The Raiders' season opener at Park of Cottage Grove on Friday, April 5 started out as a very promising opportunity for Hastings. Matt Sherry had the start on the mound and kept the Wolfpack scoreless for three innings. However, Sherry's effort was not enough to secure a win for the Raiders, and they ultimately fell in five innings, 13-3.
The opening day weather was perfect, with temperatures nearly reaching sixty degrees and a fairly calm wind setting up a beautiful afternoon. As the boys prepared to take the field, Head Coach Ryan Stoffel delivered a pump-up speech.
“A couple of things: let's have fun. It’s opening day, and you only get one shot at it. Let's enjoy it; the sun is out, so let’s make it special. Be first class; we are a high-character team. Other than that, let’s go and have fun,” he said.
The boys broke it down, shouting "1…2…3… RAIDERS!" Thus, opening day officially began.
Cade Kimmes stepped up to the plate first but unfortunately struck out. Jack Seleski followed, flying out to center, and Evan Nelson became the first Raider of the season to reach first base. It wasn't anything flashy; he walked to become the first base runner of the season. The designated hitter, Alex Hendrickson, had a lengthy at-bat but ultimately grounded out to end the inning.
Through three innings, Hastings had managed only one base runner, while Park had two. It seemed that the starting pitchers were poised for a solid duel. Then the fourth inning began.
Seleski led off for Hastings with a walk. Nelson drove the third pitch he saw deep into left-center field, but unfortunately, it was caught for out number one. Hendrickson stepped up to the plate, and on the first pitch, Seleski stole second. On the next pitch, Hendrickson drove the ball deep over the right-center fence for a two-run home run, giving the Raiders the lead. That was all the offense Hastings could generate, and they took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth.
That is when the wheels fell off for Hastings. By the time the fourth inning was complete, Park had scored 11 runs, and Hastings had gone through four pitchers.
In the top of the fifth, Gavin Radant walked to lead off the inning, and Kimmes drove him in to cut the Park lead down to 11-3. A double play ended the inning for Hastings.
The pitching woes from the fourth inning continued into the fifth and Blake Vandehoef was replaced by Colton McKnight. Park had one single in the inning which scored the first run, making the game 12-3. The rest of the inning was one kerfuffle after another, and the game ended with two batters being hit by a pitch, the final batter forcing the run in, resulting in a 13-3, ten-run rule loss for the Raiders.
Offensively, the Raiders had three runs on two hits with two left on base and four walks. Park had 13 runs on six hits, one Hastings error, 10 walks, and they had four batters hit by pitch.
Hastings will need to have a short memory after this opener as they will travel to take on North St. Paul on Wednesday, April 10 at 4:30 p.m. and they will host Two Rivers on Friday at 4:30 p.m. for their home opener.
