The move to Class A for the Hawks so far has been far more exciting and fun than most folks expected. Two exhibition wins by ten or more runs, a competitive 5-4 loss against Cannon Falls in extra innings, an 8-3 loss at the Red Wing Aces that should never have happened and now two huge, dominating section wins over the New Market Muskies on May 30, 8-4 and 12-1 over the Elko Express, and the Hawks are sitting at 5-2 for the season, and 2-0 in the new version of the Class A Section 1 standings.
Versus the New Market Muskies
This game was one no one knew how to predict, both New Market and Elko are typically strong teams, but the uncertainty did not cause any hiccups for the Hawks.
Hastings put up a series of fence posts in the first four innings to lead 4-1 after four. Mitch Iliff made a triumphant return from college ball leading the Hawks with a 5-for-5 performance at the plate. His first hit and score came in the first inning, a single to left center. Kelin Rasmussen nearly copies Iliff’s single to give the Hawks runners on first and second with one out. Jack Seleski flew out to right for the second out and Nick Brandt drove Iliff home on the third line drive hit to left center.
The second inning, the New Market pitcher struggled with control, and he plunked the first two Hawks batters, Cooper Desutter and Cade Kimmes. A fielder’s choice on a bunt by Nolan Drossel logged the first out at third base sending Desutter to the bench. Iliff carded his second hit to left center scoring the speedy Kimmes from second and the Hawks were up 2-0.
Jack Seleski led off the third with a hard-hit ground ball up the middle for a single, and a deep flyout by Johnny Teigland that everyone thought was going to be a home run, allowed Seleski to tag and get to third. Desutter hit a grounder to the pitcher which allowed Seleski to score and put the Hawks up 3-0.
New Market scored in the top of the fourth on an error on the Hawks catcher who dropped a routine foul popup earlier in the at bat. Had Brandt made the catch; the runner would not have scored on the ground out that happened after the drop. Hastings quickly made up for that one run when Jason Greeder was hit by a pitch and then driven in by Mitch Iliff. Hastings tacked on four more, two in the sixth and two in the eighth, to win 8-4.
Iliff went 5-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Brandt was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. On the mound, Ben Teigland went six strong innings with 28 batters faced, one strikeout and five walks on 109 nine total pitches. Gavin Odman, Trace Brayton and Jordan Jeske each had an inning of relief. Teigland earned the win and Jeske the save.
At Elko Express
After a quiet first two innings, the Hastings Hawks exploded at the plate and never looked back, piling on run after run to crush the Elko Express 12–1 on Sunday.
In the top of the third, Hastings capitalized on back-to-back errors and timely hitting. Seleski’s bloop single brought home the first run, and Brandt followed with a two-run double to put the Hawks up 3–0. They added another in the fourth when Drossel drove in Kimmes after a misplay in the field.
The Hawks kept applying pressure. Brandt belted a solo home run in the seventh, his third hit of the day, and by the time the ninth inning rolled around, Hastings led 7–1. That’s when they really broke it open. RBI singles from Drossel, Krebs, and Rasmussen, along with a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, capped off a five-run frame.
On the mound, Jeske delivered six scoreless innings, striking out five and working out of multiple jams with the help of a stingy defense that turned three double plays. The lone blemish came in the eighth when Elko homered off Hawks newcomer, Cole Karnick, for Elko's only run.
Hastings took full advantage of Elko's six defensive errors, scoring six unearned runs in the process. Brandt finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs, while Rasmussen added three hits and two runs scored.
With the win, the Hawks improve their early-season form, showing both offensive depth and pitching dominance in a statement game on the road.
Up Next
Hastings travels to the beautiful First National Bank Field in River Falls on June 4 for a 7:30 first pitch then they return home on June 7 to take on the Minneapolis River Rats at 3:00 p.m. and June 8 they host Baseball 365 at 2:00 p.m. June 11, the Hampton Cardinals come to town to fight for the Wayne Erickson Travelling Memorial Trophy and June 13, the boys head to Dundas to take on the Dukes.