As Summer draws to a close, the 98th Minnesota Baseball Association “Townball” Class “B” & “C” Tournaments kick off with teams from across Minnesota vying for Championships. The 48 (C) & 16 (B) teams commence bracket play Friday August 20 at host sites Waconia, Chaska and Hamburg with Champions crowned Labor Day weekend. The Class “A” Tournament started and wraps up at Palm Field in St Anthony August 22.
Teams representing area communities dot both the Class “B” and “C” brackets with plenty of great players and teams from the area participating from the River Valley League and Dakota, Rice, Scott Leagues as well draftee representatives from the Prior Lake Mudcats who were eliminated by Union Hill and St Benedict. PL Mudcats Ben Morrison (New Prague), Luke Weber (St Patrick) and Jonny Houston (St Benedict) were drafted for the Class “C” Tournament for pitching depth (draftees cannot hit) to represent their teams and ensure solid play in the Tournament on the final weekend. Classes “A” and “B” do not have a draft. Scott County, long a townball hotbed of tourney hosts & Champions is well represented by 5 teams in Class “C” and 1 in Class “B”. Jordan represents the RVL in Class “C” and St Patrick, Union Hill, New Prague and St Benedict of the DRS League also are in the field of teams while New Market makes its 1st appearance in Class “B” from the DRS after many deep runs in Class “C”. Chanhassen, Burnsville, Victoria and host Chaska are in the Class “B” state field from the RVL East with Chanhassen seeking to defend the “B” title.
The bracket in Class “C” is single elimination throughout, Class “B” is single elimination the 1st 2 weeks until the Final 4.
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: Several Scott County squads went to the qualifier for Tournament slots in “B” & “C” but came up short in the final Region/Section game including: PL Jays (Chaska), Shakopee Indians (Victoria), Elko (Hampton) and PL Mudcats (St Benedict) as well Gaylord of the RVL (St Clair) who all played and lost out to represent the area at MBA ’21.
OTHER LOCALS PLAYING: Mike Edlefsen (PL resident, former PL Jay, Chaska Cubs), Blake Haferman (PLHS ’20, Chaska Cubs), Jett Heinen (PLHS ’20, former Jay, Burnsville Bobcats) and Connor Whitgrefe (PLHS ’21, former Jays batboy, New Market Muskies) are on rosters playing in the Class “B” Tournament.
The ballparks and communities of Waconia, Chaska and Hamburg have spent years of preparation and have in the case of Chaska and Hamburg, been previous successful MBA State Tournament hosts. All will be rolling out the red carpet for teams and fans with special offerings and the unique atmosphere of Championship baseball as Summer 2021 winds to a close. KCHK radio New Prague has been a longtime partner in sharing updates for the RVL & DRS leagues and will broadcast select games during the Tournament. Many participants also have social media presence to inform and entertain fans following the action. Check links below, come back for updates and SUPPORT MBA TOWNBALL!
Admission: $10 “Session” (multiple games & tickets good at all sites) $5 game (Fridays).
Local Team MBA “B” & “C” 2021 Schedules:
WEEK 1
Friday Aug 20
730PM Miesville vs Chaska at Chaska (KDWA 1460/97.7 Video Stream/KDWA Facebook).
Rain-Sun 8/22 MIESVILLE 9-0 (Chaska Eliminated)
Saturday Aug 21
1100AM New Prague vs Bemidji at Waconia (KCHK 95.5) BEMIDJI 12-3 (New Prague Eliminated)
130PM Chanhassen vs Moorhead Mudcats at Chaska CHANHASSEN 4-1
430PM Hamel vs Victoria at Chaska VICTORIA 4-1
700PM Luxemburg vs St Benedict at Waconia (KCHK 95.5) LUXEMBERG 5-2 (St Benedict eliminated)
Sunday Aug 22
1100AM Union Hill vs Kimball at Waconia (KCHK 95.5) KIMBALL 3-0 (UH Eliminated)
1100AM Burnsville vs New Market at Hamburg NEW MARKET 11-5 (Burnsville eliminated)
1st week BYE (#1 seeds, Class “C” Region Champions): St Patrick Irish, Jordan Brewers
WEEK 2
-MBA Class “B” Final 8, Fri/Sat winners advance to double elimination Final 4
-MBA Class “C” Final 32, #1 seeds join bracket, ALL games are single elimination.
-Chanhassen & Victoria from Section 3B/RVL East play on in Final 8 as well New Market from Section 1B/DRS in Class “B” while Jordan (RVL) & St Patrick (DRS-Region 3C) remain after Union Hill, New Prague and St Benedict were eliminated from DRS representing Region 6C & 3C. Eagle Lake (13/60-Region 6C) also advanced while St Clair (Region 6C) was eliminated.
-UPDATES to below will include media coverage available.
Friday August 27
730PM New Market VS St Michael at Hamburg (“B” Final 8, winner to double elim Final 4, loser eliminated) (KCHK 95.5)
NEW MARKET 10-4
Saturday Aug 28
1100AM St Patrick vs Austin Greyhounds at Waconia (winner Sat 9/4 430 at Chaska Final 8 “C”) (KCHK 95.5)
ST. PATRICK 10-0 (8 INNINGS)
430PM Jordan vs Maple Lake at Chaska (winner Sat 9/4 130 at Chaska Final 8 “C”) (KCHK 95.5)
MAPLE LAKE 2-0
400PM Victoria VS Champlin Park at Hamburg (“B” Final 8, winner to double elim Final 4, loser eliminated)
CHAMPLIN PARK 3-2 (12 INNINGS)
700PM Chanhassen VS Rochester at Hamburg (“B” Final 8, winner to double elim Final 4, loser eliminated)
CHANHASSEN 2-1
RAIN, to be played 1100AM Sunday 8/29
Sunday Aug 29
100PM New Market VS Miesville at Hamburg (“B” Final 4, double elim)
MIESVILLE 8-1
400PM Champlin Park VS Chanhassen at Hamburg (“B” Final 4, double elim)
CHANHASSEN 7-4
CHAMPIONSHIPS/LABOR DAY WEEKEND
Friday September 3
730PM Chanhassen VS Miesville at Hamburg (“B” Final 3, undefeated bracket)
CHANHASSEN 3-2
Saturday September 4
430PM St Patrick VS Young America at Chaska (“C” Final 16, Loser Eliminated) (KCHK 95.5)
ST PATRICK 6-5
430pm New Market VS Champlin Park at Waconia (“B” Final 4 elimination, Loser 4th Place)
CHAMPLIN PARK 4-2
700PMChamplin Park VS Miesville at Waconia (“B” Final 3, Loser 3rd place, winner to Championship) (KDWA 1460/97.7)
MIESVILLE 5-4
Sunday September 5
1100AM St Patrick VS Watkins at Chaska (“C” Final 8, loser eliminated) (KCHK 95.5)
WATKINS 2-0
430PM C Final 4 TBD St Patrick/Watkins VS TBD (“C” Final 4, Loser 4th place*)
700PM at Chaska Athletic Park-2021 MBA Class “B” Championship*
Chanhassen VS Miesville (KDWA 1460/97.7)
CHANHASSEN 9-2 MIESVILLE
Monday September 6 – Labor Day
1200PM at Waconia-2021 MBA Class “C” Championship
Watertown VS Sobieski (KGLB 1310AM)
HOTLINKS:
Minnesota Baseball Association
WATCH LIVE at prepspotlight.tv/townball
GOOD LUCK Hosts, Teams & Fans at the 98th Minnesota State Baseball Championships from the PLABA!
