Central Raiders Baseball

08/07/2026

In what started with T-Ball, many baseball careers end with Legion. Yes, there are many who go on to play Town Ball, some even lucky enough to play college...yet Legion is a final chance to step on the field to represent Central and play with your buddies!

We are extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful Legion here...EdwardBorn Post 343...a group of wonderful individuals who will go well above and beyond supporting not only our young men in baseball but so many other worthwhile events in the area. For this, THANK YOU!!!

To the young men who take the field and represent, congratulations. Wins come and go, yet the way you carry yourselves on and off the field is what makes this partnership so special.

This year Sr. Legion was knocked out by LSH in the semis, who went on to have a very successful state run. As mentioned above...it was the last time a few of the guys will wear a jersey with the Central name on it...thank you gentlemen!

And...Jr. Legion... they are STATE bound!!! In fact, their first game is this afternoon up in Parkers Prairie! Gentlemen, go enjoy the moment and make the most of it. You have an entire baseball community backing you and cheering you on.

As mentioned above, none of this hahaha happens without the support from our local Edward Born Post 343 Legion. We also thank our players parents, along with the fans who continously supported and continue to do so. Last but not least, THANK YOU to Mike Miller, Jason Pauly, and Ben Schefers who give it all they can to help lead these fine young men.

Proud to have ALL these young athletes, T-Ball through Legion, in our Raider Baseball program...GREAT times ahead in Raider Nation!!

08/06/2026

Happy Thursday, Raider Nation! We would like to continue recognizing various teams that made huge strides throughout the summer months. Each and every step a player takes as they become older is more and more difficult, and each of these athletes continued to show that they were more than willing to accept the challenge. Mindset is one of the biggest challenges any athlete can face and these young athletes proved that with a strong mindset, anything is possible.

This morning we would like to recognize and thank all of those who were involved with the Crow River season. Players, Coaches, and Parents...thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, heart, and hustle throughout the summer. Your growth did not go unseen and we are super excited to see what the future holds for each and every one of you!

10A: Coached by Eric Seemann, Casey Dingles, and Brad Grams
10AA: Coached by Bryan Wilkens, Alex Buckentine, and Josh Horstmann
11/12A: Coached by Mike Daugs and Jesse Flury
11AA: Coached by Matt Mann and Jake Buetow
12AA: Coached by Dereck Wolter, Corey Storms, and Kyle Evenski
13AA: Coached by Toby Worm and Troy Krueger
14AA: Coached by Chad Wilken, Kevan Pugh, and Adam Kube

Keep working hard and never give up!!

08/04/2026

Going from T-Ball to Coach Pitch is a big step. Yet having the confidence to step in the box as a fellow athlete pitches is a whole different level. Yet these youngsters did it. Their confidence was on display each and every time they stepped onto the field. Not only facing love pitching, but getting to take the mound themselves...these kids had the chance to play the game they love with next to no restraints!

Congratulations on a terrific season to our two Player Pitch teams. Thanks to your hard work, the lessons taught by your coaches, and the never ending love given by the families, Central Raider Baseball looks to have a bright future. Who knows...we may even have the next Nolan Ryan!!

Maroon: Coached by Wes Thomas and Clayton Schultz
White: Coached by Charlie VanderWeyst, Zach Larson, and Ryan Grams

07/31/2026

Good Morning Raider Nation!!

Today we would like to recognize our Coach Pitch teams and coaches. It may not seem like a big jump, however going from T-Bal to Coach Pitch is huge! Going from a stationary ball to a coach pitching can be one of the scariest things!

Coaches...we thank you for working on not only the basics of the game with your athletes, but also your ability to throw strikes!

Players...thank you for continuing to work, even when things may be uncomfortable and new.

Parents and Fans... thank you for being there for the athlete no matter the results!

K-1 Blue: Coached by Tyler Swanson
K-1 Green: Coached by Dave and Emily Behning
K-1 Gold: Coached by Marty Gregor and Spencer Kelly
K-1 Red: Coached by Tony Kley and Ryan Grams

1-2 Blue: Coached by Ben Flygare
1-2 Gold: Coached by Joe Kley
1-2 Green: Coached by Brenden Honebrink
1-2 Maroon: Coached by Stephen and Jessica Krueger

Thank you and congratulations on your seasons!!

07/29/2026

It has been a while, Raider Nation!! With the end of July right around the corner, it also means that a lot of our teams from this summer have completed their seasons. Although the season may be over, it is just the beginning for many of these young Raider athletes.

