Ron Haggstrom and Cassidy Hettesheimer will spend the afternoon at Target Field and will send regular updates about the games and the scene. Follow it here all day.
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Just like that, scoreboard lights up
12:12 p.m.
Parkers Prairie didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard. Nolan Steidl doubled home starting pitcher Dylan Debilzen to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The contingent from Parkers Prairie is getting into it early.
And away we go
12:02 p.m.
There is no waiting around. We are under way.
The first pitch has been thrown as No. 4 Parkers Prairie (25-1) and No. 2 Springfield (24-2) clash for the Class 1A baseball state championship at Target Field.
A Springfield utility player, freshman Leo Hovland, gave the fans an outstanding rendition of the national anthem.
It’s a beautiful (enough) day for baseball
11:35 p.m.
It was Ernie Banks who said, “Let’s play two.”
The Minnesota State High School League is sure hoping to pull that off.
The tarp has been removed at Target Field. The cry of “Play ball” is less than an hour away.
The first of four championship games — two Friday and two Saturday — in the baseball state tournament is scheduled to get under way at noon. The gates for fans opened at 11 a.m., and they are streaming in with no umbrellas open.
The Class 1A championship — No. 4-ranked Parkers Prairie (25-1) against No. 2 Springfield (24-2) — will get everything started at noon. The Class 2A final between No. 10 Foley (23-4) and Rockford (25-5) will follow about 45 minutes after the conclusion of the 1A game.
On Saturday, top-ranked Mahtomedi (22-4) will take on Totino-Grace (18-8) in the 3A title game starting at 11 a.m., and 45 minutes after that game ends, two Suburban East Conference powers, No. 7 East Ridge (20-6) and No. 4 Mounds View (20-8), will play for the 4A title.
The games were originally scheduled for Monday, but rain Monday pushed them to Friday while the Twins were finishing a home series against Tampa Bay. On Thursday the MSHSL announced it would play the big-class games Saturday.
Championship game schedule
Tap on the game for live scoring if it’s in progress and for game details if it’s over
FRIDAY
Class 1A: Springfield vs. Parkers Prairie, in progress
Class 2A: Foley vs. Rockford, 45 minutes after the first game ends
SATURDAY
Class 3A: Totino-Grace vs. Mahtomedi, 11 a.m.
Class 4A: Mounds View vs. East Ridge, 45 minutes after the first game ends
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Tickets
Costs range from $8 to $13. Tickets must be purchased online at mshsl.org/tickets.
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Streaming
The Neighborhood Sports Network will stream state tournament games. A subscription is required. Link to the streams here.
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More coverage
The Star Tribune will publish stories and other content related to these state championships and more. Keep up by checking startribune.com/preps. Thank you for reading and subscribing.
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