| 2009 State Baseball Tournament |
Five teams make first appearances
In the 10th year of a three-class format, a new baseball champion will emerge in each class. Five teams are making first appearances: MACCRAY of Clara City and Northern Freeze in Class A; DeLaSalle of Minneapolis in Class AA; and Eagan and Centennial of Circle Pines in Class AAA. Northern Freeze is a co-op between Tri-County of Karlstad, Marshall County Central of Newfolden, and Stephen-Argyle Central.
This year’s tournament will be played Thursday and Friday, June 11 and 12. Class A games will be played at Athletic Park in Chaska and the Mini Met in Jordan. Class AA games will be played at Dick Putz Field and the adjacent Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. Class AAA games will be played at Midway Stadium in St. Paul and Dick Siebert Field at the University of Minnesota.
Class A Highlights
(Section 1) Wabasha-Kellogg (22-6) vs. (Section 7) Chisholm (17-3) — 10 a.m. June 11 at Chaska Athletic Park. Wabasha-Kellogg, which is making its third appearance, returns to tournament play after a one-year absence. The Chisholm Bluestreaks are making their third tournament appearance, but their first since 2005. They won one previous title in 1948.
(Section 2) New Ulm Cathedral (22-4) vs. (Section 4) St. Bernard’s, St. Paul (17-11) — 10 a.m. June 11 at the Mini Met, Jordan. The Greyhounds of New Ulm Cathedral return for their second consecutive and third overall appearance. They earned consolation honors last year and won one previous championship in 2005. St. Bernard’s is making its second tournament appearance, but first since 2004.
(Section 3) MACCRAY, Clara City (21-3) vs. (Section 5) Browerville/Eagle Valley (15-11) — 12:30 p.m. June 11 at Chaska Athletic Park. The MACCRAY Wolverines are making their debut appearance at this year’s tournament. The Browerville/Eagle Valley Tigers are hoping to improve on last year’s sixth-place showing. This is their second consecutive and overall tournament appearance.
(Section 6) Hawley (14-4) vs. (Section 8) Northern Freeze (11-6) — 12:30 p.m. June 11 at the Mini Met, Jordan. The Nuggets of Hawley are making their second consecutive and overall appearance. They finished third in 2008. The Northern Freeze are making their first tournament appearance.
Class AA Highlights
(Section 1) La Crescent (21-8) vs. (Section 6) St. Cloud Cathedral (21-4) — 10 a.m. June 11 at Dick Putz Field, St. Cloud. The Lancers of La Crescent return after a four-year absence to make their fifth appearance. The St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders are making their 14th appearance and return after a one-year hiatus. If they win it would be their seventh title; they won previously in 1977, 1980, 1988, 2001, 2003, and 2007.
(Section 3) Luverne (25-0) vs. (Section 4) DeLaSalle, Minneapolis (18-9) — 10 a.m. June 11 at Joe Faber Field, St. Cloud. The Luverne Cardinals return for their eighth appearance, but first since 2003. The DeLaSalle Islanders are making their debut tournament appearance.
(Section 2) Glencoe-Silver Lake (23-2) vs. (Section 5) Orono (18-7) — 12:30 p.m. June 11 at Dick Putz Field, St. Cloud. These teams met twice during the regular season with Glencoe-Silver Lake winning both games 13-1 and 9-8. The Glencoe-Silver Lake Panthers, who return to the tournament after a one-year hiatus, are making their third appearance under this name. The Orono Spartans are making their second appearance, but their first since 1996.
(Section 7) Mora (21-4) vs. (Section 8) Fergus Falls (14-11) — 12:30 p.m. June 11 at Joe Faber Field, St. Cloud. The Mustangs of Mora are making their second consecutive and fourth overall appearance. They lost in the consolation semifinals last year. The Otters of Fergus Falls, who did not face any other qualifiers this year, are making their fourth appearance. Their last was in 2002.
Class AAA Highlights
(Section 3) Eagan (17-10) vs. (Section 7) Forest Lake (18-5) — 10 a.m. June 11 at Siebert Field, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. The Wildcats of Eagan are making their first tournament appearance. The Forest Lake Rangers return to tournament play after a seven-year absence to make their fifth appearance.
(Section 2) Eden Prairie (20-7) vs. (Section 8) St. Michael-Albertville (23-6) — 10 a.m. June 11 at Midway Stadium, St. Paul. The Eagles of Eden Prairie return after a one-year absence to make their fifth appearance. They won one previous championship in 2004. St. Michael-Albertville returns to make its second consecutive and fourth overall appearance. The Knights placed fourth in 2008 and won their only title in 2000.
(Section 4) Stillwater Area (19-7) vs. (Section 6) Hopkins (21-6) — 12:30 p.m. June 11 at Siebert Field, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. The Ponies of Stillwater Area, who lost in the consolation semifinals last year, are making their second consecutive and fifth overall appearance. If they win it would be their second title; they won previously in 1991. The Hopkins Royals are making their seventh tournament appearance, but first since 2005.
(Section 1) Owatonna (17-10) vs. (Section 5) Centennial, Circle Pines (22-3) — 12:30 p.m. June 11 at Midway Stadium, St. Paul. The Owatonna Huskies are in the hunt for their third title in their third appearance. They won previously in 1974 and 1988. The Centennial Cougars are making their first tournament appearance.
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