The Hastings Raiders opened the 2026 season with three games in five days during a cold and windy first week that tested both pitching depth and lineup balance. Hastings began the year Tuesday, April 6, when its scheduled Monday opener against Hill-Murray was moved back one day because of weather. The Raiders followed with a road trip to St. Thomas Academy on April 8, then finished the week Friday, April 10, at Tartan.
Hastings opened the season at home April 6 against Hill-Murray and used a strong second inning and steady pitching to secure a 3–1 win in chilly conditions. Hill-Murray scored first, pushing across a run in the top of the second inning, but the Raiders answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Hastings put together its best stretch of offense in that frame, scoring three runs to take control of the game.
Grant Johnson delivered the key swing of the inning with a two-run hit, and Anthony Butler added an RBI to complete the rally. Brady Hendrickson and Charlie Meyers both scored during the inning as Hastings turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead. From there, the Raiders relied on pitching and defense to hold the advantage the rest of the way.
Carter Lundstrom settled in after the early run and worked efficiently through six innings, limiting Hill-Murray to one earned run on seven hits while striking out five and walking two. He kept hitters off balance and avoided big innings as the Raiders protected their lead through the middle portion of the game. Zach Simon handled the seventh inning in relief and closed out the victory with a scoreless frame.
Niederkorn finished with a hit in the opener, while Johnson collected a hit and two RBI. Hendrickson and Meyers each scored once and added a hit, Butler drove in a run, and Gunnar Skov also contributed a hit as Hastings totaled five hits in the season opener. Lundstrom earned the win and Simon recorded the save as Hastings defeated Hill-Murray 3–1.
The Raiders returned to action April 8 with a road trip to St. Thomas Academy for their first conference test of the season. Hastings ran into a strong pitching performance from the Cadets and was limited offensively in a 10–0 loss that ended after six innings under the ten-run rule.
St. Thomas Academy built its lead gradually across the middle innings. The Cadets scored once in the second inning, added another run in the third, then extended the lead with two more runs in the fourth. Hastings stayed within reach through five innings before the game turned in the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, St. Thomas Academy scored six runs to reach the ten-run margin and end the game early. The Cadets finished with fourteen hits and consistently applied pressure on the bases throughout the afternoon.
Hastings was unable to generate offense against the Cadets pitching staff and did not record a hit in the game. The Raiders drew three walks and had one batter reach after being hit by a pitch but could not advance runners into scoring position.
Drew Gillespie started on the mound and pitched four innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits while striking out three and walking one. Brady Hendrickson pitched the final one and two thirds innings and allowed six runs on six hits while striking out two. St. Thomas Academy secured the 10–0 victory in six innings.
Hastings wrapped up the week April 10 with a road game at Tartan and responded with its strongest offensive performance of the season in an 8–5 victory that featured a decisive late rally.
The Raiders jumped out quickly with two runs in the first inning before Tartan answered with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame. Tartan added single runs in the third and fourth innings and another in the sixth to build a 5–2 lead heading into the final inning.
Hastings answered with its biggest rally of the young season in the top of the seventh inning. The Raiders scored six runs in the frame to take control of the game. The rally included contributions throughout the lineup as Hastings collected timely hits and capitalized on baserunners to flip the scoreboard late.
Austin Viall led the offense with three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Luke Niederkorn added two hits and scored twice. Colton McKnight collected two hits and scored two runs, while Anthony Butler added two hits and an RBI. Brady Hendrickson drove in a run, Carter Lundstrom added an RBI, Payton Perseke drove in two runs, and Cooper Pagel also contributed an RBI as Hastings finished with twelve hits.
Kyle Maronick started on the mound and pitched five innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits while striking out six. Zach Simon pitched the final two innings in relief, allowing one run while striking out two and earning the win after Hastings took the lead in the seventh inning. Hastings defeated Tartan 8–5 to finish the opening week of the season with a 2–1 record.
Hastings will travel to Mahtomedi on April 13 at 4:30 p.m., then play at North St. Paul on April 15 at 3:45 p.m. The Raiders return home April 17 to face Two Rivers at 4:30 p.m., then travel to Park of Cottage Grove on April 21 at 4:30 p.m., host South St. Paul on April 22 at 4:30 p.m., and play at Simley on April 24 at 4:30 p.m.