Trojan baseball team opens  2025 season with two losses

The Trojan baseball team opened their 2025 hosting the Canby Lancers in Camden Conference play on Tuesday, April 15. Prior to the game, the team held a moment of silence in honor of freshman player Alexis Panama, who passed away on Thursday, April 10. Alexis’ father, Jose, threw out the first pitch.

Canby took the early lead, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. The Trojans tied the game in the bottom of the third inning when Jakobi Kuefler reacher on a walk. Kuefler then stole second base and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. One batter later, Kuefler scored on a wild pitch.

The Lancers would add three runs in the fourth inning, two runs in the fifth inning and five runs in the sixth inning to win the game, 11-1 in six innings.

Senior Connor Danielson started on the mound and went four innings allowing four runs, five hits, walked three and struck out five. Isaac Brown pitched the final two innings allowing three earned runs, five hits, walked two and struck out two.

Ortonville did not have a hit in the game, but left runners stranded in all but one inning.

“With everything that took place the past week, I was proud of how we came out and played,” said Coach Mike Swenson. “We didn’t have a lot of practice time leading up to the game, but we played hard and never gave up. A tribute to the great kids we have in the program.”

Border West Game

On Thursday, April 17, the Trojans traveled to Clinton for a game against the Border West Buccaneers. The Trojans lost the game, 9-0.

Border West scored two runs in the first inning, added five more in the second inning, and single runs in the third and fourth innings.

The Trojans had chances in the first three innings to score, but could not come up with the big hit when needed.

Freshman Connor Ohm started pitching for the Trojans and went two innings allowing four earned runs, walked four and struck out three. Tristen Jensen, another freshman, pitched two good innings allowing two runs, walked two and struck out two. Junior Ashton Sletten pitched two innings allowing no runs, walked one and struck out two.

Senior Isaac Brown led the Trojan hitters with three hits. Braxton Brandriet, Connor Danielson and Connor Ohm each had one hit in the game.

“We saw some good things in this game,” said Swenson. “Our young pitchers did a nice job and our hitters started making better contact. Just need to clean some things up on defense and hopefully we can get some wins.”

The Trojans will travel to Prinsburg for a 4:30 game against the Central Minnesota Christian Bluejays on Tuesday, April 22. The Trojans will host the Minneota Vikings on Thursday, April 24 and the Benson Braves on Friday, April 25 for a makeup game.

The Trojan junior varsity team will travel to Prinsburg on Saturday, April 26 for two games. At 10 a.m., Central Minnesota Christian will play MACCRAY and at noon the Trojans will play Canby. The losers will play at 2 p.m. and winners will play at 4 p.m.