in the offense; his knack for momentum-changing hits can turn a game. He led the team in hits, home runs and RBIs. A third component is Jake Schelonka, who puts the ball into play to keep rallies alive.
The Steves’ pitching is led by Landon Lunser, who is the team’s workhorse, recording 65 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings. Jack Greenlun proved effective in a limited role with the promise of being an effective pitcher. Schelonka compliments his hitting with fine pitching.
St. Stephen’s pitching knows it can rely on its
defense, driven by Derek Durant at shortstop and Andrew Wollak in the outfield. Both consistently reach the hard-to-get ball, taking away possible hits.
Others who make major contributions are Joe Tuholsky, Charlie Kent and Chris Belling. They are joined by newcomers Zach Fuecker, and Lucas Greenlun, who should make the team stronger.
The Steves have been building toward being a power for a few years. This could be their season.
has become a spark-plug for the Steve offense. He consistently reaches base and comes around to score.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING Cole Fuecker
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Tanner Tomasek is earning a reputation for getting on base when the Saints are at bat. He had 15 hits and 10 walks last season.
St. Wendel page 15
Freeport Black Sox Black
2024 record: Overall 5-15, Regular Season 4-14 and Playoffs 1-2. The Freeport Black Sox should not be underestimated this season. With an assortment of experienced players and some solid young talent, the Black Sox can put runs across the plate.
Carter Neuenschwander totaled 18 hits last season, giving Freeport a player who can get on base. Jake Braegelmann, with 15 RBIs, and Ike Sawyer, with 12 RBIs, are two of several Black Sox contributors who do hit with runners on.
play the small ball game. He is effective at
Add to that hitting of Matt Johnson, and the Black Sox can present a formidable array of hitters.
The defense has also showed its worth with the play of Bryan Benson, Ben Millard and Nate Mettenburg.
Freeport’s fielders turned 12 double plays last year, with keystone defender Mettenburg and Ike Sawyer participating in five of them. Millard is a durable catcher handling most of the
team’s pitches.
Andrew Kerzman, the Black Sox’s go-to pitcher, pitched in over 80 innings last year with a respectable 3.18 ERA. Iver Papke was also effective for his innings pitched with 24 strikeouts in 20 innings. Neunschwander is a third arm Freeport can depend on to keep batters in check.
The Black Sox will be challenged in their league and division this year, but they will be a team few opponents will take lightly.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Carter Thelen consistently delivers with runners for St. Martin. His hits keep rallies going and drive in runs.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
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Owen Sunderman has bolstered the Farming defense up the middle. The
infielder helps defensively and offensively.
2024 record: Overall 15-7, Regular Season 9-4, Playoffs 1-1, Regions 4-1 and State 1-1. Farming should
challenge for the Stearns County League South crown this season.
The Flames ended the 2024 season at state,
and they showed all season they belonged there.
The young team that a few years ago surprised people by reaching state has matured into a tough team to beat. Offensively, Farming has a lot of players who either start or continue rallies. Isaac Nett’s .630 on base percentage came from his 31 hits and 10 walks. Once on base, he would steal or take bases to get into position to score.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Flames
Lake Henry Lake Henry Lakers
2024 record: Overall 5-10, Regular Season 5-8, Playoffs 0-2
Lake Henry knows it will have to improve offensively and on the mound to have a successful season.
The Lakers have the players needed for those improvements. Carter
Wessel, Grant Ludwig and Shane Kampsen are respected hitters in the league. Each had 16 hits last year. Kampsen consistently hit for extra bases, collecting six doubles and three home runs. Ludwig drew 10 walks. Wessel, who had eight doubles, scored 11 runs. In
addition, Josh Kampsen drove in 10 runs One of the younger bright spots was the 15 hits by Isaac Lieser.
The Lakers, though, did not always cash in on scoring opportunities. That led to coming up short by the end of some games.
Lake Henry’s pitching staff struggled at times last year, though it can still be effective. Carter Wessel, who struck out 33 in 27 2/3 innings;
Lake Henry page 17
Opole Bears
2024 record: Overall 8-12, Regular Season 6-8, Playoffs 2-2 and Regions 0-2. The Bears have been improving offensively and defensively. While struggling against some of the better teams in the Victory League, they usually won games against teams with simi-
lar records as they qualified for regional play. Opole’s offense showed improvement in 2024, picking up on the hitting and running of Brodi Huls, particularly in clutch situations. He finished with 15 hits, one of best on the team. Alex Lange, with 23 hits, and Luke Bieniek, with 18 hits, are other key hitters coming through for the team. Other Bears who can connect with the ball are Tate Lange, 19 hits, and Drew Lange, 14 hits. The team’s pitching also displayed growth, with Sam Butler, Isaiah Folsom and Tate Lange pitching over 40 innings each. They were on the mound for most of the Bears’ wins.
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Upsala page 16
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Justin Cichon’s extra-base power regularly produced runs for the Blue Jays. Besides his RBIs, he scored 15 runs last season.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
The power in the swing of Chris Ebnet has led to Opole runs in recent years. His swing can produce run-scoring and rally-starting hits.
2024 record:
3-10 and Regular Season 3-10.
Records can be deceiving, including Roscoe’s finish last year.
The Rangers lost four of their games by three or fewer runs. That they can score, there is no doubt. Leadoff batter Max Athmann does what a leadoff batter should do: he gets on base. He led the team with 16 hits last year and finished with nine runs.
