Preseason ratings
Amateur baseball returns to three classes
Amateur baseball in Minnesota will have a different look this season, especially in the middle of July when postseason play rolls around. After two seasons of a two-class format, there will again be three classes in 2025.
A multi-tiered reclassification system has shuffled some Class C teams to Class B and former Class B teams to the new Class A. The old Class A was based mostly on geography.
We’ll take a closer look at what the change in format means for Jackson and Lakefield as their scheduled Mother’s Day openers get closer. The Bulls open at Heron Lake that day, while the Frogs start their season in Hadley.
Preseason polls have been released by the Minnesota Baseball Association. There’s a separate group of voters for each class. Heron Lake’s Chad Knutson is one of the Class C poll participants.
Courtland was tabbed as the number one team in Class C. The Cubs made it to the quarterfinals of last year’s state tourney and according to a story on the MBA’s website, have added former Southwest Minnesota State pitcher Ansen Dulas of Mayer to their roster.
Waterville and Sauk Centre are tied for second. The Indians won a game at the state tournament and the Titans won two before losing to state finalist Jordan on its home field at the Mini Met.
Jackson received votes in the Class C poll.
After the second-place finish in Class C, Jordan has moved to Class B, where the Brewers are first in the preseason poll. Last year’s Class C champs, Waconia, went all the way to Class A.
Bird Island is rated second in Class B and Young America is third.
Fairmont, which won the Region 13C title and made it to the state quarterfinals where the Martins lost 1-0 to Young America, is rated eighth in Class B. Luverne, which was the 13C runnerup last year, is also now in Class B and received votes in the poll.
Last year’s Class B state champion, Miesville, is the top-ranked team in Class A.
Champlin Park, which lost to the Mudhens 4-3 in the state semifinals last year, is ranked second. The LoGators have added Trent Palmer, a former pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization, to an already talented mound staff.
Following are the complete ratings. Listed are rank, team and total poll points in parenthesis.
Class C
1. Courtland Cubs (40)
2. Waterville Indians (31)
(tie) Sauk Centre Titans (31)
4. Le Sueur Braves (23)
5. Litchfield Blues (20)
6. Farming Flames (16)
7. Wanamingo Jacks (13)
8. Clearwater River Cats (10)
9. New York Mills Millers (6)
10. Springfield Tigers (5)
Class B
1. Jordan Brewers (37)
2. Bird Island Bullfrogs (29)
3. Young America Cardinals (26)
4. Buffalo Bulldogs (23)
5. Buckman Billygoats (18)
(tie) Sobieski Skis (18)
7. Cold Spring Springers (16)
8. Fairmont Martins (12)
9. New Ulm Brewers (9)
10. Kimball Express (7)
Class A
1. Miesville Mudhens (50)
2. Champlin Park LoGators (40)
3. Air Freight Unlimited (39)
4. Lyon’s Pub Warriors (31)
5. Minnetonka Monarchs (30)
6. Burnsville Bobcats (17)
7. St. Paul Mudhens (12)
8. Rochester Royals (11)
9. Baseball 365 (10)
10. Stockmen’s Irish (7)
(tie) Sartell Muskies (7)