Sports - Hastings Journal

Raiders Swim and Dive showing off their signs before hittings the streets to drum up business. Both weekend days, athletes stood on the corners of Highway 55 or South Frontage Road and Pleasant Dr or Westview Dr with signs directing folks to the car wash: a tactic that is easily seen and provides results.

School groups use car washes as an opportunity to raise funds

High school sports teams and activities groups often have financial needs for things occurring during their season. It may be uniforms, other equipment, transportation, officials and a plethora of … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/24/23

Dennis Reinhart earned the start for the Region 5C playoffs with 14 straight shutout innings in his previous two, regular season starts. Reinhart pitched well against the Sharks, allowing only three earned runs in the 5-2 loss

Hawks dominate game two

The Region 5C playoffs started this weekend in Cannon Falls at John Burch Field. The #3 Hastings Hawks started the tournament with a loss to #6 Stewartville/Racine Sharks 5-2, and a win over the #7 … more

By Bruce Karnick and Johnny Stocker | 8/11/23

Tanner Anselment turned a bunt into a hit with a two-base error in the third inning against Duluth. Anselment scored on a Johnny Teigland sacrifice fly as part of the win over Duluth.

Legion baseball season ends at state tournament

The American Legion Post 47 baseball team was very busy last week, starting with a huge sendoff for the state tournament on Wednesday followed by the state banquet for all the teams and culminating … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/4/23

Legion baseball state bound

After a wild weekend at sub-state, the Hastings Raiders Legion Post 47 baseball team is headed to the state tournament. Hastings went 4-1 over a five-day qualifying tournament to punch their ticket … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/27/23

State Bound!

The Hastings Raiders Legion Post 47 baseball team is headed to the Legion Baseball State Tournament this weekend after a 4-1 showing in the regional tournament. This team has been extremely … more

7/27/23

The Hastings Hawks versus Cannon Falls Bears game was a fun one to attend. It was a drama-filled affair with edge-of-your-seat-moments. Two of those moments were provided by Cole Benson. Benson had the only two Hawks RBIs in the game, both sacrifice flies giving the Hawks the win.

Hawks secure second place

The Hastings Hawks had another busy week scheduled with a visit from the Burnsville Bobcats on July 19, a battle for second place with Cannon Falls scheduled for July 21, an exhibition game scheduled … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/27/23

Second Hastings Hawk joins the Northwood League

Former Hastings Raider and current Hastings Hawks pitcher, Will Lavin, joined the ranks of the Northwoods League at the start of the summer. His work on the mound as a Raider and a Hawk led him to … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/21/23

Hastings national trap team competitors left to right: Reed Anderson, spectator and competitors Brody Anderson, Issac Nauer, Tristan Asher, Tanner Lamb, Blaise Lamb and Collin Meyers with head coach Earl Robinson.

Six members of Raiders Trap Team shoot at National Championship

More than 1,718 of the highest qualified student athletes throughout all affiliated state high school clay target leagues competed for the right to be called a National Champion at the US High School … more

7/21/23

Roadside Tennis / Pickle Ball Courts update

The graphic above shows the planned layout of the tennis and pickle ball courts at Roadside Park. A typo in last week’s parks update incorrectly listed the layout as having six pickle ball … more

7/21/23

Hawks go 2-2, prepare for final week before regional playoffs start

The Hastings Hawks are back to .500 on the season at 12-12 after a busy week of baseball at Veterans Park. Hastings has played all of their July games so far at home and currently has one game on the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/21/23

Second Hastings Hawk joins the Northwoods League

Former Hastings Raider and current Hastings Hawks pitcher, Will Lavin, joined the ranks of the Northwoods League at the start of the summer. His work on the mound as a Raider and a Hawk led him to … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/18/23

The Hastings Trap and Skeet team had a total of 103 trap shooters, 76 male and 27 female and 20 skeet shooters, 17 male and three female. The team is coached by all volunteer coaches. The Trap head coach is Early Robinson and the Skeet head coach is Darin Berg. Trap and Skeet teams across the state of Minnesota are the safest sports teams in the state with zero documented injuries reported.

2023 Trap and Skeet team does well at State, sends six to Nationals

The 2023 Spring Trap and Skeet League season was a little different this year and as always it went by fast. We saw a lot of rough weather but that never stops our kids or coaches from showing … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/13/23

In 2022, the Hawks worked with the City of Hastings and HYAA to purchase batting cages for the entire community to use. Unfortunately, manufacturing and shipping delays have pushed back the timeline for completion, which hinges on a lot of hope for “soon.”

Hastings Hawks board: for all of Hastings baseball

The Hastings Hawks amateur baseball team is part of the Classic Cannon Valley League (CCVL) which includes smaller towns to the south. They play around 30-40 games per season with roughly half of … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/7/23

Hawks earn two season sweeps with two wins last week

The Rochester Royals and Lake City Serpents fell victim to the Hawks offense last week with Hastings putting up double digit runs in both games. Rochester was last year’s Class B state champion … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/7/23

Former Raider Kyle Bauer had a successful year in the NAHL with nine goals and 17 assists with the Anchorage Wolverines. Bauer will be moving to the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire for the 23-24 season to continue his education and playing career.

Former Raider Kyle Bauer moves from NAHL to Eau Claire

20-year-old Kyle Bauer, a 2021 graduate from Hastings High School and former Raider Hockey player joined the National American Hockey League (NAHL) after graduation. The NAHL is the only USA … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/7/23

Emilee Bible (left) is preparing to skate at the Ice Sports Industry’s World Recreational Team Championships Aug. 3-6 at Nashoba Valley Olympia in Boxborough, Mass. Bible is coached by Amanda Truax (right) and Hanna Isadore (not pictured).

River Blades skater set to compete in ISI World Recreational Championships

Emilee Bible, representing the Hastings Civic Arena and River Blades Skating School, is preparing to compete in the 2023 Ice Sports Industry’s (ISI) World Recreational Team Championships … more

7/7/23

Winners of the Party Cart Raffle at the St. Croix Valley Golf Scramble.

CNC St. Croix Valley Scramble Fundraiser

Time to set the tee, strike the ball and watch it soar, all for a good cause at the 15 th Annual St. Croix Valley Scramble, Monday, July 17 at the Hastings Golf Club. Check-in and lunch begins at … more

By Nerissa Solovitz | 7/6/23

Infielder Jackson Tessman consistently makes difficult plays like this backhand grab at short stop. His quickness often helps send the batters back to the bench and at a minimum robs batters of extra bases.

Hawks win crucial Class C game, move into second place in CCVL

The Hastings Hawks play around 30 games each year, but none are more crucial than the six they play against their three Classic Cannon Valley League (CCVL) Class C opponents, the Red Wing Aces, … more

By Johnny Stocker and Bruce Karnick | 6/29/23

Drive Out Hunger is meant to be a fun way to help others as demonstrated by this foursome. From left, Katy Lindberg, Pam Offler, Debbie Grim and Amy Sutton.

Community rallies to Drive Out Hunger

The third annual Drive Out Hunger golf tournament was held at the Hastings Golf Course on Tuesday, June 13, raising $16,713 for Hastings Family Service. Event organizer Kelly Carter, HFS … more

6/22/23

Tanner Anselment heads back to the bench during a mound visit by Two Rivers during the Raiders tough extra innings loss on May 5th.

Baseball wins two of three for the week

The Raider baseballers had a busy week scheduled with four games in four days. Unfortunately, the rain on Saturday cancelled the game at Veterans Park, but that still gave the Raiders three other … more

By Bruce Karnick | 5/11/23