Brayden Pung, with 12 hits, is another who is always a threat to start a rally. Jordan Schleper, Brandon Schleper and Russell Leyendecker all added 10 or more hits. They were, however, often stranded on the bases, as few others hit as consistently.
Roscoe struggled to find another pitcher to work with Leyendecker, who threw 33 1/3 innings. The team used 10 other pitchers, but none really ever were consistent enough to keep Roscoe in the lead.
Last year, tight games included a 2-0 loss to state-bound Farming; 3-0 losses to playoff bound Lake Henry and regional
Roscoe Rangers
2024 record: Overall 13-6, Regular Season 9-5, Sections 4-0 and State 0-1
Sobieski should again be a competitive and winning club, as it has proven people in all aspects of the game.
Greenwald; a 4-2 loss to eventual league champion St. Martin; and a win over state-bound Richmond. Those games showed Roscoe can play with good teams. This year, it may be defeating more of them.
Hitting is what most think of when considering the Skis, and for good reason. Last season, it featured some of the more formidable batters in the area.
Pung,
Schleper,
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Josiah Utsch is one player Roscoe can call on to pitch. Last year, he was among the team leaders in innings pitched.
PHOTO BY HERMAN
Foley Lumberjacks
2024 record: Overall 22-5, Regular Season 11-3, Playoffs 3-1, Regions 3-0, State 0-1 and Exhibition 5-0
The Foley Lumberjacks are not a team to be taken lightly.
Foley has been a strong contender in the Victory League for several years, and last year, it showed it needed to be considered among the best in that league.
The Lumberjacks boast a solid contingent of hitters quick at building leads or rallying when trailing. Drew Beier, with a .390
average and 39 hits, leads that offense, and Ryan Chmielewski, at .343 with 34 hits, is not far behind. Eight Foley players had at least 20 hits last year, and the hits were of every kind.
Dan Marod posted 25 hits with 14 going for extra bases, including nine home runs. Beier and Chuck Hackett each drilled five home runs. That power and the sheet number of hits saw Beier, Chmielewski and Hackett score over 20 runs each. Those runs led to leads. Those advantages were
protected by a number of pitchers, with Logan Winkelman, Chmielewski, Beier, Michael Moulzolf and Alex Foss effectively protecting leads. All of them can strike out batters and put together strong ERAs.
Foley has an athletic infield and outfield that gets to most anything playable. Joe Ziwicki, Lane Olson and Beier are dependable fielders.
Foley will be playing as a Class B team this season, but it will certainly remain competitive.
Ryan Chmielewski (from left), Noah Winkelman and Drew Beier are batters Foley’s opponents have learned to respect. Each of the trio totaled over 20 hits last season, and they combined to score over 60 runs.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Ethan Navratil and he each scored 22 runs. Navratil, who posted 25 hits alongside Will Mergen, displayed power, hitting four doubles and five home runs and driving in 18 runs. Mergen added 13 walks. Others reaching the 20-hit mark were Josh Becker, Robert Schleper and Adam Winkels.
That offense gives Farming leads, and it has the pitching and defense to protect leads.
Adam Nibaur has established himself as a premier pitcher for Farming, showing durability with 73 1/3 innings and a 2.33 ERA. Navratil, with a 2.57 ERA across 49 innings, is another effective pitcher the Flames can put on the mound. Tylor Schroeder and Adam Winkels are dependable as well.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Matt Filippi’s 45 hits was the most by any batter in the area. With 38 hits, Beau Thoma was third on the list. Seven different Skis finished with 20 or more hits, helping power the team to the Class B Minnesota Amateur Baseball Tournament.
With 19 home runs distributed across its lineup, Sobieski has power, but it also worked to manufacture runs with 39 steals and 36 sacrifices. Matt Filippi led the team with 12 steals; Filippi, Beau Thoma and Collin Eckman had 20-plus runs; and Beau Thoma, Joey Hanowski, Eckman and Jake Kapphahn topped the 20-RBIs mark.
The combination of pitching and hitting is backed with an improving defense. Those three elements do not necessarily guarantee the Flames first in the
SCL South, but whichever team earns the title will have to go through Farming.
The Skis’ pitching duties are spread out between Matt Filippi, Beau Thoma, Eckman and Dusty Parker. For the most part, they hold opponents in check and protect the leads given them by the batters. Sobieski not record a blown save last year and struck out 100 more batters than it walked. Defensively, the team is
sound, makes the routine plays and rarely hurts itself with errors. They turned 21 double plays, cutting opponents’ rallies short. Sobieski has become a team to emulate. It still remains a tough team to defeat.
Adam Nibaur is Farming’s go-to pitcher and has proved that trust is not misplaced. He earned four wins throwing over 70 innings last season.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING Beau Thoma’s pitching abilities are matched by his offensive prowess. Last season, he was the team leader in wins and co-leader in driving in runs.
Sauk Centre Titans
2024 record: Overall 15-5, Regular Season 8-2, Regions 3-0, State 1-1 and Exhibition 3-2. Sauk Centre finished last year playing in the Class C Minnesota Amateur Baseball Tournament. It should again be a power in the Resorters League, as it has an experienced and talented group coming to the field.
