Hastings entered last week with a 3-3 record and looking to build momentum in Metro East Conference play, and the Raiders did exactly that with three straight wins, beating Park of Cottage Grove 7-5 on Monday, April 21, edging South St. Paul 1-0 on Wednesday, April 22, and finishing the week with a 7-0 shutout at Simley on Friday, April 24. Hastings opened the stretch on the road at Park, then returned home for a tight pitcher’s duel against South St. Paul before closing the week with a strong performance at Simley, using timely hitting and standout pitching to move above the .500 mark.
Hastings set the tone early against Park on April 21, jumping out to a fast start with two runs in the first inning and three more in the second to take control. Gunnar Skov sparked the offense from the top of the lineup with four hits and two runs scored, while Cole Werner delivered a key swing with a home run and two runs batted in. Brady Hendrickson added two hits and scored twice, and the Raiders were aggressive on the bases throughout the game, piling up multiple stolen bases that helped pressure the defense. Park answered with single runs in the first and second innings, then pushed across three more in the third to briefly take a 5-5 tie, but Hastings responded immediately with single runs in the fourth and fifth to regain the lead and held on the rest of the way.
Drew Gillespie started on the mound and struck out five over 2.2 innings before handing the ball to the bullpen. Zach Simon delivered three scoreless innings in relief, allowing just two hits and keeping Park off the board during a key middle stretch. Hendrickson closed the game with 1.1 scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Hastings finished with nine hits in the 7-5 win. Skov led the way with four hits and three stolen bases, Werner homered and drove in two runs, Hendrickson doubled and added two hits, and Luke Niederkorn collected an RBI hit. The Raiders improved their record to 4-3 with the victory.
The Raiders returned home April 22 for a tight pitcher’s duel against South St. Paul that remained scoreless deep into the game. Hastings managed just three hits through the first eight innings but stayed patient and kept finding ways to put runners on base. In the bottom of the ninth, Hendrickson reached and eventually came around to score the game’s only run, with Xander McVicker credited with the RBI that sealed the 1-0 victory. The game featured strong defense on both sides and steady pitching throughout as neither lineup could generate sustained offense until the final inning.
Carter Lundstrom delivered one of the Raiders’ strongest outings of the season, working eight scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out 11 with just one walk. Charlie Meyers followed with a clean ninth inning and two strikeouts to finish the shutout. At the plate, Niederkorn and Colton McKnight each had one hit, while Hendrickson scored the lone run. McVicker drove in the game winner, and Werner added two stolen bases as Hastings created pressure despite limited hits. The Raiders moved to 5-3 on the season with the extra inning conference win.
Hastings carried that momentum into Friday’s road game at Simley and again relied on pitching and late offense to take control. The Raiders were held scoreless through five innings before breaking through in the sixth. A string of hits and disciplined at bats produced three runs in the inning, then Hastings added four more in the seventh to turn a tight contest into a comfortable lead. Niederkorn scored twice and collected two hits, Skov added two hits and an RBI, and Werner doubled and drove in a run while also scoring twice. Austin Viall contributed two hits including a double and an RBI, and Hendrickson added another RBI as the lineup produced eight hits overall.
Kyle Maronick delivered a dominant complete game effort on the mound, allowing four hits over seven scoreless innings while striking out 10 and walking three. He controlled the tempo from the start and did not allow Simley to generate a sustained rally. Hastings backed him with steady defense and timely hitting in the final two innings to secure the shutout. Werner and Viall each recorded doubles, while Perseke and Hendrickson added stolen bases during the late inning surge. The 7-0 win pushed the Raiders to 6-3 on the season after completing the three-game sweep of the week.
The strong stretch gave Hastings confidence heading into another busy portion of the Metro East schedule. The Raiders will host St. Thomas Academy on Wednesday, April 29 at 4:30 p.m. As of Monday afternoon, the Raiders were scheduled to remain at home to face Tartan on Friday, May 1 at 4:15 p.m. That game is currently in doubt due to a lack of officials. Originally, the game was scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start at Vets Park, but moved time and location and it may move again. Watch the Raider Baseball social media for last minute updates. We will also share that as soon as we can. Hastings will return to the road Monday, May 4 with a 4:30 p.m. game at Mahtomedi as conference play continues into early May.