The Hastings Hawks opened the 2026 season Sunday afternoon with sunshine, a lively crowd at Veterans Park, and a difficult challenge against the Northfield Knights in a Classic Cannon Valley League matchup.
For Hastings, the day carried the familiar energy that comes with the return of amateur baseball. Fans settled into the grandstand and lawn chairs, conversations drifted across the ballpark, and the Hawks finally took the field for both their season opener and home opener. The roster, however, looked a little different than it eventually will later this summer.
With several players still competing for their college teams, the Hawks entered the opener shorthanded against a veteran Northfield club that wasted little time taking control in a 15-3 victory.
Even with the final score tilted heavily toward the visitors, the afternoon still felt like the official start of summer baseball in Hastings.
Northfield struck early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning behind an aggressive approach at the plate. Jake Mathison set the tone with three hits and three runs scored, while Aldon Severson delivered one of the game’s biggest blows, driving in four runs.
The Knights piled up 17 hits overall and consistently pressured Hastings throughout the afternoon. Northfield added four runs in the fourth inning, three more in the sixth, and then broke the game open with a five run eighth inning.
Hastings starter Ben Teigland battled through six innings against a deep Northfield lineup. Teigland allowed 10 runs, nine earned, while striking out four. Dennis Reinhart worked the final two innings for the Hawks.
Northfield pitcher Cole Stanchina earned the win after allowing just one run over five innings while striking out six.
The Hawks offense showed flashes despite managing only seven hits. Jake Sandquist led Hastings at the plate, finishing 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Evan Khrin added the Hawks’ lone extra base hit with a double.
Hastings broke through in the fourth inning. Sandquist singles to lead off the inning, stole second, advanced on a ground out by Teigland and was driven in by a ground out by Zach Simon for the Hawks first run.
The Hawks added two more runs in the sixth inning after putting together one of their better rallies of the day. Cooper Pagel and Jason Greeder each collected RBI singles as Hastings briefly created some momentum and cut the lead to 10-3. Taylor Pagel led the inning off with four pitch walk, Sandquist was hit by a pitch and Teigland walked. Cooper earned his RBI earning a walk which walked in his dad Taylor and Greeder walked scoring Sandquist.
The Hawks also showed patience at the plate, drawing six walks, but left 12 runners on base, one of the major differences in the game. Northfield capitalized on opportunities throughout the afternoon, while Hastings struggled to produce timely hits.
Defensively, the Hawks had several solid moments in the field despite committing three errors. Jason Greeder handled multiple chances cleanly, and the Hastings infield settled in after Northfield’s fast start.
For many amateur baseball teams in early May, roster availability can shape the opening weeks of the season, and that was certainly true for Hastings on Sunday. Several regular contributors are expected to join the club once their college seasons conclude, giving the Hawks additional depth as league play continues.
Still, the opener offered plenty of reminders about why town team baseball remains a staple of summer in Minnesota.
Children chased foul balls behind the backstop, longtime fans swapped stories between innings, and players from both teams lingered near the dugouts after the final out. The game moved at the relaxed pace that has long defined amateur baseball across the state, even as Northfield steadily built its lead inning by inning.
The Hawks generated traffic on the bases throughout the afternoon, but Northfield’s pitching staff repeatedly escaped trouble. Hastings left runners aboard in six different innings, including multiple missed scoring chances early in the game before the Knights gradually pulled away.
Sandquist provided one of the bright spots for Hastings not only offensively, but also with his aggressive baserunning. In a game dominated by seasoned college and adult players, the Hawks younger players handled themselves well.
High school sophomore Cooper Pagel added two stolen bases while also making key plays on defense. High school junior Zach Simon made an early error in the field but recovered well the rest of the game with a double play and he fought well at the plate. The Hawks never gave up as they attempted to pressure Northfield whenever opportunities appeared.
The game also marked the first chance for local fans to see several new and returning players in a competitive setting this season. Early season games in amateur baseball often serve as a mix of evaluation and adjustment, particularly when rosters are incomplete and players are still finding rhythm after spring schedules at the college level.
Despite the final margin, the atmosphere around Veterans Park remained upbeat throughout the afternoon. Fans continued to file in during the middle innings, and many stayed through the end of the game as another summer season officially got underway.
The Hawks now move forward into the early portion of the CCVL schedule looking to regroup and gradually build continuity as more players return to the roster in the coming weeks.
Opening day losses can feel long, especially against a veteran lineup swinging the bats well, but the calendar still reads May. In Minnesota amateur baseball, seasons are built over months, not afternoons.
For Hastings, Sunday served as both a difficult opener and a reminder that summer baseball is finally back at Veterans Park. The camaraderie is the part that truly sets townball apart and manager Shawn Matson said it best as the group grabbed dinner at Applebee’s after the game.
“It felt good to finally be back on the field.”
The boys of summer return to Veterans Park for two games this weekend. Friday, they host the Rochester Roadrunners at 7:30 p.m. then on Saturday the Cokato Kernels come to town for a 2:00 matinee game. Hastings then travels to River Falls, Wisconsin to the beautiful First National Bank Field to take on the Fighting Fish at 7:30 p.m. before returning to Vets Park on Friday the 22 for a 7:30 p.m. tilt against New Market.