The Legacy of Amateur Baseball in Prior Lake

For over 60 years, the City of Prior Lake has been home to a rich tradition of amateur baseball. Long before Prior Lake High School existed, the Prior Lake Lakers proudly represented the community in town ball across Minnesota. The Lakers, composed of older community members and players from the surrounding area, carried the city’s baseball legacy forward. However, with no space for younger players, the need for a second team quickly became apparent.

Thus, the Prior Lake Jays were born. Originally called the “J’s,” the team was made up primarily of high school juniors who lacked opportunities to play for the Lakers. The name “J’s” was a nod to their origins as “Juniors,” and their first uniforms—green—were sponsored by Home Juice. Over time, the team evolved into the Prior Lake Jays, and by the 1970s, they had established themselves as one of Minnesota’s premier amateur baseball teams. Their dominance was cemented with back-to-back Class B State Championships in 1975 and 1976.

Following their second championship, the Minnesota Baseball Association requested the Jays move to Class A—a level designated for teams within the Twin Cities metro area. Unwilling to make the shift, the team ultimately disbanded, leaving Prior Lake without amateur baseball for the first time in decades.

Baseball made its return in 1987 when a group of dedicated community members and local businesses came together to revive the Prior Lake Jays. Led by Phil Rooney, the newly reformed team found overwhelming support, with more than 70 sponsors backing their inaugural season. To establish a fresh identity, the Jays introduced a new logo featuring the iconic Jaybird. The team’s original uniforms consisted of white jerseys and pants with navy blue pinstripes, and in 1990, the now-famous “running Jay” logo—designed by Prior Lake High School science teacher Andy Franklin—was introduced. The team’s colors, initially red, white, and blue, transitioned to red and black in 1997, accompanied by the adoption of the modern stylized Jays logo.

The resurgence of the Jays coincided with a golden era of baseball talent in Prior Lake. From 1983 to 1987, the Prior Lake High School Lakers secured five consecutive Missota Conference championships, producing a steady pipeline of players who would return home each summer to play for the Jays.

The re-established Jays wasted no time making an impact. Competing in the highly competitive Cannon Valley League—home to powerhouse teams like Red Wing, Dundas, and Miesville—the team made an immediate statement by qualifying for the Class C State Tournament in 1987. The following year, they moved to Class B and continued their success, reaching the State Tournament again in 1988 and 1989.

As baseball continued to thrive in Prior Lake, it became clear that one amateur team was no longer enough. In 1991, a second team was formed to provide additional opportunities for local talent. Initially nameless, the new team played its first games in the original Jays’ white and blue pinstriped uniforms before a fan contest officially named them the Prior Lake Mudcats.

Since their inception, the Mudcats have been a mainstay in the competitive Dakota-Rice-Scott (DRS) League, squaring off annually against Class C powerhouses like Union Hill, Lonsdale, and Elko. The team has remained competitive over the years, coming closest to a Class C State Tournament appearance in 1998 when they fell just short in a hard-fought 4-2 loss to Cannon Falls.

Meanwhile, the Jays have continued their strong tradition, earning numerous State Tournament berths, including a runner-up finish in 2009. While the Mudcats remain members of the DRS League, the Jays transitioned to the Carver Central League in 2002, competing against teams such as Jordan, Shakopee, Chaska, and Victoria, with two Class B State Tournament spots up for grabs each season.

Through decades of change, one thing remains constant—Prior Lake’s passion for amateur baseball. The Jays and Mudcats continue to embody the community’s deep-rooted love for the game, providing a platform for local talent to compete and carry on a proud tradition that has stood the test of time.

Prior Lake Jays: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2009 (2nd Place), 2020, 2022
Prior Lake Mudcats: 2011, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2020

Rich Gove (1994), Tim Hanson (1988, 1993), Kirk Loehr (1987), John McFarland (1989), Chris Rooney (1996), Dusty Olynyk (2009), Sam Hoppe (2009), Kyle Zweber (2009), Chris Swiatkiewicz (2009)