It’s time once again for the Region 7C Tournament. Although the tournament will have a new look and feel to it, fans can expect to see exciting performances and thrilling moments once again this year.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no central host for this year’s tournament. Games will be played at the high seed each day, giving fans a chance to take in a handful of games throughout all the great ballparks in the Crow River Valley League. Games will also have an attendance maximum of 250 people this year.

The 2020 Region 7C Tournament field has some familiar names and some new ones. The Waconia Lakers, a perennial powerhouse in the CRVL, are back once again as the No. 1 seed. After missing the postseason last year due to being ineligible, the Lakers are back with a vengeance. A 12-1 record by the Lakers during the regular season is all you need to know. Waconia comes in as the top seed and for good reason as they are poised for a deep postseason run.

The Winsted Wildcats, back in the Region 7C Tournament for a second-straight season, the Wildcats were one of the big surprises in the CRVL this season. An impressive start to the season led them to a 10-3 regular-season record, earning them the No. 2 seed in the Region 7C Tournament. While seeing the Wildcats as the No. 2 seed might be a surprise, the way they win games isn’t. Pitching and defense are what makes the Wildcats go as they boast one of the best pitching staffs in the entire CRVL coming into the tournament.

The Watertown Red Devils are the No. 3 seed in the Region 7C Tournament and will be looking to get the monkey off their back. The Red Devils haven’t been to the state tournament since 2008, and have had their fair share of struggles in the Region 7C Tournament in recent years. Back for a fourth-straight season, Watertown is just 1-5 in the Region 7C games as of late. They’ve also lost their past five Region 7C Games coming into the 2020 tournament. With the addition of young talent and some pitching help, Watertown will be looking to break through this year as the No. 3 seed.

The Young America Cardinals came into the 2020 season as one of the favorites in the CRVL, if not the whole state. The Cardinals have taken the state by storm with their postseason success the past two seasons, but a couple of tough losses in the regular season in a grueling schedule has them coming into the Region 7C Tournament as the No. 4 seed. A 9-4 record in the regular season wasn’t anything special for Young America this season, but that doesn’t mean this team isn’t. The Cardinals are loaded with talent from top to bottom and will be looking to continue their postseason success in 2020.

In last year’s state tournament, the Cologne Hollanders became a state favorite in a hurry. An 8-5 record in the regular season might not have been what they hoped for coming in, but the Hollanders enter the Region 7C Tournament as one of the most explosive offenses in the tournament as the No. 5 seed.

Rounding out the final three teams in the Region 7C Tournament are the Green Isle Irish (No. 6 seed), the Mayer Blazers (No. 7 seed), and the Carver Black Sox (No. 8 seed). The Irish feature a young and talented lineup eager to show what they can do. The Mayer Blazers are in their first season back since 2016, but that hasn’t stopped from finding success. The Carver Black Sox are coming off a down regular season, but are playing well at the right time as they round out the field for the tournament.

Below is an in-depth look at each team in the Region 7C Tournament.

(1) Waconia Lakers

After sitting out the postseason last year, the Waconia Lakers return to postseason play as the No. 1 seed in the Region 7C Tournament. The Lakers have pitching, defense, and a powerful offense to go with that all making them a tough team to beat.

Kodey Simon and Chris Bullis lead the way for the Waconia’s pitching staff. The two rank among the league’s best in almost every category and give the Lakers a chance to win every time he takes the mound. Along with Simon and Bullis, the Lakers have added some impressive relief pitchers. Pitchers like Nick Kivi, Connor Hemme, and Ethan Swanson give Waconia some added depth to their bullpen which will be a big help for the Lakers going forward. The Lakers also have veterans Ryan Naughton and Ben Smothers to lean on in crucial spots.

Offensively, the weapons are endless at the plate for Waconia. With only nine guys in the lineup, the Lakers have the luxury of having big-time hitters to come off the bench, as well.

(2) Winsted Wildcats

PItching and defense win games. That’s what the Winsted Wildcats take to heart. A surprise season this year, Winsted used its dominant pitching all season long to enter as the No. 2 seed. The emergence of Alex Heimerl and Leighton Buhr, combined with veterans Shane Khan and Jake Volness, have given the Wildcats the luxury of trotting out a true starter each and every game this season. The addition of Heimerl and Buhr has also helped Volness and Khan.