Offensively, the Titans are led by the bats of Eli Fletcher, Derek Holm and Andrew Rousslange. Fletcher hit over .400 last year and was often on base. Holm is one of the best in the area at getting on base. With the batting of Rousslange behind them, they and others were often driven in for runs. The Titans have others who hit well and finished hitting better than .300 as a team.
The pitching staff is built around Dylan Haskamp and Shane Trattles, who can shut opponents down. Trattles had a 1.95 ERA, one of the best in the area. With them on the mound, Sauk Centre earned 14 wins.
No matter who comes to the mound, the Titans used 10 pitchers last year, and they know they can trust the defense. The defense features Holm as well as Dylan and Jake Haskamp. They rarely hurt themselves with errors.
experience they gained last year, they should again be a tough team to beat this season.
Andrew Rousslange’s
The Titans have a strong and proven combination of winning players. They look to build on and improve their pitching and roster this year. With the state
his throws results in a ton of putouts for the Titans in the infield. Besides his defense, he is a major contributor to the team’s offense.
PHOTOS BY EVAN MICHEALSON
Derek Holm provides key runs for the Titans as they take on opponents of all levels in the summer. Holm scored 15 runs last season.
The six-team Resorters League could have a dogfight for the top spot.
draftee.
Resorters League Victory League
Sauk Centre and Urbank-Parkers Prairie may be considered the favorites, but an improved Alexandria team showed a season ago that it will be in the mix.
Alexandria Black Sox
Alexandria plays a steady, consistent game, with hitters like Waylon Muenzhuber and Lane Berberich providing some RBI clout. Tate Breitkreutz has power and Brady Burgau is a threat to get on base. Breitkreutz pitched at the Class C Minnesota Amateur Baseball Tournament last year as a Sauk Centre draftee, and Carter Stockert keep opponents batters honest.
Ashby A’s
Ashby competes in the Resorters League. It has a tradition of good baseball.
Carlos Cougars
The Carlos Cougars can play with most teams and have done so. Bock Lerfald, JD Hennen, Devan Swerman and Jordan Kuhnau hit well. Pitcher Shay Endress made a state appearance as a Sauk Centre
Stat
Batting average (minimum of 43 at-bats)
.534 Isaac Nett, Farming
.525 Jamie Terres, Spring Hill
.481 Caleb Curry, Avon
.459 Matt Filippi, Sobieski
.449 Hunter Haggenmiller, Urbank-Parkers Prairie
.443 Ryan Janzen, Avon
.440 Zach Gwost, Randall
.432 Jake Schelonka, St.
Stephen
.426 Jackson Peter, Elrosa
.423 Travis Barthel, Swanville Slugging percentage (minimum of 43 at-bats)
.847 Jamie Terres, Spring Hill
.841 Mat Meyer, St. Stephen
.839 Nate DeChaine, Nisswa
.811 Jake Schelonka, St. Stephen
.773 Dan Marod, Foley
.758 Cole Fuecker, St. Stephen
.750 Isaac Nett, Farming
.743 Ryan Janzen, Avon
.740 Andrew Rousslange, Sauk Centre
.735 Gunnar Wicklund, Pierz Brewers
On-base percentage (minimum of 43 at-bats)
.630 Isaac Nett, Farming
.600 Jamie Terres, Spring Hill
.556 Caleb Curry, Avon
.551 Ryan Janzen, Avon
.531 Travis Barthel, Swanville
.515 Rylee Rauch, Pierz Brewers
.519 Jackson Peter, Elrosa
.509 Zach Gwost, Randall
.508 Andrew Rousslange, Sauk Centre
.500 Alex Thoma, Sobieski
.500 Hunter Haggenmiller, Urbank-Parkers Prairie
ERA (minimum of 28 innings)
0.41 Hunter Haggenmiller, Urbank-Parkers Prairie
0.97 Payton VanBeck, Elrosa
1.09 Ben Thoma, Buckman
1.22 Cole Wellmann, Avon
1.42 Ryan Chmielewski, Foley
Kensington Norsemen
Kensington showed its mettle last year before falling 11-3 to UPP in sections. It matched up well against Resorters League leaders in other games. Hitters Hunter Johnson, Tanner Bennett and Eric Paulzine can get on base, and the latter two have power. Cole Brusse, Johnson and Damon Samstead provide pitching.
Urbank-Parkers-Prairie Bombers
Urbank-Parkers Prairie is a contender in any game. It returns a good number of players and features young talent. It has good hitters, such as Austen Hadley, .367 with 18 hits and two home runs; Hunter Haggenmiller, .449 average and 22 hits; and Dylan Debilzen, .406 and 13 hits, including one triple. The pitching of Haggenmiller, 44 IP, 56K and a 0.41 ERA; and Drew Johnson, 27IP, 29K and a 2.67 ERA, keeps the team in games. Haggenmiller was drafted in postseason play Sauk Centre last year.
