Trey Lower
KDWA Sports Director
Baseball Final: Raiders 5, Titans 1
The Hastings Raiders Baseball Team jumped back in to the win column on Thursday in their make-up game with Tartan, beating the Titans, 5-1, behind the pitching trio of Carter Lundstrom, Creed Peterson, and Mark Denoyer, while Sawyer Tjomsland, Evan Nelson, and Johnny Teigland all had big days at the plate. The Raiders hope to play at Hill-Murray Friday, weather permitting.
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Trent Hanson: Employee of the Year
When we caught up with Hastings High School Athletic Director Trent Hanson earlier this week, he knew were going to discuss the upcoming Raider Athletic Awards Ceremony, but what he didn't know, was that long time media co-hort Nick Tuckner was going to corner him, and make him talk about himself for once. That's because Hanson is the much-deserving 2024 Hastings Public Schools "EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR", for his work in the HHS Athletic Department, but also for taking on the interim Hastings Middle School Principal job as well, without missing a beat. Trent was humbled by the honor, and we talked about some of his big professional influences that have helped him reach this point in his career. (Photo Courtesy of Hastings Public Schools)
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Depth Showing, Records Breaking
The Prescott Cardinals Girls and Boys Track and Field Teams continue to shine this Spring, after their last two meets, at Elk Mound, and then another record-breaking meet for the Boys 100M Relay on Tuesday (pictured) in Baldwin, have put the Cardinals on the map. Head Coach Emily Calabrese talked about a couple of the Cardinals that have been jumping in to the Varsity lineup, and also more on the success of some of their throws athletes. (Photo Courtesy of PHS)
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Raider Highlight Package: Big Sticks
In the most dramatic win of the season for the Hastings Raiders Baseball Team, they hit two more home runs, one by Evan Nelson, the other a game-winning three-run shot from Jack Seleski, plus got some clutch pitching down the stretch in the latter innings, to win 4-2 over Mahtomedi. The win marks the first-ever three game winning streak over Mahtomedi in Metro East Conference history, as Hastings jumped to 4-2 overall, and 4-2 in the Conference. Take a listen to some of the big plays, and especially swings, from Monday's win!
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HHS Athletic Awards May 6th
Coming up at 7pm on Monday, May 6th, Hastings High School will host their second annual Athletics Awards Ceremony in the HHS Auditorium, recognizing over 100 awards given out to student-athletes, teams, and coaches from numerous Raider Teams. Hastings High School Athletic Director Trent Hanson joined KDWA's Nick Tuckner on Tuesday with more on the event!
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Long Balls Launched, Raiders Win Again
The Hastings Raiders Baseball Team kept the big sticks going, especially in the clutch, as the Raiders got two more home runs (8 in 6 games), the 4th of the season for Evan Nelson, and the 1st of the year for Jack Seleski, in extra innings, which ended up being the game winner, as Hastings took down the top dog in the Metro East Conference, Mahtomedi, 4-2, in nine innings. Seleski also shined on the mound, pitching five scoreless innings, striking out six. Now, the Raiders will host Saint Thomas Academy, Wednesday at 4:30pm, LIVE on KDWA!
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Coaches Show Rewind: Cardinal Sports
We got a program-wide peek into Prescott High School Athletics with Cardinal Athletic Director Andrew Caudill, at this past weekend's Prescott Coaches Show, brought to you by Ptacek's IGa, and Philander's Grill. KDWA's Nick Tuckner broke down the entire Prescott Sports landscape with Caudill, which had to begin with the hot start for Head Coach Jeff Ryan's #18 ranked Cardinal Baseball Team.
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Coaches Show Rewind: Power Surge
In our weekly Hastings coaches Show, brought to you by Perkins of Hastings, and Doctor Tyler Rohr with Hastings Family Dental Care, we caught up with Head Hastings Baseball Coach Ryan Stoffel, plus Shortstop Alex Hendrickson on the start to the 2024 season. We also talked with the Raider Senior on the sudden power surge for the Team, which actually extended to 8 home runs in 6 games, after their Monday win over Mahtomedi!
