Cory Wolters is a key part of the Hawks outfield providing speed and range along with Jake Biermaier, Jordan Jeske, Evan Khrin, Jordy Horsch and Nick Horsch. Hawks File photo by Bruce Karnick

By Bruce Karnick
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June 20, 2022 – The Hastings Hawks continue to be a team to watch with a 9-7 overall record on the year. The Classic Cannon Valley League is one of the tougher leagues to play in and Hastings has a 5-4 record there. As a Class C team, they are doing very well against the Class B teams at 6-4 and need to improve against the Class C teams at 2-3.

Wednesday night, June 15, the Miesville Mudhens came to town to try to get revenge on the Hawks for the previous 6-0 thumping. Will Lavin saw his first action on the mound for Hastings going two solid innings while he ramps up for the season. Lavin was replaced by veteran lefty Jordan Jeske who went six solid innings for Hastings.

Connor Malcom got the start on the mound for Miesville and pitchers on both teams kept batters baffled until the fourth inning. The Mudhens struck first when Max Gamm hit a single up the middle then stole second. Joey Werner moved Gamm to third on a single and Matt Van Der Bosch drove in Gamm on a fielder’s choice to second giving Miesville the 1-0 lead.

Hastings took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth. Jake Sandquist had a solid single up the middle to lead off the fifth and Ben Teigland put down a sacrifice bunt to move Sandquist to second. Nick Horsch, AKA the baseball magnet, was hit by pitch to reach first and that brought Jackson Schaffer to the plate. Schaffer has had quite the impact on his first few games with the Hawks. Schaffer singled into center sending Sandquist home for the first run of the inning and moving Horsch on the hit and run to third. With runners on the corners, Manager Shawn Matson called the delayed double steal. Schaffer took off for second and the Mudhens fell for it, Horsch scored stealing home. Hawks led 2-1.

Miesville tied the game in the top of the sixth when Brock Rinehart drove in Austin Ladoux from second.

Hastings was not done, with two outs, Cory Wolters hit a single right past the pitcher and up the middle, then he stole second. Sandquist was walked and Teigland came to the plate. A solid line drive up the middle scored Wolters from second and advanced Sandquist to third. Smart base running by Teigland got him to second on the throw home when Miesville tried to get the speedy Wolters. Hastings extended their lead 4-2 with that insurance run.

Dennis Reinhart replaced Jeske for the ninth in an attempt to get the save. Miesville started the ninth with a single by Gamm and a throwing error by Teigland allowed Gamm to move to second when Van Der Bosch hit a grounder to Teigland at third. Ladoux hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Gamm. With a runner at second, Charley Hesse came to the plate and Reinhart sat him down, striking him out looking in five pitches, giving the Hawks the 4-3 win and the season sweep of the Mudhens.

Lavin faced six batters, striking out three on 26 pitches. Jeske tossed 103 pitches in six innings facing 30 batters, striking out five, walking three and allowing two earned runs. Reinhart closed the game out in the ninth facing five batters and striking out the final batter of the game.

Schaffer had another big night at the plate going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Teigland had the other RBI. Horsch scored twice with Wolters and Sandquist each scoring once.

June 19, the Hawks travelled up to Coon Rapids to take on the Class B Redbirds in the 90-degree heat. Coon Rapids jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Hastings scored three unanswered, one in the fourth and two in the fifth to take the 3-1 lead. The Redbirds stormed back and scored three to take the 4-3 lead in the sixth. Hastings jumped ahead 6-4 in the seventh and Coon Rapids tied it right back up in the bottom of the seventh. Hastings scored four more in the ninth to take the lead for good winning 10-6.

The next two games are pivotal for the Hawks with them being Class C league games against Lake City on June 24 at 7:30 and against Cannon Falls on June 26 at 2:00. The Hawks then travel to Northfield to take on the Knights in another league game on June 29 at 7:30. Friday, July 1, Hastings will host the Red Wing Aces. This is the exciting part of the schedule for Hawks fans.

The Hawks also broadcast all their games online via the free PodBean app and select games they partner with Hastings Community TV for video broadcasts. You can get the details of the broadcasts on www.hastingshawks.com.