Leaders
1.48 Nick Ackerman, Nisswa
1.45 Matt Tautges, Buckman
1.51 Scott Lieser, St. Martin
1.55 Sam Butler, Opole
1.57 Adam Nibaur, Farming Hits
45 Matt Filippi, Sobieski
39 Drew Beier, Foley
38 Beau Thoma, Sobieski
34 Ryan Chmielewski, Foley
33 Nate DeChaine, Nisswa Runs
32 Jackson Peter, Elrosa
31 Lane Girtz, Buckman
30 Ryan Janzen, Avon
29 Kody Ruedisili, Nisswa
27 Matt Tautges, Buckman RBIs
36 Nate DeChaine, Nisswa
33 Ryan Chmielewski, Foley
30 Ben Thoma, Buckman
29 Ryan Janzen, Avon
27 Mat Meyer, St. Stephen Walks
24 Rylee Rauch, Pierz Brewers
23 Matt Tautges, Buckman
17 Carter Holthaus, Avon
16 Kyle Lieser, St. Martin
16 Joe Dolan, Avon Doubles
15 Drew Beier, Foley
12 Jackson Peter, Elrosa
10 Jamie Terres, Spring Hill
9 Matt Filippi, Sobieski
9 Beau Thoma, Sobieski Triples
2 Aaron Weber, Buckman
2 Devin Orbeck, Spring Hill Home runs
11 Nate DeChaine, Nisswa
9 Mat Meyer, St. Stephen
9 Dan Marod, Foley
8 Cole Fuecker, St. Stephen
6 Gunnar Wicklund, Pierz Brewers Steals
12 Matt Filippi, Sobieski
12 Dalton Thelen, Richmond
11 Matt Johnson, Freeport
10 Dylan Gertken, Spring Hill
9 Ethan Meyer, Spring Hill
9 Isaac Nett, Farming
9 Ryan Janzen, Avon
9 Tyler Huls, St. Wendel
9 Wyatt Ziwicki, Foley Sacrifices
6 Beau Thoma, Sobieski
6 Dusty Parker, Sobieski
5 Brady Yourczek, Royalton
5 Isaac Nett, Farming
5 Jake Kapphahn, Sobieski
5 Kolten Happke, Pierz Lakers
5 Owen Bode, Sobieski Hit by pitch
13 Tate Lange, Opole
9 Kevin Kuefler, Elrosa
8 Joe Ziwicki, Foley
7 Dusty Parker, Sobieski
7 Justin Cichon, Upsala
7 Riley DeRosier, Nisswa Innings pitched
99.0 Matt Tautges, Buckman
88.0 Andrew Kerzman, Freeport
85 1/3 Pete Schommer, Pierz
Brewers
82 1/3 Caleb Strack, Randall
77 1/3 Ty Reller, New Munich Strikeouts
118 Caleb Strack, Randall
79 Payton VanBeck, Elrosa
77 Matt Tautges, Buckman
75 Blaine Hardy, Nisswa
74 Austin Dickmann, St. Wendel
74 Scott Lieser, St. Martin Wins
11 Matt Tautges, Buckman
10 Matt Pichelmann, Avon
9 Pete Schommer, Pierz Brewers
9 Scott Lieser, St. Martin
7 Landon Lunser, St. Stephen Saves
3 Cole Wellmann, Avon
2 Adam Nibaur, Farming
2 Caden Sand, New Munich
2 Dusty Parker, Sobieski
2 Grant Moscho, Greenwald
2 Matt Swanson, Upsala
2 Rylee Rauch, Pierz Brewers
2 Scott Lieser, St. Martin
2 Tanner Arceneau, St. Martin
2 Tylor Schroeder, Farming
2 Wyatt Steffensen, Elrosa
VL-North/West
Aitkin Gobblers
2024 record: Overall 2-12 and Regular Season 2-12.
The Gobblers struggled for runs last season, winning two games. They have solid hitters in Nathan and Zach Ehnstrom, and Hunter Hills displays power. Nathan Ehnstrom is the team’s top pitcher.
Buckman Billygoats
2024 record: Overall 20-4, Regular Season 13-1, Playoffs 3-1, Regions 2-1, State 3-1
One of the best teams in the area. With Matt Kummett, .395, and Matt Tautges, .376, it hit over .300 as a team. Taugtes (11-1) recorded 99 innings and 77 strikeouts on a team that boasted a 1.37 ERA. Ben Thoma struck out 62 in 49 2/3 innings.
Fort Ripley Rebels
2024 record: Overall 12-6, Regular Season 9-4 and Playoffs 1-2.
The Rebels were in contention in most games because of dependable pitching. Bryce Flanagan and Isaac Hanson logged over 40 innings and the team struck out 137 batters. Flanagan, Alex Haapajoki and Josh Hurkriede all provided consistent hitting.
Nisswa Lightning
2024 record: Overall 20-4, Regular Season 12-2, Playoffs 3-0, Regions 3-1, State 1-1 and Exhibition 1-0.
Power typifies the Nisswa attack. It had 39 home runs last year and outscored opponents 178-75. Nate DeChaine, 33 hits (.379), and Drew Boland, 24 hits (.387), led the barrage. DeChaine recorded 11 home runs with 36 RBIs. Blaine Hardy, 49 innings pitched, struck out 75 batters. Nick Ackerman sent down another 27 opponents.
Pierz Brewers
2024 record: Overall 12-11, Regular Season 8-5, Playoffs 2-2, Regions 2-2 and State 0-1.
The Brewers can play and defeat good teams. Led by Rylee Rauch (.329), Ryan Stackmayer (.302), Pete Schommer (.302), and Gunner Wicklund (.397), the team is a threat to score in every inning. With five triple and 13 home runs, it has power and speed. Schommer is the workhorse of the pitching staff with 85 1/3 innings and Wicklund and Rauch have shown they can log innings.
