Sports - Hastings Journal

Hastings senior Parker Stoltz charges through the course at the Grey Cloud Invitational. Stoltz placed fifth overall in 16 minutes, 53 seconds, helping the Raiders boys’ team to a runner-up finish.

Cross Country debuts with strong performance at Grey Cloud Invite

The Hastings cross country teams wasted no time making a statement in their season opener, running to a pair of runner-up finishes at the Grey Cloud Invitational in Cottage Grove. Facing conference … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/3/25

The Raiders defense swarms to the ball in the second half, shutting out New Prague after halftime. Hastings held firm in key moments, forcing the Trojans into long drives and setting up the dramatic finish.

Birken block banks the win

The Hastings Raiders kicked off their 2025 high school football season at home with a gutsy 20-17 win over New Prague Thursday night at McNamara Stadium. Powered by a relentless ground game, a poised … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/3/25

The Raider defense held strong in the season opener against Simley. Even when there were misses, the girls rallied around each other and rebounded well to give Hastings the five set win.

Volleyball opens season with huge win at Simley

The Raider Volleyball Season opened on Aug. 27 with a trip to Inver Grove Heights to take on the Simley Spartans. The trip up Highway 52 was not without some struggles, but ultimately, the Raiders … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/3/25

Hastings doubles partners Sophia Johnson, left, and Emery Hedeen, right, compete during their home match against Rochester Century. The duo came up short in a 6-3, 6-1 loss.

Girls Tennis youth gain valuable experience in losses

The Hastings Raiders girls tennis team faced a tough stretch in their second week of the season, squaring off against Roseville, Maple Grove, and Rochester Century. The results did not all tilt their … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/3/25

Former Raider Alex Hendrickson returned from the Northwoods League to help secure the Mudhens’ second straight state title. Here Hendrickson completes a double play against the Minneapolis Warriors in the semi-final, 10 inning Miesville win to move to the championship game.

Mudhens storm to State Championship in Gaylord with stunning comebacks

The Miesville Mudhens have done it again, this time in Gaylord, where they claimed yet another state championship in dramatic fashion. The perennial powerhouse delivered two of the most unforgettable … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/3/25

Olyvia Erickson had one of the better chances of the second half to score when she took a penalty kick. Unfortunately, the kick just missed over the crossbar.

Raiders Girls Soccer stands tall in tie with Farmington

The Hastings Raiders girls soccer team walked off the field Friday afternoon with a 0-0 draw against Farmington, a game that showed plenty of toughness and defensive discipline, even if the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/3/25

Several of the volunteers joined the crew from the A&A All the Way foundation for a group picture after the event finished.

Aaron Jones and A&A All the Way bring back-to-school spirit to military families in Hastings

The Fourth of July parade is led by a variety of City of Hastings folks with the first out of the gate being a police car surrounded by Mayor Mary Fasbender and city council members followed by other … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/3/25

2025’s Girls Swim and Dive team settles in to watch their diving relay as part of the season opening Conference Relays at The Grove Aquatic Center.

Girls Swim and Dive places Second at Conference Relays

The Hastings girls swim and dive team opened their season with a confident second-place finish at the Metro East Conference Relays, stacking up 118 points and several standout performances that gave … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/27/25

Reese (L) and Brooklyn (R) Keller have been a key piece to the Hastings Raiders Girls Tennis team for several years now. Last year, the sisters finished fourth in state, with this being their final year, their eyes are on winning it all.

Keller sisters shine as Raiders open tennis season with tough 5-2 duals

The Hastings girls tennis team opened the season with a demanding slate of duals, taking on Park, East Ridge, and Eastview in its first week of play. The Raiders came away with three identical 5-2 … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/27/25

Captain Olyvia Erickson fights off a Lightning player during the Raiders 8-1 loss at Eastview.

Raiders soccer teams begin season with lessons and progress

Raiders soccer teams begin season with lessons and progress By Bruce Karnick bruce@hastingsjournal.news The Hastings girls’ soccer season started in less-than-ideal fashion with an 8-1 loss to … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/27/25

Girls’ soccer had Todd Field booked for varsity practice Friday afternoon. Head Coach Paul Armstrong, entering his fourth year, was extremely excited to be back on the pitch working with this group of girls.

