FRAZEE, MINN (KWAD) – For the first time in over 25 years, the Frazee Hornets baseball team is headed to the MSHSL Class A State Tournament, punching their ticket with a thrilling Section 5A championship run that highlighted heart, hustle, and high-character play.

“We’re a solid team made up of a bunch of high-character kids that love the game of baseball,” said head coach Andy Mekalson. “This run has been a blur, but what a ride.”

Frazee put together a seven-game winning streak near the middle of the season to open May with a 9-4 record before losing seven of their last eight games to finish an even 10-10 on the year, earning the fifth seed in the western side of the Section 5A bracket.

Frazee opened their postseason journey with a 6-1 win over four-seed Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, then clawed out a 1-0, eight-inning thriller against top-seed New York Mills. The next chapter was a comeback over Sebeka, where the Hornets rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the top of the seventh to win 4-3 over the two-seeded Trojans.

“Asher Blaine and Karson Krause have dominated on the mound,” said Mekalson. “We’ve leaned on our pitching, played great defense, and had timely hits. That’s playoff baseball.”

The Hornets’ roster is a tight-knit mix of veterans and emerging underclassmen. Senior leaders include Blaine, left fielder Andrew Aho, and right fielder Chandler Ulrich, while younger players like freshman Blake Sonnenberg and sophomore Noah Mekalson have stepped into key roles. Juniors Karson Krause, Dawson Lyman, Conner Erickson, Adam Vigen, and Mason Mickelson round out a talented core that’s been crucial to Frazee’s success.

“We’re really just a family,” said Blaine. “From freshmen to seniors, we roll through the punches together. That’s what’s fueled this run. We have nothing to lose.”

In the section semifinals, Frazee beat the top-seed in the east Ogilvie 8-3, then beat Sebeka again in the Section Championship 10-4 to advance to State.

Frazee’s success has been powered by more than just baseball. The team plays its home games at Staff Sergeant Greg Riewer Memorial Field and carries his legacy with them. Before every practice, the team meets under the centerfield scoreboard bearing SSG Riewer’s name. “We preach that a lot,” said Mekalson. “We’re blessed to play the game, and we play for something bigger than ourselves.”

That philosophy showed following the team’s section championship victory over Sebeka. In a moving show of sportsmanship and compassion, Frazee also honored fallen New York Mills student-athlete Blake Unger by embroidering his number, 24, on the backs of their hats after learning of his passing following their matchup with the Eagles.

“I didn’t know Blake personally,” coach Mekalson said, “I would coach third and he was third baseman. I talked to him a few times, a good player, and a good all-around character. I talked to Coach Geiser over in Mills quite often and the rest of the coaching staff there after that incident happened. Putting together Blake’s 24 on our hat was something we all felt we had to do. It’s a coachable moment, a teachable moment for the kids that life’s a blessing. We want to pay tribute to him and the kind of person he was. Very special.”

Now, with the Class A State Tournament set to begin Wednesday at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Frazee prepares for the next challenge: top-seeded Parkers Prairie, a team that beat them 13-1 during their long Mayh losing stream.

“Before the seeding came out, I texted (Parkers Prairie head coach) Derek Denny and assistant coach (Michael) Arvidson.” Mekalson said. “I told him I want to see the best, and we’ll get the top-seed in the tournament right away. But we’re not worried about the rankings, or QRF, or seeding. We’re excited,” he said. “Excited for the kids, the families, the community of Frazee. We’re ready to make a run at state.”

Frazee will open up the tournament at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud on Wednesday, June 11th at 4:00. You can listen to the game on The Superstation K106.

OTHER STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT GAMES: (ALL GAMES JUNE 11th)

Class A:

#7 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton vs #2 New Ulm Cathedral, 10:30 am

#6 Hayfield vs #3 South Ridge, 1:00 pm

#8 Frazee vs #1 Parkers Prairie, 4:00 pm

#5 Red Lake County vs #4 Legacy Christian Academy, 6:30 pm

Class AA:

#7 Maple River vs #2 Perham, 10:00 am

#6 Pierz vs #3 Pine Island, 12:30 pm

#8 Concordia Academy vs #1 Marshall School, Duluth, 3:30 pm

#5 Luverne vs #4 Glencoe-Silver Lake, 6:00 pm

Class AAA:

#7 Hutchinson vs #2 Totino-Grace, 10:00 am

#6 Simley vs #3 Mahtomedi, 12:30 pm

#8 Stewartville vs #1 Mankato East, 3:00 pm

#5 Grand Rapids vs #4 Delano, 5:30 pm

Class AAAA:

#7 Champlin Park vs #2 Andover, 10:00 am

#6 Moorhead vs #3 Minnetonka, 1:00 pm

#8 Rosemount vs #1 Cretin-Derham Hall, 4:30 pm

#5 Edina vs #4 Farmington, 7:30 pm