Both Khan and Volness got extra rest throughout the season instead of racking up innings which ultimately led to both of them posting impressive seasons.

Offensively, the Wildcats don’t feature a player that will blow fans away. Together though, they get things down and find ways to win their own way. Whether it’s bunting, stealing bases, or hit and runs, the Wildcats are one of the best in the CRVL in making things happen.

Ryan Quast sets the tone at the top of the lineup for Winsted. In the leadoff spot, Quast has emerged as a spark plug for the Wildcats as he sets the table for his teammates behind him. Following Quast, Winsted trots out veterans Jake Prehn, Garrett Zander, and Curtis Herbolsheimer. All three have come through in big spots for Winsted this season as they rely on each other to get things done.

(3) Watertown Red Devils

Nobody is aware of the struggles at the Region 7C Tournament more than the Red Devils themselves. A 10-3 record this season in which they came out with some big wins, Watertown will be looking to break through this time around as the No. 3 seed.

Fans are well aware of pitchers Pat Tschida and Zach Iten.

What they might not recognize is the new hard-throwing relief pitcher Holt Hunziker who gives Watertown a legit option to latch things down late in games.

As good as Tschida has been in the past few seasons, it continued in 2020. Once again he enters as one of the top players in the tournament whether he’s on the mound or at the plate.

Tschida has been the big winner for the Region 7C champions the past few seasons in the draft, but he and the Red Devils will be looking to make some draft picks of their own this season.

(4) Young America Cardinals

You’d be hard-pressed to find a team with a more difficult schedule then the Young America Cardinals this season. Due to the virus postponing games, the Cardinals had a grueling finish to the regular season.

Young America had nine games in the final 13 days of the regular season. That grueling stretch to end the season should have Young America prepared for what lies ahead in the Region 7C Tournament.

Young America features a number of pitchers willing to eat up innings on the mound. Almost any guy who takes the mound gives the Cardinals a legit chance to get the win.

Offensively, Young America features a lineup that gives opposing teams nightmares. From top to bottom, the Cardinals have power, speed, and clutch hitting make each inning a big inning just waiting to happen.

(5) Cologne Hollanders

Over the past few seasons, wins and success have not been easy to come by for the Cologne Hollanders. Flash forward to the last two seasons and the Hollander have made the biggest jump forward of any CRVL team. From being a bottom dweller to a team looking to make annual appearances at the state tournament, the Hollanders are a team on the rise and they’re here to win.

Like the Cardinals, Cologne features a lineup from top to bottom that can score runs in a hurry. The Hollanders are a team that feeds off each other as they are one of the best at putting together big innings. Cologne has a knack for not settling for one or two runs in an inning and breaking a game open in a hurry. They also are one of the best teams in the league in getting out to quick starts.

On the mound, Cologne features a trio of top pitchers to lean on. Torben Urdahl and Jayce Luna have been inning eaters all season long, and Cologne still has Christian Johnson in their pocket when needed and is available.

(6) Green Isle Irish

When the Green Isle Irish take the field for the Region 7C Tournament, be sure to pick up a program and check out the roster. The Irish feature nearly a whole new team filled with some young and upcoming talent.

Green Isle struggled out of the gate as their youth showed. Since then, the Irish have earned the respect from the rest of the league as their young talent has taken big steps forward over the course of the season.

Offensively, Green Isle has the talent to hang with any team. With Diego Waisanen leading the way, Green Isle is a team that just needs one big inning to get the bats going for the rest of the game.

(7) Mayer Blazers

Yes, there is a team in the CRVL called the Mayer Blazers. In their first season back in the league since 2016, the Blazers are back at the Region 7C Tournament after knocking off the Brownton Bruins in the three games.

Josh Anthony, formerly of the Green Isle Irish, has taken the program over this season. In his first year as player/manager of the Blazers, he led them to a 6-7 record and to the Region 7C Tournament as the No. 7 seed.

The Blazers have only gotten better as the season has progressed. Instead of relying on their top four hitters to provide the offense, Mayer has been getting contributions from all over the lineup in recent games.

