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5-straight and 1st-of-the-century: 4 Northland baseball teams to state

KAXE | By Megan Buffington

Published June 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM CDT

The Frazee Hornets baseball team celebrates June 5, 2025, after winning Section 5A to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 1999.

Grand Rapids makes its fifth-straight tourney appearance, while Frazee makes its first since 1999. Red Lake County and South Ridge will also compete.

One year. Two years. 10 years. 26 years.

That's how long it has been since Northern Minnesota's state baseball qualifiers last competed in the top tournament, which kicks off Wednesday, June 11.

Grand Rapids is making its fifth-straight and state-record 23rd appearance. The Thunderhawks took home bronze last year after entering the tournament unranked.

This year, they earned the No. 5 seed and will face No. 4 Delano at 5:30 p.m. in the first round of the 3A tourney.

South Ridge is making its sixth appearance in eight years. In 2023, the Panthers earned the top seed in Class A but were upset 1-2 by Belgrade-Brooten-Elrose in the first round and instead dominated the consolation bracket.

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The No. 3 Panthers will look to not repeat their last state tourney appearance when they face No. 6 Hayfield at 1 p.m.

Red Lake County, which is joined by student-athletes from Red Lake Falls, is making its first appearance since back-to-back qualifications in 2014 and 2015.

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The No. 5 Rebels will play No. 4 Legacy Christian Academy at 6:30 p.m.

Frazee is playing the state tournament for the first time this century, and they weren't even expected to make it very far in the Section 5A tourney.

Seeded fifth in their subsection, the Hornets made it all the way in a mix of narrow victories and dominant showings.

The underdogs with a 15-10 record look to continue to surprise their competitors when they face top-seeded Parkers Prairies, who beat them 13-1 in early May. That match-up will be at 4 p.m.

The single A quarterfinals Wednesday and semifinals and third-place match Thursday will be played at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. Those 3A games will be at Mini Met in Jordan.

Single A consolation games will be played Thursday in Sauk Rapids, 3A in Chaska.

Championships are set for Saturday at Target Field in Minneapolis.

"The Setlist" and "Chisholm, Park Rapids, Bemidji, Biwabik" written over a crumpled paper background.