Pierz Bulldogs
2024 record: Overall 3-11 and Regular Season 3-11.
The Bulldogs have the players to build toward success. Teddy Dehler is a legitimate .345 hitter and Cody Weiss (.420 on-base percentage) and Craig Luberts are hard to keep off the bases. The team has struggled to prevent runs, but Weiss is a proven pitcher and Mason Herold, Brayden Haberman and Gunnar Gustafson could well join that category. The Bulldogs were rebuilding last year. They have a year of experience and should be ready to reset after two rough years.
Pierz Lakers
2024 record: Overall 10-7, Regular Season 9-5, Playoffs 1-2
The Lakers will not be overlooked by most teams. Kolton Happke (.327) and Preston Rocheleau (.333) are both proven hitters against VL pitching. Mix that with Brady Petron (.350) and Chad Weiss (.325), and it is a lineup to be reckoned with. Rocheleau (2.34 ERA) and Petron (48 innings) can keep the Lakers in games and Weiss can still close the door.
Royalton Riverdogs
2024 record: Overall 3-12, Regular Season 4-10 and Playoffs 0-2.
The Riverdogs are better than their record. Of their losses, four were by two or fewer runs. It has players on which to build a good season. Zach Leibold can give quality innings and Nathan Psych is an established pitcher. With hitters like Grayson Suska and Tyler Jendro in the lineup, the Riverdogs can and do score runs.
VL-South/West
Flensburg Falcons
2024 record: Overall 0-15, Regular Season 0-14 and Playoffs 0-1. Flensburg had a rough year in 2024, but has hopes for this year. Juan Meleciano hit will over .300 and is a strong third baseman. Gerard Kokett led the team in hits and displayed power with doubles and a home run. Spenser Friese, a midseason addition, showed promise as a pitcher and infielder. Russ Fellbaurm is an experienced pitcher and Peter Knopik showed a lot of promise. Simon Pantzke improved all year on the mound. Despite a year without wins, the Falcons showed a never-quit attitude, and it can be a good team.
Randall Cubs
2024 record: Overall 8-5, Regular Season 7-7, Playoffs 2-1 and Regions 0-2.
With Caleb Strack on the mound, Randall will be in most games. His 118 strikeouts came in 82 1/3 innings. With Zach Gwost, it has another solid pitcher. Offensively, no teams overlook Zach Gwost (.440) or Kyle Boser (.381) when facing the Cubs. Randall has the players to build a successful season.
AMATEUR
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Hinnenkamp
In 1950, Elrosa, Farming, Green-Grove, Lake Henry, New Munich, Regal, Roscoe and St. Martin formed the Central Stearns League, starting the modern Stearns County League.
Becoming the Stearns County League in 1954, it has continued with most of the same teams, though Freeport replaced Elrosa in 1954; Richmond replaced Regal in 1954; Greenwald and Meire Grove replaced Freeport and Green-Grove; and Elrosa and Spring Hill joined in 1983.
In those communities, amateur baseball became part of the year. Baseball is what its fans and players looked for.
“It’s just a way of life,” said Kurt Meyer of Meire Grove. “That’s what you do on your weekend; you go watch your town team play and if they don’t have a game, you watch somebody else play.”
They not only watched them play, but they talked about those games. That pastime remains today.
Stearns County League from front
“You can communicate with your neighbors,” said Chuck Hennen of St. Martin. “All you have to do is bring up baseball and 90% of people like it and like to talk about it. Baseball is the No. 1 sport around here.”
1950-59
In 1950, New Munich and Lake Henry tied for the regular season title at 11-3 and played for the right to go to regions. In 1950 and 1951, the regular season champion went to regionals. From 1953 on, the playoff champion went to regions.
The 1950s gave great memories, from Green-Grove’s Herman Kampsen getting six hits in a game against New Munich to Ruben Ohmann of Freeport driving in nine runs against St. Martin to Lake Henry advancing to the 1959 state tournament. No win was celebrated more than Roscoe’s 6-4 win over Richmond in 1958, which ended a 60-game losing streak.
The installation of home run fences increased home runs.
The games were played Sunday afternoons. That fit well within the social pattern of the community.
“We had our jobs, and then we played ball on Sundays,” said Phil Meyer, who played with Green-Grove and later Greenwald. “That was a great thing. Everybody kind of knew everybody.”
1960-69
Farming was the first true powerhouse in the league. At one point, it won 35 consecutive regular season games, going 14-0 in the 1961 season. That season, the Flames reached double-digit hits most games and racked up 23 hits in a single contest. Bob Backes hit .419 to lead the team. Their pitcher was Vern Ramler, who had 11 wins and a 0.73 ERA. The club was the first modern SCL team to win a state game.
Overall, Farming put together five playoff wins and made three state trips in the decade.
The decade’s standout pitcher may have been New Munich’s Marv Ostendorf. In the 1961 regional tournament, he threw a no-hitter as a Farming draftee. In 1963, he was involved in a double no-hitter, besting Richmond’s Ray Drontle. In 1965, he threw another regional no-hitter, facing 21 batters in a seven-inning 10-0 win.
Ostendorf was far from the only dominant pitcher in the league. Richmond’s Bob Haffley struck out 22 and Roscoe’s Ferd Mackedanz 20 in different games. Before the 1964 season ended, St. Martin’s Bob Schmitz struck out 141 batters.