(8) Carver Black Sox

Teams and fans of the CRVL surely know who the Carver Black Sox are. A team that has built a powerhouse over the past few seasons comes into the Region 7C Tournament as the No. 8 seed after a down regular season. Carver got off to a tough start out of the gate and was never able to bounce back fully from it. That didn’t stop them from reaching the Region 7C Tournament once again as they upset No. 7 Hamburg in two-straight games in the CRVL playoffs as the No. 10 seed.

Offensively, Carver has a few new faces that can still knock the cover off the ball. There’s familiar faces as well like Andrew Weber, David Dolan, Peter Benson, and Sam Warner. The Black Sox also added a key piece in signing Jay Bresnahan away from Hamburg. Bresnahan had a big year both on the mound and at the plate which gives Carver even more depth this season.

Want to see the best pitchers and top hitters in the Crow River Valley League? The Region 7C Tournament has you covered.

The 2020 Region 7C Tournament will feature some of the top talent in the Crow River Valley League both on the mound and in the batter’s box. The age-old question of pitching versus hitting will be answered in this year’s tournament.

Whether it’s a dominant pitching performance or an explosive offensive output, the Region 7C Tournament is known for special moments. This year will be no different. With so much talent on both sides of the field, there should be plenty of fireworks to entertain fans both on the mound and at the plate.

Below is a look at some of the top pitchers and hitters in the Region 7C Tournament.

Top Pitchers To Watch

The amount of dominant pitchers in the Region 7C Tournament this year may result in some low-scoring games. In a shortened Crow River Valley League season this year, it looked as if each team had at least one pitcher who could take over a game and beat anyone, and that won’t change going forward.

Kodey Simon (Waconia)

One of the top pitchers in the Region 7C Tournament this year will be Waconia’s Kodey Simon. Year in and year out, Simon delivers impressive performances on the mound each time for the Lakers. He finished with a 4-1 record this season with 31 strikeouts while allowing just 10 runs in 28 innings of work.

Chris Bullis (Waconia)

The Lakers are spoiled even more because they can also turn to Chris Bullis on the mound. Bullis is one of the best pitchers in the CRVL the past decade, and he still has it working for the Lakers. In the regular season, he posted an ERA of 0.90 in 30 innings of work. He finished with a perfect 4-0 record while racking up 30 strikeouts.

When you watch Bullis pitch, he makes it look effortless. He’s a guy who only gets stronger as the game goes on, making him tough to beat on any night.

Shane Khan (Winsted)

The Winsted Wildcats also have a true ace in Shane Khan. Over the years, Khan has developed a reputation for being a bit wild with his control. He could either strikeout 10 or walk 10 depending on the day.

That wasn’t the case for Khan this year. Not having to be the workhorse all year long combined with a shortened season helped Khan post one of the best seasons of his career. He threw 32 innings for Winsted this year, finishing with an ERA of 1.41. He struck out 38 batters on way to posting a 2-1 record.

Pat Tschida (Watertown)

The name Pat Tschida is a familiar one that teams hate to see. The crafty southpaw continues to put up big numbers for the Red Devils as he continued to be near the top in almost every statistical category.

A shortened season also helped out Tschida on the mound this season as he picked up three wins. He tossed 35 innings, finishing with an ERA of 1.51 and racked up 39 strikeouts.

Tschida is a true gamer who elevates his game when needed. He’s one of the best overall players in the league and will be counted on heavily to lead his team this year as they look to break through at the Region 7C Tournament.

Josh Lenz (Young America)

It was a quiet regular season for Young America’s Josh Lenz as he pitched just nine innings. Lenz, who has been dominant the past few seasons in the CRVL and postseason, will be looked on for some more big-time performances.

He finished the year with a 3.86 ERA, one win, and seven strikeouts. Lenz could be a huge piece for the Cardinals going forward.

Jayce Luna (Cologne)

There are a few new names in the CRVL who stood out this season. One of them was Cologne’ Jayce Luna. From his first start of the season, Luna turned heads as he put up big numbers this season for the Hollanders.

On the year, Luna finished an ERA of 1.84 in 29 innings of work. He earned four wins while racking up 38 strikeouts.

Luna’s ability to get ahead in the count has bode well for him all year. A new pitcher in the league, Luna presents a challenge for many players who haven’t seen him yet this season. With ace Christian Johnson limited with his availability, Luna has emerged as a top pitcher for the Hollanders going forward.