Fall sports begin ramping up practices for an end of August season start

All seven fall sports have a week of practice under their belts in preparation for the 2025 high school sports year. Volleyball, Boys and Girls Soccer, Girls Tennis, Girls Swim and Dive, Cross … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/20/25

Jack Seleski makes a sliding catch while Max Krebs does his best to avoid a collision in right field. Krebs almost messed up the picture in a funny tuck and roll sequence that followed but then made up for it in the next inning with the highlight of the night at Elko. He crushed a two-run bomb in the sixth inning to finally put Hastings on the board.

Hawks season comes to an end, one game short of State… again

How does the saying go? It’s like déjà vu all over again. Sadly, for the Hastings Hawks, that is exactly what it was. The last five seasons, the Hawks have made solid runs in the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/13/25

Two teams from the Randolph Reelers have earned a spot in this year’s high school fishing tournament. The team of (left to right) Prestyn Reuter and Alex Marzen placed third and the team of Evan Goriesky and Owen Engsether placed fifth.

Randolph Reelers making waves in the Minnesota bass scene

The Randolph Reelers fishing team is turning heads in the Minnesota BASS SE Metro Conference this season. Made up of students from Randolph, MN, and neighboring communities, including Hastings … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/13/25

Ben Teigland delivers a pitch during a previous outing for the Hastings Hawks. In Wednesday’s Section 1A tournament opener, Teigland went 5 1/3 innings against Faribault, allowing three runs on two hits with six walks and three strikeouts.

Hastings Hawks push through first two in Section 1A with fight, firepower, and one frustrating finish

The Hastings Hawks opened the Section 1A tournament with a walk-off win, the kind of win that comes from hanging around, wearing a team down, and finally slipping by with a little chaos and a lot of … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/6/25

Legion Baseball finishes State Tournament with 1-2 record

The bats were booming, the rallies were electric, and through it all, Hastings Legion Post 47 fought like a team with something to prove. Over the course of two days at the Minnesota Legion State … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/6/25

Brecken Ponath tossed eight of nine innings in a 3-1 Elmwood win over Ellsworth on July 27.

Expos protect home turf from invasion

ELMWOOD — The Elmwood Expos fended off the UFO Days invaders over the weekend winning home games against Plum City and Ellsworth to enter the playoffs with confidence. Elmwood beat the Plum … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/30/25

Jackson Schaffer returned to form as the designated hitter against Miesville. Schaffer went 3-for-3 with one run scored.

Hawks fall in regular season finale, drop to eighth seed

The weekend of games did not go as the Hastings Hawks had hoped it would and through a series of games going in ways out of their control and the 14-2 loss in Miesville, Hastings finds themselves … more

By Bruce Karnick bruce@hastingsjournal.news | 7/30/25

Derrick Pfeffer hit two home runs to help propel the Hastings Hurricanes over the Lonsdale Jokers on Monday night.

Hastings Hurricanes Finish Regular Season 17-1 with Double Header Wins at Lonsdale

After Mother Nature played some head games with the Hastings Hurricanes and Lonsdale Jokers the last few weeks, trying to play one game, let alone two, the two South Division Rivals finally clashed … more

By Peter Gasparino | 7/30/25

The HYAA Minors League Champions – The Vermillion Orange Bombers! Front Row: Max Lawler, Wessley Kummer, Jack Kuhns, Deacon Kummer, Landon Steinke, Carson Werner, Henry Werner. Middle Row: Franklin Mann, Charlie LaCoursiere, Frankie Meyers, Declan Starkson, Henry Kuhns, Louis Loesch. Back Row: Coach Joe Lawler, Coach David Steinke, Coach Andrew Werner.

Youth sports successes!

We love bragging about our youth teams and their successes! Please email the team photo with details as laid out below to bruce@hastingsjournal.news by Sunday evening to be in that weeks edition of … more

7/30/25

Representatives and team members from the Hockey Day Minnesota took the stage for the lineup announcement on Friday, July 18.

Hockey Day Minnesota lineup announced

Teams from across the area, state and Midwest will be making their way to Hastings come January for Hockey Day Minnesota 2026. The 20th anniversary of the event will host not only Hastings boys and … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 7/23/25