In a season that mixed promise with perseverance, the 2025 Hastings Raiders Boys Baseball team wrapped up a roller-coaster year with grit at every turn, capped by a tough but spirited run into the Section tournament. Guided by head coach Ryan Stoffel, the squad came into the year as underdogs, yet delivered surprises on both sides of the ball, showcasing growth from a young roster and moments of excellence that gave Hastings fans plenty to cheer about.
From day one, Stoffel set the tone with development first and results second. The Raiders entered the season with a roster that leaned heavily on underclassmen, making early consistency a challenge. But from the first scrimmages of spring, the tone was clear. This group wanted to compete. Stoffel and his staff focused on sharpening fundamentals, fostering team chemistry, and letting game reps shape the identity of the group.
It didn’t take long for the team to show flashes. Though the early portion of the schedule brought tough matchups and learning moments, the Raiders began stringing together quality innings and gaining confidence.
One of the defining stretches of the regular season came in mid-May, when Hastings earned a strong win over St. Thomas Academy. That game, a combination of sharp pitching and timely hitting, marked a turning point. Stoffel credited improved approaches at the plate and a more aggressive mindset on the bases.
“We’re starting to play our style of baseball,” he said after the win.
Another standout came during a win against Hill-Murray, when the team executed nearly error-free defense and capitalized on key at-bats to pull off a complete-team victory. Even in losses, the Raiders kept things close, showing tenacity and refusing to fold when trailing.
The Raiders finished the regular season with a 5–15 record. The Metro East Conference again proved to be a gauntlet, with deep and experienced opponents across the board. But Hastings never backed down. They entered the Section 3AAAA tournament as the No. 6 seed, low in the bracket but not lacking confidence.
Seniors anchored the team throughout the spring, bringing leadership, focus, and heart. Junior and sophomore players, meanwhile, took on expanded roles and grew into them. The locker room chemistry was described as tight-knit and unshaken by the highs and lows of the schedule.
In their opening Section game, the Raiders sent senior Cole Karnick to the mound, and he delivered. Karnick went five innings, allowing just two runs on three hits and striking out five. The team played clean defense behind him and kept things close in a tightly contested game. Stoffel called it one of their best all-around performances of the year.
Though the team would ultimately fall short of a deep run, their Section showing left a strong impression. Hastings proved it could hang with top seeds, and their energy in those final games demonstrated how much they had matured over the course of the season.
Karnick was part of a steady presence all season from the pitching staff along with Matt Sherry, Drew Gillespie and Carter Lundstrom. Chuck Wagner was known for his competitiveness and clutch play, stepping up both at the plate and in the infield. Several players brought consistency, focus, and vocal leadership from day one, helping anchor the team during tough stretches. The entire senior class brought heart and resilience to the program. Their example leaves behind a blueprint for younger players now ready to take the torch.
The foundation has been laid. Hastings returns a strong core of young players who got meaningful varsity experience this season. Hastings will rely on the likes of Drew Gillespie, Colton McKnight, Collin McGuire, Carter Lundstrom, Cole Werner, Marlowe Strain and more when they take to the field in the spring of 2026. That experience, coupled with the hunger to improve and compete, makes next year’s prospects exciting. Several freshmen and sophomores gained in-game reps this spring, and those opportunities will pay off next season.
Coach Stoffel will continue building a culture focused on effort, team-first values, and smart, aggressive baseball. With offseason training and summer ball on deck, the work has already begun. Many of these same players will continue playing ball this summer between the Legion and VFW teams along with town ball action with the Hastings Hawks.
The strength of the Hastings baseball community isn’t limited to the varsity field. Youth teams throughout the city continued to thrive, capturing tournament titles and developing the next wave of talent. That enthusiasm spills upward into the high school program, fueling attendance, morale, and long-term program stability.
From the youth coaches in the dugouts to the parents in the stands, support for Hastings baseball was strong all spring, and the players noticed. That support has carried into an already exciting summer.
The 2025 Hastings Raiders Boys Baseball team didn’t end the season with a state title but they ended it with something arguably more important, memories made with lifelong friends. To the nine who graduated out of the program, Jack Bezdichek, Chuck Wagner, Charlie Rud, Cole Karnick, Matt Sherry, Steve Seleski, Mason Reuter, Isaiah Lavergne and Nick Locascio. Thank you for your commitment to Hastings Baseball and for creating memories for us, your fans.