Will LaLonde (Mayer)

How do you make a name for yourself in just one season in the CRVL? You have a season like Mayer’s Will LaLonde did.

The Blazers are back in the first season since 2016 and are back at the Region 7C Tournament immediately. The reason they are is because of LaLonde’s big season on the mound.

Lalonde only got better as the season went on for the Blazers. He finished with an ERA of 3.00 and a record of 3-2, but when it mattered most, he was at his best. He led the league in strikeouts with 52 and showed just what he could do in the playoffs.

In two games against the Brownton Bruins, he single-handedly led the Bruins to wins in Game 1 and Game 3, sending them to the region tournament in their first season back since 2016, and back to regions for the first time since 2006. In Game 1, LaLonde threw a complete-game shutout in which he struck out 12.

Top Hitters To Watch

As good as the pitching has been this season in the CRVL, there are a few players who posted monster numbers offensively. Despite playing a shortened season, there was no shortage of long balls. Each of the following players had big seasons for their teams and will be in the spotlight in the Region 7C Tournament.

Alex Logelin (Young America)

If the Winsted Wildcats were the surprise team of the season, then Alex Logelin is the surprise player of the season. After a strong season in 2019, Logelin got even better this season for the Young America Cardinals.

Young America hit 11 home runs in the regular season as a team. Logelin nearly had half of them with five. He had a game to remember against the Watertown Red Devils in which he had three home runs in a single game.

Logelin has taken a huge step forward for the Cardinals at the plate. His confidence is sky high and his growth in the batter’s box only adds to already dangerous Young America lineup. If Logelin stays hot at the plate, the Cardinals are poised once again for a deep postseason run.

AJ Friedrich (Waconia)

Everyone knows how deep and talented the Waconia Lakers lineup is. AJ Friedrich is a big piece to that.

Friedrich finished the season with an average of .348. He also had three doubles and drove in six runs for the Lakers.

Batting right in the meat of the order for the Lakers, Friedrich will be a player to watch all tournament long for Waconia.

Pat Tschida (Watertown)

He’s the only guy to appear on this list twice. That’s just how Tschida is for the Red Devils. As good as he is on the mound, he’s just as good if not better at the plate.

Tschida finished the regular season with an average of .421. He also had 12 RBI, four doubles, and a hit a huge grand slam against Young America in a big win for his only home run.

He’s an on-base machine for the Red Devils in the leadoff spot. If teams want to take down the Red Devils, getting Tschida off the bases is a must.

Matt Mann (Young America)

Another season. Another year of Matt Mann doing Matt Mann things.

The veteran slugger for the Young America Cardinals once again proved to be a tough out for opposing teams. Mann hit .372 on the season, finishing two home runs, 11 RBI, and two doubles.

Mann continues to be a hard out as he struck out just twice this season. He also drew eight walks as he fits right in the lineup for the talented Cardinals.

Kyle Brazil (Cologne)

There are not many players in the CRVL who have the raw power that Cologne’s Kyle Brazil does. Every time he steps to the plate, there’s a chance for a big fly.

Brazil had another big year for the Hollanders. He hit .422 with three doubles, a triple, and a home run. He also drove in 17 RBI as Cologne once again was one of the best offensive teams in the league again.

Brazil’s ability to hit for average and power has Cologne looking to capture the attention of the state once again in 2020.

Cole Pengilly (Cologne)

It’s called heating up. Cologne’s Cole Pengilly knows all about that. When Pengilly is on a roll at the plate, watch out.

Pengilly had a monster season for the Hollanders despite playing just 13 games. He hit .318 for the season and finished with 11 RBI and five home runs. He has two games this season in which he hit multiple home runs.

Don’t want to pitch to Pengilly? That’s a smart idea. The only problem is there are guys behind him ready to do the same thing as Cologne’s lineup is tough from top to bottom.

Diego Waisanen (Green Isle)

We’ve talked about the new pitchers on the block, meet one of the new hitters in the league who might just become one of the best.

After a slow start to the season, Green Isle’s Diego Waisanen finished his first regular season in the CRVL with a bang. He finished with three home runs this season and drove in a team-high 10 runs to go with it.

