Minnetonka and Wayzata Leadoff Baseball Day Minnesota

January 22, 2024
Parker Hageman
Prep Baseball Minnesota

Minnetonka, MN – When Baseball Day Minnesota was in the planning phase, there was little doubt which ballpark would be the first to host this momentous event.

With a 600-seat turfed stadium, Minnetonka’s Veterans Field would ensure that the playing surface would withstand spring weather challenges the state’s climate could muster. Additionally, the ample concourse space would give spectators plenty of room for activities. It would be the perfect venue to launch the celebration of baseball in Minnesota.

“This day is special for all the teams involved,” said Minnetonka head coach Paul Twenge, who is entering his 19th season with the program. “To be the first to make a footprint for high school baseball in our state to everyone watching is outstanding. Minnetonka is fortunate to be part of this event.”

To kick off the day’s events, Minnetonka will welcome its cross-lake rival, the Wayzata Trojans, in Game 1.

The Lake Conference powerhouses have a long and rich history. Last season, the pair split their conference games, including a 2-1 Wayzata victory at Target Field, paving the way for the Trojans to claim their first conference title since 2019, when they shared the honor with Hopkins. Wayzata, however, would be upset by Edina, the conference’s third-place finisher, in the section finals.

Wayzata’s head coach, Bobby Dewitt, now in his 15th season with the Trojans, recognizes that the team has enormous expectations for themselves and is itching to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2018.

“We believe we have the lineup to compete for a conference and section title,” Dewitt said. “And we plan to make that come to fruition.”

The Skippers, meanwhile, would cruise through their section and reach the state tournament for the third time in six years. After a thrilling come-from-behind-walk-off victory against Mounds View in the quarterfinal, Minnetonka fell to the eventual state champion East Ridge, 4-3. Because of the lingering smoke from forest fires in Canada that had engulfed CHS Field, Minnetonka and Edina agreed to forgo the third-place game and share the honors.

The two programs are separated by 14,000 acres of lake water but have much in common. Namely, they both have deep rosters of returning starters. Minnetonka has eight position players returning in 2024, while Wayzata has five.

Wayzata’s Riley Leatherman (2024, RHP, North Carolina commit) is the highest-ranked senior among the two teams, landing at number 7 overall on our state rankings. Minnetonka has several D1 commits in Max Nelson (2024, RHP, St. Thomas commit) and Will Koeppen (2024, SS, St. Thomas), who rank 81st and 101st, respectively.