1961 Farming baseball
(middle, from
Jimmy Mergen, Jim
Howie
Backes, Larry Ramler, Bob Backes and Jack Holthaus; (back, from left) manager
Schleper, Bill Bruemmer, Gilbert Bruemmer, Jim Loecken, Marv Ostendorf
from New Munich), Bob Hafley (draftee from Richmond), Norm Kalthoff (draftee from St. Martin), Verne Ramler, Ralph Buerman, Norb Silvers and Dennis Backes.
went
Hitters had their moments in the decade. Meire Grove drilled nine home runs against Lake Henry. In a different Laker-Grover matchup, Meire Grove’s Al Luetmer hit four home runs — still an SCL record.
New Munich’s Ostendorf totaled a six-hit game against Roscoe, while Lake Henry’s Ken Lieser hit an insidepark-home run against Roscoe.
Both St. Martin, 1966, and New Munich, 1965, reached state. Lake Henry played in the state quarterfinals in 1969.
Something that developed and has remained with SCL is knowing teams just by last names, as younger generations came to the team their fathers had played for.
“I had uncles on both sides that played and my dad had played,” Kurt Meyer said. “I started out being a batboy for about five years, and then I
switched to be a player.”
Chuck Hennen agreed.
“It’s just family-oriented,” he said. “That’s what I take it for. I’ve got cousins here and cousins there and cousins over there. It’s fun to watch. You see a lot of ex-ballplayers coming back, and they’re rooting for their alumni.”
1970-79
Lake Henry, 14-0 in 1970, won or shared regular season titles from 1968 to 1976, making three state trips. Its pitchers included Dave Lieser, Roger Hess and Dan Hess, and its offense came from Dennis Gruber, Dan Jaeger, Herb Hess and the Liesers (Ken, Paul, Terry, Mike, Jeff and Tim) coming to the plate. Paul Lieser had 11 home runs in 1976, tying the league record.
Stearns County League page 3-SCL
Attempts to score can lead to interesting plays, as seen when Richmond’s Jon
(right) tries to score against New Munich’s Pat Nathe during a Stearns County League game in 2005. The action took place in regional competition.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY HOWARD KOGLIN
The
team, which played at state, includes batboy Mike Backes (front);
left)
Dufner, Dick Voit,
Koglin, Bobby
Elmer
(draftee
The team
undefeated against Stearns County League opponents that season.
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Dold
The Lakers or Meire Grove Grovers were in every championship series of the decade. The two clubs met four times in the playoffs, including three times for the championship.
Meire Grove won the playoff crown from 1976 to the end of the decade. Its reputation of solid hitting was foreshadowed in 1972 when Marty Meyer had 40 hits and a .635 average. All of its opponents in the decade faced a lineup of Meyers (Dan, Paul, Marty and Fred) and Schneiders (Dave, Jerry and Dan), mixed in with Greg Steinhofer, Jack Vornbrock, Art Zenzen and others. They hammered out victories and championships. Fred Meyer, before the decade ended, was among league leaders for batting and pitching. In 1978, he threw a no-hitter and struck out 24 batters in a different game.
Two other teams claimed playoff crowns in the 1970s. Richmond, with pitching from Don Dingmann and the offense of Ernie Dold and Dave Rausch, made two state trips. In 1977, when the league had East and West divisions, Farming won the East and Meire Grove the West.
Other teams competed with the leaders that decade.
Greenwald had Chuck Loehr, Jim Uphoff and Bruce Schulzetenberg’s hitting; Roscoe had Ferd Mackedanz and Don Heinen; St. Martin had Roger Mehr, Dennis Korte and promising newcomers; and New Munich’s Jerry Breth and Glen Klimmick saw the potential in their younger players.
1980-83
The 1983 expansion created two divisions. Teams played divisional opponents twice and the other division once in the regular season. Improvements to metal bats meant more home runs. Roscoe’s Marc Schmitz blasted out 11 in a 14-game season. He was surrounded by other sluggers such as Don
Lake
Ryan Wuertz, batboy Brooks Miller, Robert Weidner, Mathew Quade and Shane Kampsen; (back, from left) Tom Ludwig, Grant Ludwig, Jason Kampsen, Shaye Olmscheid, Adam Miller, Aaron Savelkoul and Brad Mergan (drafted from Farming).
The Lakers were the runners-up at the Class C Minnesota Amateur Baseball Tournament and achieved a sportsmanship trophy.
Heinen, Wayne Schmitz and Arnie Buermann. By the end of 1980s, every team had at least one of their top homerun hitting seasons from that decade.
Not all pitchers surrendered to the onslaught. Lake Henry’s Lynn Hemmesch, New Munich’s Steve Anderson, Meire Grove’s Fred Meyer and Greenwald’s Kevin Athmann all left their names on team records for striking out batters. In a 1983
game against New Munich, Hemmesch struck out 20 batters. New Munich’s Dan Moening and he hurled nohitters that decade.
The North was Meire Grove’s domain in the 1980s. Marty and Tony Luetmer, Joe Meyer, Mark Schmiesing, Mike Wehlage, and Doug and Kurt Meyer added to the Grovers’ established players. The team made it to state four times. Until Elrosa’s 1988 trip, it was the only North team to reach state.
“I joined the team as a ninth grader, and I didn’t expect to play,” Kurt Meyer said. ...“ I got some playing time as I got a little bit older, and after that, I had various roles.”