Waisanen provides some power for the Irish who feature a new lineup. He’ll look to make his mark, even more, taking on some of the top teams in the Region 7C Tournament.

Aaron Brush (Mayer)

A year ago, Aaron Brush broke onto the scene as part of the Green Isle Irish. He’s still doing so, just this time he’s doing it in a Mayer Blazer’s uniform.

Brush had a big year for the Blazers, helping lead them to their first Region 7C Tournament appearance since 2006.

Brush hit .378 for the Blazers this season. He also had two home runs, three doubles, and 15 RBI to lead the offense for Mayer,

Mayer will rely on Brush to deliver big hits for the team in the tournament. He’s come through with clutch hits all season long and will be looking to continue that in the spotlight going forward.

WATERTOWN – The Watertown Red Devils came into the postseason feeling pretty good about themselves. Watertown won five-straight games to close out the regular season and finished as the No. 3 seed from the Crow River Valley League.

After missing a bye into the Region 7C Tournament by just one spot, the Red Devils knew they would be taking on the team in the CRVL with the worst record. That team was the Plato Bluejays who went 1-12 in the CRVL this season.

As the Red Devils found out in their playoff series, the Bluejays were just any one-win team. They made Watertown earn it in both of their games.

In Game 1, Plato had a 2-1 lead over the Red Devils heading to the bottom of the fifth inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Watertown rallied for two runs to take a 3-2 lead, but they weren’t out of danger yet.

With two on and two out in the top of the 8th, Holt Hunziker got a huge strikeout for the Red Devils, getting Watertown out of the inning with their one-run lead still intact.

Watertown was forced to tightrope out of danger once again in the top of the ninth. Hunziker walked the first two batters of the inning, putting the tying run and go-ahead run on base for Plato with nobody out. Hunziker responded with back-to-back strikeouts but walked the next guy to load the bases with two outs.

Plato would leave the bases loaded in the top of the 9th as Hunziker got a pop out in foul territory to end the game as the Red Devils survived a major scare in Game 1 with a 3-2 victory.

In Game 2, Plato would not go away either. Despite losing Game 1, the Bluejays once again had an early edge against Pat Tschida and the Red Devils.

Plato had a 3-1 lead over Watertown heading to the top of the fifth, but once again Watertown responded. The Red Devils scored once in the sixth and once in the seventh to tie the game, and then took the lead in the eighth thanks to Tschida. An RBI single from Tschida put Watertown up 4-3, but the lead didn’t last long for Watertown.

With two outs in the top of the eighth, Aleks Troska kept the Bluejays alive with an RBI double, tying to game at four.

Despite knocking the cover off the ball in the top of the ninth, Watertown failed to score a run in their half of the inning sending the game to extra innings. Ryan Hangartner nearly gave the Red Devils a run immediately, but a nice catch by Troska at the wall in right field kept the game tied.

After Plato failed to score in the bottom half of the 9th, Watertown drew up some magic in extra innings. After reaching base, Jonah Lewis got the crowd on its feet with a hustle play. He scored for Watertown all the way from second on a groundball to the second baseman, putting Watertown up 5-4.

Tschida then delivered the final blow for Watertown, a two-run home run to seal the win and advance the Red Devils to the Region 7C Tournament once again with a 5-4 victory in 10 innings and a sweep of the CRVL playoff series.

A look ahead

The Red Devils come into the Region 7C Tournament as the No. 3 seed. After posting a 10-3 overall record in the CRVL and a sweep of the Plato Bluejays, Watertown comes into the tournament on a hot streak of winning seven-straight games.

Getting to the Region 7C Tournament hasn’t been a problem for the Red Devils recently. The problem has been winning games. In their past 7 games at the Region 7C Tournament, Watertown is just 1-6 and has lost five consecutive games in the tournament.

Watertown opens the Region 7C Tournament hosting the sixth-seeded Green Isle Irish Saturday, Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. at Highland Park.

WINSTED – One of the biggest surprises this season was the Winsted Wildcats. Not that they are back at the Region 7C Tournament once again, but the fact they are back as the No. 2 seed after an impressive regulars season.

All season long the Winsted Wildcats have been winning their own way. After posting a 10-3 overall record this season, the Wildcats are looking for even more as the No. 2 seed.

