Sports - Hastings Journal

One last gathering at Veterans Park. Hastings Hawks current and former players, fans and board members spend time together around the spools outside the clubhouse following the Aug. 9 season-ending loss to New Ulm. This is where town ball stands out from the rest, the chosen family. The 3-1 Section 1A elimination-game loss brought the Hawks’ 2026 season to a close, but the connections remain.

Hawks season ends two wins shy of state tournament

The Hastings Hawks entered Sunday afternoon knowing there was no next game unless they earned it. Hastings hosted the New Ulm Brewers at 2 p.m. Aug. 9 at Veterans Park in a Section 1A elimination … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/16/26

Anna Stein proudly displays one of the two silver medals she earned while competing for Team Minnesota at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Stein, a member of the Hastings Sharks, placed second in the 400-meter walk and helped Minnesota earn silver in the 4x100-meter relay. Photo

Hastings Sharks athlete shines on national Special Olympics stage

Anna Stein represented the Hastings Sharks and Team Minnesota on one of the biggest stages in Special Olympics competition this summer, returning home with two silver medals from the 2026 Special … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/7/26

Kane Sheahan delivers a pitch for the Hastings Hawks during their 4-1 Section 1A playoff victory over the New Ulm Brewers on Saturday, Aug. 1, at Veterans Park. Sheahan allowed one run on three hits and struck out eight over eight innings to earn the win.

Fourth seed Hawks start tournament 1-1

The Hastings Hawks opened the Section 1A playoffs with a strong pitching performance and a home victory, then came within one run of defeating a former major league pitcher on the road one day later. … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/7/26

Legion Post 47 baseball earns three wins during busy five-game stretch

Anthony Butler delivers a pitch against Eagan on July 8. Butler threw two hitless innings of relief, striking out one and walking two as Hastings Legion Post 47 completed a 12-0 shutout victory. … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/17/26

Hawks newcomers Cole Werner and Gunnar Skov earned their first ever Classic Cannon Valley League (CCVL) hit against CCVL legend Keith Meyers during the Fourth of July game in Cannon Falls.

Hawks split week, now 10-11

The Hastings Hawks started July with a little bit of everything, a late rally, a walk-off win, a road trip, and a short holiday game that got away early. Hastings entered the week at 9-10 after a … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/10/26

Hastings senior Ellie Magnus runs in the 100-meter dash preliminaries at the Class AAA State Meet. Magnus posted the fastest preliminary time at 11.98 seconds before finishing second in the state finals in 11.97. She also placed fourth in the 200-meter dash, won the girls 4x200 relay state championship, swept the Metro East Conference 100, 200 and 400-meter titles, captured Section 3AAA championships in the 100 and 200, and helped lead the Raider girls to a third-place team finish at state.

Historic season ends with state trophies, records and championships for Raiders track and field

The 2026 season will long be remembered as one of the finest in Hastings Raiders track and field history. After the boys claimed the 2025 Class AAA state championship, expectations were high entering … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/10/26

Hastings golfer David Bauer stands with his trophy after winning the 2026 Minnesota Boys Junior PGA Championship at The Jewel Golf Club. Bauer followed an opening-round 72 with a 5-under 66 on the final day, finishing at 4-under 138 to claim the title and earn a spot in the National Boys Junior PGA Championship July 28-31 in Frisco, Texas.

David Bauer wins Minnesota Boys Junior PGA Championship

David Bauer saved his best golf for the biggest moment of his summer, and the Hastings golfer left The Jewel Golf Club with a state championship and a ticket to Texas. Bauer, a 2027 graduate from … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/9/26

Why can’t gymnastics stay in Hastings?

To the editor: In reading the Hastings paper, I was surprised to read that the School Board is sending the gymnastic program to Farmington which will most certainly mean the dealth of the program. … more

7/2/26

Free youth football camp planned for late June

The Hastings Youth Football Camp will give younger players a chance to learn the game, sharpen their skills and spend a few summer evenings on the field with Hastings High School football coaches and … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/26/26

Junior David Bauer competed at the MSHSL Class AAA golf tournament at Bunker Hills where he finished tied for 32 with a two-round total of 150. Here, Bauer watched his first hole fairway approach shot land on the green.