New Munich and Elrosa challenged Meire Grove. New Munich, with Steve Anderson, Paul Sand and Dan Moening, had good pitching. The SilverStreaks’ offense featured Jack Rausch, Dave Rolfzen and
Greenwald’s Doug Welle is carried off the field by Shawn Sheets
and Dave
(right) and other team members join the celebration during the 1997 Stearns County League playoffs. It was the first time Greenwald won the league playoffs and qualified for regions.
Tim Anderson, a good clutch hitter. Elrosa boasted Dave Kampsen, Bill Buckentine and Bruce Duevel as well as Ken, Gregg and Keith Haider, who all knew how to play and how to win.
Spring Hill veterans Ron and Larry Welle, Fred Barten, and Jeff and Ken Lieser all played at either Greenwald or Lake Henry. Joining them were Randy Schoenberg in the outfield and pitcher Steve Welle.
Greenwald adjusted to players leaving for Spring Hill and veterans Jim Marthaler, Chuck Winter and Jim Wenker retiring. By the end of the decade, Rich Primus, Mike and Steve Ohmann, Dave Thull, and Mike and Ray Lensing showed they could play.
The South division was bit more varied. St. Martin gathered around the talents of Carl Lieser, Duane Schmitt, Jeff Schmitz, Tim and Dan Terres, and Tom Welle. Richmond featured Dave Adams, Brian and Gary Athmann, Tim Lieser, and Russ Butala to back up the pitching of Nick Schulte and Jim Feldhege. Farming, with the Schlepers (Mark, Steve, Tom, Roy, Mike and Pete) for pitching and hitting and strong offensive skills from Ferd Mackedanz, Mark Backes and Eric Wimmer, were poised to lead the South. Lake Henry, with Hemmesch pitching and Dave Hess, Pete Hopfer, Steve Nietfeld and Pat Jaeger in the lineup, was a solid team. Roscoe, with its power hitting, could defeat any of them.
Richmond hosted state tournament games in 1986, and in 1988, Richmond and Elrosa went to state, marking the first time two SCL teams reached state in the same season. 1990-99
In 1998, Richmond became the first SCL team to play in the state championship. It won seven state games that year. The Royals, with their core from the 1980s, incorporated John Dold, who hit 25 home runs in 30 games. They also made use of draftee Chad Hess, of Melrose, and augmented the pitching of Greg Drontle and Scott Schriefels with Lake Henry’s Ryan Wuertz and Mike Stalboerger.
The Royals made four state trips in the 1990s and were one of three SCL South teams to reach state that decade. Farming, with Eric Wimmer, Steve Schleper, Pete Schleper, Jim Birr, Dan Mergen and Tom Schleper, won a trip to state. St. Martin, with the bats of Ken Arceneau, Jeff Schmitz, and Sam and Luke Rothstein powering them, qualified for a state tournament.
Roscoe put together memorable runs and was cochampion of the regular season in 1995.
No North team reached state that decade, and there was always a scramble for the
Stearns County League page 4-SCL
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
The 2017
Henry Lakers that finished at state consisted of Meire Grove draftee Matt Imdieke (front, from left), Carter Wessel, Sam Hopfer, Weston Brinkman and New London-Spicer draftee Patrick Courtney; (middle, from left) Colin Spooner, Keith Lieser, Josh Kampsen,
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
(left)
Lensing as Craig Schaefer
Stearns County League
from page 3-SCL
top spot. In 1997, four teams tied for first place. Greenwald emerged from that pack to win the playoffs.
The collection of Doug Welle, Todd and Troy Frieler, Dave, Mike and Ray Lensing, and Cory Van Beck brought Greenwald its first regional trip. It made another appearance a year later.
New Munich was perhaps the strongest team in the North. Led by Chad Funk, whose .563 average brought him 63 hits with 20 home runs in 23 games in 1999, it was always an offensive threat. That same year, Pat Nathe, with nine home runs, and Paul Sand with 13, provided RBI power. Pitchers Jim Thull and Paul Sand kept opponents in check. The SilverStreaks won five playoff tournaments in that decade.
Pat Illies, of Elrosa, emerged as a top-flight player in 1998, hitting .523 with 45 hits and 11 home runs along with 19 stolen bases. Randy Schoenberg, of Spring Hill, might have set an efficiency record during a 2-1 win over Greenwald in 1994, throwing only 65 pitches. When the 1999 season concluded, Spring Hill utilized the talents of Randy Schoenberg, Rick Lieser, Nathan Terres, Chris Spanier and Aaron Welle and were about to become an SCL power.
Following the 1997 season, it was decided the SCL would send two teams from each division to regions.
In 1993, night games came to the SCL, as Elrosa installed lights.
2000-09
Wood bats returned in the 2002 season. The move, for the most part, was welcomed by fans. Part of the change was for safety.
“The aluminum bats had gotten so advanced that the scores were 19-15, and it seemed more like a softball score,” Kurt Meyer said. “When we went to wood, pitching and defense started meaning a lot more, being able to advance the runner or bunt successfully. I remember one time I was pitching when they had aluminum bats, and I followed through on a pitch and by the time I looked up, the ball was past me.”
