Mustangs reach state, lose 2 close ones

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS WRITER

After a spotty regular season, the Mounds View baseball team rolled to four straight wins in Section 5AAAA to earn the program’s 10th state tournament trip and first since 2019. At state, the Mustangs had a pair of one-run losses, to Minnetonka and Lakeville South, and finished 15-11.

“We had an up and down regular season, losing five or six one-run games, in a tough (Suburban East) conference,” reflected coach Nik Anderson after the section triumph. “When you’re just a little over .500, it takes a real team effort to dial it up for the section and leave it all out the field — which we did.”

In the section, Mounds View tripped Park Center/Columbia Heights/ Maranatha 11-1, Maple Grove 3-0, and Champlin Park 2-1 and 9-3. Champlin Park, top-seeded, finished 18-6. Tanner Hoeman sparked the Mustangs in the finale at Osseo. The senior second baseman knocked in three of the first four runs with a double and a single, and made the pivot on three double plays. Two DP’s were started by shortstop Jonny Conlin and the other by pitcher Andrew Simon. Asked about being at the plate in those situations, Hoeman said: “Love it. Love the section tournament. I’m always ready to go. I got my plan going in.”

Tyler Guerin got on base four times, with a double, hit-by-pitch, fielder’s choice, and a two-RBI single, scoring three runs. Simon threw five strong innings, allowing one unearned run, for the win. Andrew Getty, freshman, pitched a scoreless sixth. Guerin gave up two runs in the seventh while striking out two and leaving bases loaded.

At the state

The Mustangs took a 3-0 lead against Minnetonka but the Skippers beat them 4-3 on Tuesday, June 13, on a walk-off hit at CHS Field in St. Paul. In the last of the seventh, Maxwell Pederson ripped a long double to left-center off Simon and Colten Benedict scored from first base on a close play at the plate.

Drew Rogers belted a two-run homer and Ryan Counihan singled home a run for the Mustangs. Minnetonka countered with a two-run double by Jacob McClusky and a solo homer by Benedict.

Pitching for the Mustangs were Guerin (1 1/3 innings, one run), Getty (1 1/3 innings, one run) and Simon (3 2/3 innings, two runs). Pitching for Minnetonka were Evan Kueppers, Kieran Haaland and Maxwell Nelson.

In the consolation round, Lakeville South and Ian Segna out-dueled Rogers and the Mustangs 1-0 Wednesday at St. Anthony Village. A home run by Brandon Witter in the second inning was the lone run. Rogers allowed seven hits and four walks, striking out six. Aiden Bale threw one scoreless inning. The Mustangs had just four hits off Segna, two by Hayden Sperbeck and one each by Geurin (double) and Parker Holmboe.

that I did,” said McArthur.

Isabel, in cross country, placed 10th and 13th at state. In track, she has placed third and eighth in the 1600, second and fifth in the 3200, and eighth in the 4x800. Her last state meet was her best.

“I’m very happy with my races at state,” Isabel said, “My goals going in were to compete for the title in the 3200m and top three in the 1600m.”

In the 3200, she said, the plan was to sit on the leader and make a move with around 800 to go and see what she had left. She did take the lead but got passed with 40 meters left. About the 1600, she said, “It was a windy day, but I was proud of how I was able to compete and beat my seed by one place.”

About her career, Isabel reflected: “It’s been really fun to look back on how much I have been able to improve and grow as a runner. I never would have thought that I would be running the times I am, or would even be in a position to compete for a state title.”

In a school with a tremendous boys track and field tradition, McArthur’s personal bests are 9:16.16 in the 3200 (first all-time), 1:55.01 in the 800 (fourth), 4:14.26 in the 1600 (third), and 49.85 in the 400 (second). Isabel ranks first on the girls all-time list with 4:57.57 in the 1600 and with 10:46.77 in the 3200. She’s fourth in the 800 with 2:18.77.

The boys 4x200 placed 10th in prelims in 1:29.86. The girls 4x800 placed 10th (9:45.67), the girls 4x400 took 11th (4:04.65) and the 4x200 placed 12th (1:45.09). Also competing were Jason Walker, 11th in pole vault (120), and Lauren Kath, 14th in the 800 (2:18.61).

Mounds View finished seventh in the boys team standings and 15th in the girls standings.

Bruce Strand is a sports writer for Press Publications. He can be reached at bruce.a.strand@ gmail.com or 651-407-1200.