Boys Golf: David Bauer finishes 32nd at State Golf

David Bauer was the lone Hastings boys golfer at the MSHSL Boys AAA State Championship, held June 9 and 10 at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids. The state tournament was a two-round stroke play … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/26/26

Jaiden Rausch took advantage of a throw to steal third, reaching safely on a close play. She then scored on an error helping Hastings earn their first win of the season against South St. Paul.

Softball season returns Raiders to Section contention

By Bruce Karnick | 6/26/26

Hastings’ Micah Slapnicher returns a shot during his No. 1 singles match against Park of Cottage Grove on April 8 at Hastings High School. Slapnicher earned a three-set win, 6 to 4, 4 to 6, 10 to 7, for one of the Raiders’ two team points.

Boys tennis season shows progress through tough schedule

The Hastings Raiders boys tennis season was not measured only by the final line on the schedule. It was measured by how often the Raiders kept showing up against difficult opponents, how often the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/26/26

Senior Brock Bauer team top gun at USA Clay Target League State Skeet Championship

The 2026 High School Spring Trap and Skeet Team had 93 trap shooters (70 male/23 female) under head coach Earl Robinson and 30 skeet shooters (25 male/5 female) under head skeet coach Darin Berg. … more

6/25/26

Hastings sophomore Anika Johnson watches her tee shot take flight during section tournament competition. Johnson posted a round of 113 as the Raiders battled through a challenging Section 3AAA field.

Girls golf season closes with growth, grit and valuable postseason experience

The Hastings Raiders girls golf season was a reminder that progress in golf is not always loud. Sometimes it shows up in a player lowering her score by a few strokes. Sometimes it shows up in a young … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/25/26

A - Winning Team Radke & Mohrhauser L-R Mike Mohrhauser - Dewald Bester - Brian Radke - Matthew Radke

Teeing Up to Drive Out Hunger

The sixth annual Drive Out Hunger golf tournament held at Hastings Golf Club and Events on Monday, June 8, raised just over $19,000 for Hastings Family Service (HFS). DawnMarie Vihrachoff, HFS … more

6/25/26

Raiders hire new Head Girls Soccer Coach

In a recent press release, Trent Hanson, Assistant Principal and Director of Athletics and Activities announced the hiring of new Head Girls Soccer Coach Christian Waage. Waage has been a part of the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/17/26

Trump seeks to rally GOP with area farm visit

Temporary flight restrictions went into effect above the Chippewa Valley Friday, June 5 as Air Force One descended from Washington to Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire. On board, U.S. … more

6/13/26

Ellie Magnus runs in the 100-meter dash preliminaries at the Class AAA state meet. Magnus had the fastest preliminary time at 11.98 seconds, then placed second in the final in 11.97. She also placed fourth in the 200-meter dash final in 24.29.

Raiders Track and Field finishes the season with boys and girls each taking third place at State meet

The Hastings Raiders closed the 2026 Minnesota State High School League Boys and Girls Track and Field Championships with a historic Class AAA state meet at St. Michael-Albertville High School. The … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/11/26

Bennett Brathol delivers a pitch for Hastings during Sunday’s home game against Lakeville. Brathol worked three innings in relief, striking out five in the Hawks’ 11-6 loss.

Hawks drop two of three, move to 5-7

Hastings opened June looking for a spark, and the Hawks found one before running into two tough league losses later in the week. Hastings entered the week at 4-5 after dropping three straight games … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/11/26

Kyle Maronick started on the mound for Hastings during the Raiders’ section playoff game at Eagan on June 1. Maronick worked the first two innings, allowing two hits and striking out one before Brady Hendrickson came on in relief.

Raider baseball season comes to a close

The Raider baseball season ended at the hands of Eagan on Monday, June 1, as Hastings traveled to Burnsville for a section playoff game and fell 6-1, coming up three wins short of the section title. … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/11/26