Pitching was especially noticeable in Elrosa, with Aaron Vogt becoming an annual leader in strikeouts and ERAs. In 2006, he logged a 0.39 ERA in 69 2/3 innings. That said, Pat Illies was a hitting force; his.468 average brought 36 hits to Elrosa in 2000. With that combination, the Saints won playoff crowns from 2007 to 2009.
With Nate, Bryan and Scott Schlangen and Kyle Lieser joining the mix, St.
Regional appearances
From 1950 to 1953, the regular season champion advanced to regions. If there was a tie, they played off. From 1954 to 1997, the playoff champion went to regions.
Here are regional appearances since 1998.
Elrosa: 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006-13, 2015-20 and 2022-24
Farming: 2001, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021* and 2024
Greenwald: 1997, 2005 and 2024#
Lake Henry: 2000, 2001, 2003-09, 2010-15, 2017-19, 2020*, 2022* and 2023
Meire Grove: 2001, 2018 and 2019
New Munich: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004-06, 2009 and 2020-23#
Richmond: 1998, 1999 (Class B); 2000, 2002, 2005, 2012-14, 2017-22 and 2024
Roscoe: 2015
St. Martin: 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006-10 and 2013-2024
Spring Hill: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010-15 and 2018-24
*Won single-elimination round.
#Lost single-elimination round.
State participants
Elrosa: 1988, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2016-18 and 2023
Farming: 1961, 1962, 1967, 1980, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2016, 2019 and 2024
Lake Henry: 1959, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 2000, 2001, 2010-13, 2015, 2017 and 2020.
Meire Grove: 1973, 1977, 1981-84 and 1987
New Munich: 1965, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2015 and 2019
Richmond: 1972, 1974, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2012-14, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024
St. Martin: 1966, 1985, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017 and 2020-23
Spring Hill: 2007, 2011, 2013-15, 2021 and 2023
and Imdieke usually kept the Grovers in games. Greenwald was rebuilding but had Keith Frieler, Doug Welle, Dave Lensing and others who knew how to play. The Cubs made four playoff appearances and played in the 2005 regional.
2010-25
New playoff formats and expanded post-league opportunities have allowed seven SCL teams to reach state in the last 15 years.
In 2020, the SCL became the first league to play a regular season game, but the coronavirus pandemic limited teams to nine league games. Spring Hill, because some players tested positive, forfeited at regions.
It is in the postseason where most of the league’s most dramatic memories have been made, including Lake Henry finishing as the state runner-up in 2017. In the semifinals, Roger Wuertz and Matt Quade had two hits and Imdieke, drafted from Meire Grove, pitched three innings of relief for the win. Wuertz and Adam Miller homered in the 6-5 loss to Kimball in the championship.
St. Martin topped Fergus Falls 1-0 without a hit on Bryan Schlangen’s sacrifice bunt in the 2021 state tournament. Spring Hill upset defending champion Sobieski at state in 2015.
Martin — who added lights in 2008 — claimed a share of first place seven times in the decade, making five state trips. Farming, with Chris Wehseler and Greg Holthaus, was always there to challenge the Martins, making the playoffs each year. Farming made a quick adjustment to wood bats and swiped 42 bases in 2005, including 11 from Craig Klein. Lake Henry learned to hit with wood bats and recorded 33 home runs in 2005. In postseason play, the Lakers made regions nine times and twice went to state in the decade. Richmond, with Jon Dold, Todd Steil and Brent Ruegemer, was usually a contender for the South crown. Roscoe struggled in the decade but still had Brent Heinen, Russ Leyendecker and RJ Leyendecker. Almost every year, one frontrunner was upset by the Rangers.
New Munich earned five season and playoff championships. With an effective combination of pitchers of Paul Sand and later Ty Reller; the durable and effective Jim Thull; and the hitting of Chad Funk, Logan Funk, Reller, Will Funk and Hunter Rademacher, it never missed the playoffs and piled up four state trips. In 2005, it finished in the final four of the state tournament.
Spring Hill, with an improving offense led by Jamie and Nate Terres and Shawn, Austin, Randy and Cory Schoenberg, played in five regionals and made one trip to state, where it won in the first round. The Chargers offense became respected for their hitting and baserunning.
Meire Grove totaled eight playoff appearances. Karl Nathe, Matt Imdieke and Eric Marthaler led offensively
New Munich’s Ty Reller defeated Spring Hill and St. Martin on the same day at the 2019 region tournament to qualify for state. St. Martin’s Scott Lieser pitched back-toback complete games that same day, besting Richmond 5-1 but losing to New Munich.
Pat Illies’ walk off two-run home run fueled Elrosa’s 2017 3-2 win over Regal. Roscoe defeated Farming to qualify for the 2015 regions, the first time it played at the regional level.
A third lit diamond was added to the league in 2017, this time in Farming.
The next season of SCL play begins Sunday, April 27, creating new stories and memories of SCL baseball.
For right now, though, most fans have one thought.
“(I’m) waiting for good weather so we can start playing,” Chuck Hennen said
PHOTOS BY HERMAN LENSING
Lake Henry’s Lynn Hemmesch was one of Central Minnesota’s best pitchers in 1970s and 1980s. He was regularly drafted for post-league play if the Lakers did not go to regions.
Spring Hill catcher Nathan Terres acknowledges the support of the fans following Spring’s Hill’s upset of Delano in the 2021 Class C Minnesota Amateur Baseball Tournament. The Stearns County League has a reputation for a large fan following, at times attracting over 1,000 people to games.