The Wildcats have won games this season in a variety of ways. The one constant that will remain for them in the Region 7C Tournament is pitching and defense.

The names Shane Khan and Jake Volness are familiar ones when it comes to Winsted. Those two have carried the load for the Wildcats on the mound the past few seasons, but the addition and growth of a couple of younger pitchers have given Winsted one of the best pitching staffs in the CRVL this season.

The emergence of Leighton Buhr and Alex Heimerl has been huge for Winsted this season. Both have delivered big performances on the mound all season long, ultimately giving Khan and Volness some extra rest when needed. That extra rest proved to be big this season as the Wildcats and the other teams in the CRVL were forced to play a 13-game schedule in a little over a month.

Winsted also features a couple of key relief pitchers that only help the staff. Jake Prehn and Brady Jenkins are both the perfect mix up for Winsted late in games, and it’s worked all season long. In their 13 league games this season, the Wildcats have only allowed more than four runs in two of them.

As their pitching took a big step forward this season, Winsted also relies on their defense. Ryan Quast has turned himself into one of the most consistent shortstops in the league. Prehn holds down the right side of the field at second, while Tesch (dirty jersey and all), is one of the more overlooked third basemen in the league.

Winsted hasn’t been at the state tournament since 2016. As the No. 2 seed, they’ll be looking to get back there after having one of their best regular seasons in the past decade.

Gregg Kohler has been a key addition for the Wildcats this season. Coming back to the team for the first time since 2016, Kohler provides a veteran presence and leadership for Winsted.

Winsted opens Region 7C play at home against Mayer Saturday, Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. at Denis M. Campbell Field.

The field is set for the 2020 Region 7C Tournament. The action will kick off Thursday night in Waconia at the top-seeded Waconia Lakers will host the No. 8 seed Carver Black Sox.

A reminder to fans that the Region 7C Tournament will have a new look to it. Games will be played at high seeds, and attendance will be limited to 250 per game.

For more information on guidelines for the Region 7C Tournament, stay connected with the Herald Journal for 2020 Region 7C Tournament Fan Guide.

Below is the official bracket for the Region 7C Tournament.

2020 Region 7C Tournament Bracket

WINSTED – If you arrived late to the opening game of the Crow River Valley League playoffs between the Mayer Blazers and Brownton Bruins, you probably missed about half the game. Mayer’s Will Lalonde and Brownton’s Ryan Grams put on a show on the mound, but it was the Blazers who scratched out a 1-0 win over the Bruins in a game that barely took over 90 minutes. With the win, Mayer took a 1-0 lead in the best of three-game series.

Lalonde and Grams were in control on the mound all game long. The two combined for 21 strikeouts between them and allowed just five hits apiece.

Mayer had two of their five hits in the first inning as it looked like they were going to get to Grams early. Andrew Betcher and Josh Anthony led off the inning with back-to-back singles, but Grams set the tone for the rest of the game by getting out of trouble with a pair of strikeouts.

After letting a scoring chance slip away in the first, the Blazers took advantage of a two-out walk in the bottom of the third. Anthony kept the inning alive by drawing a walk, and it was Cameron Smrekar who delivered the clutch hit for the Blazers. An RBI double to the gap allowed Anthony to score with two outs and give Mayer a 1-0 lead.

Smrekar’s RBI double was nearly all the offense the Blazers had the rest of the game. In the final five innings, Mayer had just three base runners the rest of the way as Grams was in control on the mound. Over the course of the fourth, fifth, and six innings, Grams had retired 10 batters in a row.

As good as Grams was on the mound, Lalonde was even better. From the opening pitch, Lalonde had his stuff working. He struck out the side in order in the top of the first on just 10 pitches, and carried that over the rest of the game.

For the game, Lalonde finished with a complete-game shutout in which he allowed just five hits and struck out 12. He put the exclamation point on his brilliant performance in the top of the ninth by making a great defensive play on a comebacker to the mound to take away a scoring chance for the Bruins.

The Blazers hold a 1-0 lead in the series against the Bruins after the win. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night in Brownton. Another win for the Blazers and they are headed to the Region 7C Tournament. A loss would mean there will be a Game 3 Sunday afternoon back in Brownton.