There’s always something special about being the host city for an all-day celebration of baseball, and this year, Waconia has earned that honor for the second annual Baseball Day Minnesota.

Waconia’s Lions Field was chosen for its state-of-the-art renovations—part of a community investment that began in 2017. The facility already played host to the 2021 Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament, and this spring, it will serve as the backdrop for a premier showcase of prep baseball.

“It’s a great honor,” said Waconia head coach Erik Olson. “We’re very proud of our field in Waconia, and there’s a lot of people in this community that take great pride in it. I think it’s going to be a really special day.”

Waconia senior Luke Koschinska, a pitcher and versatile defender, noted how much work has gone into getting the field ready. “There’s a lot of guys up here right now putting in a lot of work on the field to get us ready for the season,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity for our community.”

Adding to the excitement is the matchup itself—Waconia will take on longtime rival Chaska, a fellow member of the Metro West Conference. The two programs know each other well, and the history runs deep.

Not only did Olson previously coach alongside Chaska head coach Craig Baumann for eight seasons, but many of the players on both sides have played together on summer and Legion teams for years.

“We respect them, they respect us,” said Waconia junior Culley Ohm, a University of St. Thomas commit. “It’s always a great battle, and it’s always a great time we circle on the calendar. It’s a game you’ve got to put a lot into to win.”

Olson added, “I know that community well and what this means to them as well. I think it’s going to be an awesome day showcasing two baseball communities. It’s one of those rivalries you want to win—and you want to win really bad. But we also have a lot of respect for them.”

That mutual respect was on full display last season, when Chaska and Waconia squared off in a regular-season game that featured two separate lightning delays. The interruptions forced both teams off the field and into Waconia Middle School across the street, where they spent over two hours together waiting out the storm.

With little else to do, the players and coaches mingled, swapping stories and finding common ground through their shared love of the game. The contest eventually resumed just before 10 p.m.—after one final delay and even a lights-out moment due to a timer malfunction.

“All of a sudden, we had a timer on our lights, and it went off in the middle of a play,” Olson recalled. “It was a pretty wild night. We ended up finishing that game pretty close to midnight.”

Last season, Waconia finished fourth in the Metro West Conference with a 12-10 record, while Chaska took second at 13-9. Both teams fell in section play to Minnetonka, the Class 4A state consolation champion. 

Now, both programs are back with renewed focus and high expectations. Baseball Day Minnesota offers a spotlight moment, and both teams are eager to make the most of it.

“We’re looking to win, and as a team, we can do special things when we stay together and stay true to what Waconia baseball is and what the quality here has brought us,” said Ohm.

Koschinska added, “We just look to win the next game—not worrying too much or focusing on the future. Just win what’s in front of you and attack it day by day. Our team has high aspirations, and I think we’re going to be able to do that.”

“As a coach, I’d echo that,” said Olson. “It’s a fun group to be around, and they enjoy coming to the ballpark every day. I think that’s going to carry us a long way.”

---

Theo Tollefson is an independent journalist who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. He currently covers the Twins and St. Paul Saints for ZoneCoverage MN, and has also worked for news outlets such as Racket, KAAL in Rochester, the Rochester Post Bulletin, and the Hastings Journal. 

---

BASEBALL DAY MINNESOTA INFO & TICKETS

Duluth Marshall and Montevideo square off at 10 AM on Saturday, May 17th at Lions Field in Waconia. Tickets for the day's event can be found in the link below.

Save $2 per ticket by ordering your tickets in advance:

$14 for adults
$8 for seniors
$6 for high school/college students
12 & under wearing jerseys are free

🎟 ORDER YOUR TICKETS NOW 🎟