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Wild, Weird, Wacky Win For Raiders
What a crazy game on Thursday at Grossman Field, as the game wasn't even supposed to be a home game first of all, and then the Hastings Raiders Baseball Team found a way to score ten runs on only two hits, including Alex Hendrickson's grand slam and 3rd long ball of the season (six as a team in 2024), to somehow beat Simley, 10-8, on a chilly, windy afternoon in Hastings.
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Girls Lacrosse Wins Opener 14-9
The Hastings Raiders Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team finally opened their game season on Wednesday, traveling to Rochester, to take on the John Marshall-Century squad in their first match of the 2024 campaign, pummeling the Co-Op, 14-9, to jump to 1-0. As Assistant Coach Brady Wasvick told KDWA Sports on Thursday, it was a complete team effort, with varsity veterans and greenhorns alike, factoring in to some huge plays throughout the night. The Raiders will now travel BACK to Rochester on Friday, in a showdown with Rochester Mayo.
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Reckinger Wins Park Athena Award
Park High School was able to honor their 2024 Athena Award Winner on Wednesday, as four-sport Letterman Ava Reckinger (Basketball, Nordic Ski, Soccer, Lacrosse) was given the award for the Wolfpack, at a luncheon honoring over 40 female athletes across the Metro. Park AD Phil Kuemmel joined KDWA Sports with more on the honor, and honoree!
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Girls Golfers Enter Meet Play
The Hastings Raiders Girls Golf Team has one varsity meet under their belts, and it was nice to see some of the players out competing against players other than their teammates, late last week. Head Coach Josh Colvin breaks down their first meet of the season, some of the top scorers, and the leadership the team is getting from all age groups, early in the year.
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Raiders Win, Play Next Thursday
With Wednesday's game at Simley postponed until Thursday afternoon, KDWA Sports had some time to catch up with Head Coach Ryan Stoffel of the 2-2 Hastings Raiders Baseball Team, about their 2-0 home opener victory over South Saint Paul, where the word CLUTCH was used numerous times. Now it's two games in back to back days for the Raiders, traveling to Simley Thursday, and back home with Tartan on Friday. Both games will be LIVE on KDWA at 4:30pm.
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Raiders Burn Blaze, Hill Next
With the rain dashing hopes of a Tuesday afternoon showdown with North Saint Paul, the Hastings Raiders Softball Team got a well-earned, unplanned day off, following Monday's 7-1 win over Section Rival Burnsville, which again, flashed some gold-glove leather, and clutch hitting when it was needed most. Head Coach Jen Thesing has more on the Raiders victory, and preparing for Metro East Conference leader Hill-Murray at home, Thursday.
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Tennis Caps Off Six Match Week
The Hastings Raiders Boys Tennis Team is coming off a stretch where the squad played six matches over a span of five days, going 3-3, and playing some very good tennis throughout the week, and weekend. Head Coach Alex Zuzek joined KDWA Sports to break down the last handful of matches, the surge in #1 Singles Player and Freshman Leader Micah Slapnicher, and how he is improving every single outing. The Raiders are set to take on South Saint Paul Thursday, and White Bear Lake on Friday.
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Raider Baseball, Softball Win Monday
The Hastings Raiders Baseball Team, behind Pitcher Matt Sherry (pictured), and Alex Hendrickson's second home run of the season (Fifth as a Team in '24) powered them back to 500 overall, and 2-1 in the Metro East Conference, with a 2-0 shutout win over the South Saint Paul Packers, on Monday, in the Home Opener, at Grossman Field. The Raider Softball Team also won across campus, in a huge sectional seeding game, 7-1 over Burnsville, also on Monday.
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Cards Hit Tough Spot In Schedule
The Prescott Cardinals Softball team hit a little tough patch last week, going 1-2 during that stretch, with a huge win over Somerset, but two straight losses to those same Spartans, and to #1-Div 4 Grantsburg, in two winnable games. Head Coach Nick Johnson joined KDWA's Nick Tuckner to walk through the last three games, and to preview (hopefully) more games around Mother Nature's plans, this week.
