We’ve got what we need. Now we just need to put it all together.”

Head Coach Ryan Stoffel

Up next:

The next game is May 15 at Vets Park at 7:00 p.m. against South St. Paul.

Veterans Park
P5F5+4X 2500 Soccer Field Road
Hastings, MN 55033
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The Raider Baseball team started the week off with a 5-4 victory over St. Thomas Academy (STA) before falling to Hill-Murray 7-2 and Tartan 9-7. Despite a tough stretch of games, the Hastings Raiders baseball team showed signs of growth, promise, and resilience as they faced three quality opponents over the past week. The Raiders came out of the week with one win and two losses, but the story is far more than what the record shows. Strong starting pitching, improved bats, and gritty performances across the roster marked a week that Head Coach Ryan Stoffel sees as a turning point for the team.

The week started on a high note with a narrow 5-4 road win over St. Thomas Academy on Wednesday, April 30. It was a confidence-boosting performance that highlighted the team’s ability to compete in close games. That momentum ran into two tough home matchups, a 7-2 loss to Hill-Murray on Thursday and a hard-fought 9-7 loss to Tartan on Friday.

Charlie Meyers shines in varsity debut

If there was a breakout-star this week, it was undoubtedly Charlie Meyers. Making his varsity debut, the right-hander was calm under pressure and gave the Raiders exactly what they needed on the mound Friday against Tartan. He went five strong innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out two and walking three.

“Charlie Meyers did an unbelievable job out there,” said Coach Stoffel. “In his varsity debut, he gave us exactly what we needed. He kept us in the game for five innings, gave us a chance to win. That’s all you can ask for.”

Coach Stoffel emphasized that the team’s starting pitching across the week has been one of their biggest strengths.

“You look back at the week as a whole, and our starting pitching gave us every opportunity to win. I’m very proud of that.”

Unfortunately, the relief pitching struggled to maintain that foundation. After Meyers left the game, Matt Sherry and Chuck Wagner combined to allow six runs over the final two innings. A combination of walks, hits, and defensive errors opened the door for Tartan to put up back-to-back crooked numbers late in the game.

“It kind of snowballed from there,” Stoffel said. “We brought in some arms, and we walked some guys. Then they got a couple hits, and we kicked the ball around a bit. That part we can clean up. If we do, I think we’ll be just fine.”

The challenge of cold weather

Friday’s weather didn’t help either. With temperatures far colder than typical for May, players battled more than just their opponents. The cold conditions made it harder for relief pitchers to stay warm and ready to go when needed.

“You’re in the dugout and it’s cold,” Stoffel explained. “Charlie’s cruising, then all of a sudden, you’ve got to get someone up. It takes longer to get warm in this weather. But Matty [Sherry] wanted the ball. He had a great bullpen, said he was ready, and that’s something you want from a senior.”

Bats heating up

Despite the loss on Friday, the Raiders showed significant improvement at the plate. After struggling to produce offense earlier in the season, Hastings put up nine hits against Tartan and seven runs, a noticeable jump from the two-to-three hit outings from just a few weeks ago.

“Our bats are starting to come together,” Stoffel said. “You look at the scoreboard now, and we’ve got eight hits. A month ago, that number would’ve been two or three. The bottom of the seventh really showed me something, we didn’t give up. We put the bat on the ball, and got a couple runs across. Just wasn’t quite enough.”

Chuck Wagner led the way offensively with a triple and two RBIs, going 2-for-3. Colton McKnight also chipped in with two RBIs, and Marlowe Strain added two hits and a stolen base. The Raiders also got contributions up and down the lineup, a sign that the offense is starting to click.

Defense remains an area where the Raiders are looking to tighten up. Five errors on Friday, including three in late innings, played a significant role in the outcome. Stoffel acknowledged the issue but remained optimistic.

“We can clean that up,” he said. “It’s not for lack of effort. These are correctable things.”

Coach Stoffel’s comments reflect grounded optimism. While the Raiders are still finding their identity this season, the pieces are falling into place, a strong pitching rotation, an improving offense, and a group of players who show heart, even when trailing.

One of the clearest examples came in the seventh inning against Tartan. Down 9-5, the Raiders refused to fold. They rallied to score twice, and even though they came up short, they made it a game to the very last pitch.

That effort wasn’t lost on Stoffel.

“We didn’t throw in the towel. That means something.”

Looking ahead

With the bats waking up and young players like Meyers stepping up, the Raiders are a team on the rise. If they can cut down on walks and sharpen their defense, more wins are sure to follow.

“Our guys are starting to believe,” Stoffel said. “We’re close. Really close.”

As the Raiders head into the heart of their schedule, the lessons learned this past week could prove invaluable. With strong starting pitching, a resilient offense, and a coach who believes in his team, Hastings is poised to turn the corner.

“We’ve got what we need,” Stoffel said. “Now we just need to put it all together.”

They will have ample opportunities to put it all together with six more games on the schedule for the regular season. May 7 they travel to North St. Paul and May 9 they host Two Rivers, both are 4:30 p.m. first pitches. They currently have most of the following week open for practices until the May 15 game at Vets Park at 7:00 p.m. against South St. Paul. These night games are an absolute blast both for the kids and the fans. The Hawks open concessions and hundreds of students show up to support the Raiders, this is a game you do not want to miss, it is sure to be electric.