This morning we would like to not only recognize some of our teams, but the coaches that also put in endless hours to help each and every athlete grow along the way. Thanks to your hard work and dedication, the future here at Central is bright!

This morning we would like to recognize our T-Ball teams. This is where it all begins...where all players chasing the ball and running the bases the wrong way brings nothing but joy to our hearts!

3-4 Blue: Coached by Jessica Solberg and Danielle Wolden
3-4 Gold: Coached by Daniel and Danielle Shaughnessy
3-4 Green: Coached by Brett and Lindsay Nelson
3-4 Orange: Coached by Jacob Russell

4-5 Blue: Coached by Joe Cowette
4-5 Gold: Coached by Rebecca Widmer
4-5 Orange: Coached by Nick Borak
4-5 Red: Coached by Gary and Carly Mathews

THANK YOU PLAYERS, COACHES, and PARENTS!!!

06/24/2026

Exciting news from Raider Nation!!!

Dane Pauly has been selected to play in the Minnesota State High School All-Star Series this Friday/Saturday (June 26th/27th) at Athletic Park in Chaska. Dane will be part of the Metro South team. Game times are as follows:

Friday @ 7:15 PM
Saturday @ 11:15 AM
Saturday @ 2/4:30/7 (depending on the first two)

Congratulations Dane, and we wish you the best of luck!

06/21/2026

To all of the fathers out there...especially those in Raider Nation...HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

06/15/2026

THANK YOU, RAIDER NATION! ⚾❤️

As the 2026 season comes to a close (state championships are being played today), we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this year special.

To our Parents and Families:
Thank you for the countless rides, late nights, early mornings, words of encouragement, and unwavering support throughout the season. Your dedication does not go unnoticed.

To Our Fans and Community:
Thank you for filling the stands, cheering us on, and supporting Raider Baseball every step of the way. Your energy and enthusiasm helped make every game memorable.

To Our Coaches:
Thank you for your leadership, commitment, and the countless hours invested in helping us grow as players and as people. The lessons learned on and off the field will stay with us for years to come.

To Our Training and Medical Staff:
Thank you for keeping our athletes healthy, prepared, and ready to compete. Your care and expertise are invaluable to our program.

To Our Transportation Staff:
Thank you for safely getting us to and from practices and games throughout the season. We appreciate the important role you play in our success.

To Our Teammates:
Thank you for the hard work, dedication, friendships, and memories. The bonds formed this season are what make Raider Baseball special.

To Our Seniors:
Thank you for your leadership, commitment, and example. You have helped build the culture of Raider Baseball and have left a lasting impact on our program. We wish you nothing but success in your future endeavors.

Most of all, thank you to everyone who supported Raider Baseball this season. Whether you attended one game or every game, volunteered your time, worked behind the scenes, or simply cheered us on, you helped make this season one to remember.

Once a Raider, Always a Raider.

⚾ Thank You, Raider Nation! ⚾

Send a message to learn more

06/09/2026

Good Morning Raider Nation!! We would like to finally recognize our Varsity group was once again under the direction of Coach Wroge. As we mentioned to the boys at the end of the season, there is only one team in each class that gets to end their season with a win...and it is never easy getting to that point. Here is a quick little recap of the season, along with some numbers:

As a team, we were not sure as to what to expect. There really wasn't a guy returning that had more than a few at-bats or many varsity opportunities. It was going to be a young team, however that didn't mean there wasn't hunger throughout the lineup. The season started with a tough extra-inning loss to Litchfield, followed by a huge win over section champions GSL. Back that up with splits with DC, Rockford, and Annandale, along with another extra-inning loss to Litchfield and being swept by NLS, the Raiders ended the month of April with a 4-7 record. Throughout the month of April the team dealt with numerous injuries to key contributors. However, those injuries opened the door for many others to step up, which was something the team needed.

May started with a big win over TCU down at Siebert Field at the U of M. As big as that win was, the following win over GSL was even bigger! Things started to click as the Raiders navigated through the rest of the season. A big win over Watertown-Mayer and a sweep of HLWW helped the Raiders end the month of May with a 7-2 record. This brought the regular season record to 11-9. Of those 9 losses...five of them were by less than four runs. Imagine flipping that record to 16-4.