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Raiders Running Well Through Three
The Hastings Raiders Boys and Girls Track and Field Team already has three meets under their belts, and they can't wait to get back on to the track this week, as they dodge raindrops in between meets. Head Coach Jason Koch joined KDWA Sports to look back at the first three meets, talk more about some of their top performances, plus looks forward to a fun meet in Austin on Friday!
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Baseball Final: Warriors 5, Raiders 4.
The Hastings Raider Baseball Team indeed played well on Friday on the road at Two Rivers, however, they let a three-run lead get away late, as the Warriors came back to win, 5-4, despite Raider 3rd Baseman Evan Nelson's second home run of the season, and the team's fourth in three games. The Raiders will now host South Saint Paul, LIVE on KDWA, Monday at 4:30pm, in the home opener!
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Reiter Medalist, Team 2nd at Altoona
The Prescott Cardinals Boys Golf Team finished second to only State-Tourney Team Amery in Monday's 2024 Golf Opener in Wisconsin, with Tyler Reiter taking top medalist honors, at the Altoona Invitational. Head Coach Scott Hamilton joined KDWA Sports to break down the big day for the Cards, as they prepare for a huge four-meet week. (Photo Courtesy of Coach Hamilton)
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Raiders-Polars Highlight Reel
Wednesday's Hastings Raiders Baseball win at North Saint Paul was too good to not relish in for at least one more day, as the Raiders get ready for Friday's battle with the Two Rivers Warriors, who were knocked off by a tough Hill-Murray team 5-2, also on Wednesday. KDWA's Nick Tuckner has your highlights, which incuded some bombs, and some gold glove defense! Listen Friday at 4:15 for the Pre-Game Show, as the Raiders travel to take on the Warriors!
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Two Mammoth Blasts Highlight Win
The Hastings Raiders Baseball Team forgot all about last Friday at Park, and showed the team we all know they really are on Wednesday afternoon, in North Saint Paul, taking town the Polars in five innings, 11-0, behind two home runs and some solid pitching. The Raiders had a big game from Evan Nelson, with a 3-3 day, just a triple short of the cycle, with a 2-run home run, double, single, walk, two runs scored, and five RBI's. Mark Denoyer added a solo blast of his own in the fifth, to put the game away for good. Sophomore Carter Lunsdtrom had a nice first varsity start, scattering three hits through three innings of work, while Senior Creed Peterson came out of the pen for the win in relief. The Raiders jump to 1-1 on the season overall, and 1-0 in the Metro East. Now, it's on to Two Rivers, Friday at 4:30pm, LIVE on KDWA!
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Raiders Shine In Home Opener Win
It's pretty safe to say that anybody that was at the Hastings Raiders Softball Home Opener on Tuesday, LIVE on KDWA, was more than entertained, with all of the defensive wizardry, sensational pitching, and clutch hits late, in their 6-1 victory over Mahtomedi. Head Coach Jen Thesing joined KDWA Sports to break down the first win of the season for the Blue and Gold, and to preview a huge Thursday showdown on the road at Two Rivers. We also talked a bit about two fundraisers coming up for the Raiders, including their discount card blitz, and May 7th's Jersey Mike's Fundraiser!
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Historic Night For MN Boys Volleyball
The first-ever Boys Volleyball game in Park High School history took place at the Park High Gymnasium on Tuesday night, as the Wolfpack hosted Rosemount for the historic match, complete with a huge crowd to cheer on both squads. Park Activities Director Phil Kuemmel joined KDWA's Nick Tuckner to talk about how this came to be, the club schedule this year, before becoming a MSHSL sponsored sport in 2025! (Photo Courtesy of Park Activities Twitter)
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Focus Shifts To Polars Wednesday
The Hastings Raiders Baseball Team knows that one game does not make a season, especially with 19 games to play. And that is their mentality, following their opening season loss at Park, which was also the Raiders second time on grass this year. The Raiders have now had a couple of days of practice to prepare for the Metro East Conference opener at North Saint Paul, LIVE on KDWA, Wednesday at 4:30pm, at Kuenkel Field. Head Coach Ryan Stoffel will have his boys ready for Wednesday afternoon, as he joined us for a preview.
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