Playoff season started with a home game versus Breck and the team was ready. As a team, they collected 11 hits which led to an 11-5 win. This win secured a spot into the double elimination round with a tough matchup against Providence Academy next. It was a scorcher yet the boys came to play. In fact, they liked the heat so much that they wanted to play extras again...this time playing 12 innings (almost two full games). In the end, through adversity and everything else that was thrown their way, they pulled away with a 10-7 win. The win meant a rematch against GSL. Unfortunately, thanks to one small (the played small ball) inning, the Panthers knocked off the Raiders 4-3 which led us to a win-or-go-home game against SW Christian. The Raiders pulled ahead early and fought hard all game, however SWC was able to rally late and take the lead, as well as the game.

As the season comes to a close, this group of young men have nothing to hang their heads on. They by far exceeded expectations from many. Their goal was to push the limits and to force teams to recognize their abilities and they did this on a daily basis. Numerous times we would leave the field knowing that we played the game the right way, and were reassured by opposing players and coaches alike. This group came together, no matter their age, and did some wonderful things.

Here is a quick message from Coach Wroge:
What a crazy season. we started the year 3-7 and had injuries to some of our top players. Guys stepped up and filled in extraordinarily. We went on a 10-2 run to end the regular season and finished tied for 4th in a very tough Wright Country Conference. We had two huge wins over GSL and pulled out a great 12 inning win over Providence in the second round of the playoffs. However, we were bit by two innings in the next two games (4-3 loss to GSL and 4-2 loss to SWC). Many guys ended up getting lots of at bats and experience. So proud of the seniors for working hard and understanding their roles. Super proud of this team...next year we play into June!

On a side note...GSL and Providence played for the section championship. Not that it makes anyone feel any better...but another reason our boys should be proud...look at how we played them!

Here are a few bits of information in terms of numbers on the season:

All-Conference: Kyson Evenski, Dane Pauly, Mason Miller
Honorable Mention: Joe Grams

Hitting
Team BA: .268
*Neubarth (.415) and Evenski (.399)

Team Hits: 178
*Evenski (26) and Grams/M. Miller (21)

Home Runs: 2
*Dose and J. Pauly

Team RBI: 115
*M. Miller (18) and Evenski (15)

Team Runs: 149
*Dent (21) and Dahl (20)

Team Stolen Bases: 101
*Dent (22) and Dahl (17)

Pitching/Defense
Team ERA: 2.83
*Grams/Evenski/Pauly all under 1.99!!

Team K's: 175
*Team had almost a 3:1 K/BB ratio

Team LOB: 184
*Shows what trusting your defense can do!!

Team Double Plays: 8
*Many were in HUGE situations

We could sit here all day long and talk about numbers. However, this one number that matters is 1. We played as 1 this season. For those who saw or ordered clothing this year, you noticed the 1-0 on the shirts. This meant we had to win each day, and to do that, we needed to work together. No matter who you were, what role you had, it took a TEAM to do what we did this year.

Varsity guys...BEYOND PROUD of each and every one of you. It may not seem as though it was a great season based on the way it ended...but believe us in saying that it was. What you proved to us on and off the field is more than just baseball. Thank you for a wonderful season, as well as everything you have done, and will continue to do, for the entire Raider Baseball program here at Central. Congrats to all!!

06/02/2026

Happy Tuesday Raider Nation! Today we would like to recognize the JV team which was the direction of Coach Schwirtz and Coach Kalkes this year. These JV guys pushed the Varsity squad all year and never let anyone take a game, let alone a pitch, off. The growth that was seen goes well beyond wins and losses. Here is a little note from Coach Schwirtz:

Baseball is a game of adjustments, and at the JV level no game or lineup looked the same. With many players moving up to varsity, going back and forth, or even coming down from varsity to get some swings or innings on the bump, it's all controlled chaos.

With that being said this is one of the most resilient groups of young men I have been around. Never heard a "no" to an opportunity or setback. Many players played different positions, acquired new skills, and learned how to play situational baseball!

The JV squad went on to finish the season 11-6-1. This team swung the bats exceptionally well, where 4 players (Kolten Kley, Aiden McChrohan, Owen Miller, and Jackson Koehler) had averages of over .400 (Kolten and Owen were both over .500). They boys also showed perseverance on the mound with 6 players throwing over 10 innings on the year battling through tough innings and coming up big when needed!

This group will be a great ball club for the next few years as long as the boys continue to work hard and push each other!

To each of the JV guys who threw on a jersey at some point throughout the season, along with the coaches, THANK YOU!! Just the beginning for a great group of young men!

*Photo cred goes out to Creek View Images*