HUTCHINSON — John Anderson is part of an amateur baseball podcast popular in that community. It’s called
.
The most recent episode was a conversation before the
Minnesota Baseball Association’s Bracket Reveal
Show. Anderson remained low-key when talking about his team, the Litchfield Blues.
No use giving possible state tournament opponents some bulletin board material.
The Litchfield Blues’ Jake Jones connects with a single during a North Star League game against the Cokato Kernels on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Optimist Park in Litchfield.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
Anderson and the Blues are back in the state Class C tournament for the second year in a row. Last year ended a 22-year absence. And while there is absolutely no predictions from Anderson, Litchfield’s manager, he and the Blues are feeling good about matters.
“We’re pretty excited to get through our region,” Anderson said. “It was a good battle.”
Litchfield plays Waterville in the 102nd annual tournament at 11 a.m. Sunday in Hutchinson. The Blues enter as the third seed from Region 6C. Waterville is the Region 5A champion.
Litchfield Blues pitcher Owen Boerema delivers a pitch during a Region 6C playoff game against Howard Lake on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025 at Optimist Park in Litchfield.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
Litchfield was host to a regional won by Luxemburg. The Howard Lake Orphans finished second and Litchfield slipped in with a 6-0 victory over the Dassel-Cokato Saints for the third seed.
The Blues also beat St. Nicholas 5-1, lost to Howard Lake 5-3 and and beat the Cokato Kernels 3-1 in the regional. What stood out to Anderson, besides all the close scores, was his team’s pitching.
The Blues plan to start Avery Liestman against Waterville. The right-hander led the North Star League with a 1.00 earned-run average, going 7-0 with 81 strikeouts in 63 innings. He led the North Star in all those categories.
“I’m really confident in our pitching,” he said. “I think our top three starters are really solid.”
Litchfield Blues second baseman Ryan Quast throws to first for an out during a Region 6C playoff game against Howard Lake on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025 at Optimist Park in Litchfield.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
Liestman is 23 years old and a former University of Jamestown player. Also on the staff is Owen Boerema. He’s a 24-year-old left-hander who wrapped up his collegiate career at Kansas State University after transferring from Northwestern College of St. Paul.
“Avery is such a good guy,” Anderson said.
In keeping with the Blues’ tendencies toward new media, Liestman usually does a post-game interview with players on social media.
Liestman will be a part of this probable lineup:
Litchfield Blues catcher Caden Besemer throws to first on a dropped third strike for an out during a North Star League game against the Cokato Kernels on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Optimist Park in Litchfield.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
1). Andrew Loch, SS
2). Tony Baumann, RF
3). Bennett Lecher, CF
4). Jake Jones, DH
5). Avery Liestman, P
6). Caden Besemer, C
7). Eric Hulterstrum, 3B
8). Alex Medina, LF
9). Ryan Quast, 2B.
There could be some changes. Baumann, in his first year with the Blues, plays football at Concordia College in Moorhead. Medina will be a senior at Litchfield High School, where he is the Dragons’ returning starter quarterback on the football team.
Litchfield Blues third baseman Eric Hulterstrum snags a hard-hit ball for an out during a North Star League game against the Cokato Kernels on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Optimist Park in Litchfield.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
It’s a young team, with a couple of exceptions. Anderson said the average age for the starters is 22 years old. Hulterstrum, Litchfield’s head girls basketballl coach, is 32. So is Quast. Jones is 28.
Lecher batted .375 (24 of 64) in North Star play. Liestman (.353) and Besemer (.327) are also top hitters.
With good pitching depth, it’s why Anderson said the Blues went for veterans in the post-region draft. Litchfield selected Dassel-Cokato right-handers John Hohenstein and Jim Althoff and Saints left-hander Michael Leffler. Hohehnstein is 37, Althofff is 40 and Leffler is 28.
Litchfield went 10-6 to tie for third place with the Loretto Larks in the North Star, behind Class A Buffalo (16-0) and Class B Hutchinson (12-4). Hutchinson is one of the favorites in Class B.
The Litchfield Blues’ Tony Baumann, left, avoids the tag from Howard Lake catcher Mason Macziewski to slide safely into home for a run during a Region 6C playoff game on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025 at Optimist Park in Litchfield.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
Waterville went 14-0 in the 13/60 League and is 20-5 overall. The Indians are making their fourth state appearance in a row and 12th in their history, with the first coming in 1933. The next one came in 1994 and was followed by appearances in ’99, 2000, ’01, ’07, ’12 and ’18.
Players of note include former Minnesota State-Mankato left-hander Bladyn Bartelt and former Minnesota-Crookston left-hander Dalton Grose.
The Litchfield Blues’ Alex Medina watches a pitch go by while leading off at first base during a Region 6C playoff game against Howard Lake on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025 at Optimist Park in Litchfield.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
Draft picks include Brandyn Olsen of the Blue Earth Pirates, Tyson Reger of the Waseca Braves and Richie Rients of the Morristown Morries. Olsen, 30, played at Bethany Lutheran College. Reger, 20, is a a current Bethany Lutheran player. Reints is 44.
“We’ve got a good club,” said Waterville’s Joe Grosz in his understated way during the MBA Bracket Reveal Show.
First-round pairings in the state amateur baseball tournament:
Games Saturday
* Webster Sox vs. Raymond Rockets, 4 p.m. at Gaylord
* Cold Spring Springers vs. Union Hill Bulldogs, 6:30 p.m. at Gaylord
Games Sunday
* Bird Island Bullfrogs vs. Prior Lake Mudcats, 4 p.m. at Hutchinson
* Northfield Knights vs. Delano Athletics, 11 a.m. at Brownton
* Ada A’s vs. Maple Lake Lakers, 4 p.m. at Gaylord
* Nisswa Lightning vs. Kimball Express, 11 a.m. at Gaylord
* Watkins Clippers vs. Foley Lumberjacks, 1:30 p.m. at Gaylord
* Plato Blue Jays vs. Princeton Panthers, 1:30 p.m. at Brownton
First-round pairings in the state amateur baseball tournament:
Game Friday
* Luxemburg Brewers vs. Pierz Brewers, 7:30 p.m. at Hutchinson
* Paynesville Pirates vs. Lamberton Long Sox, 7:30 p.m. at Gaylord
* Howard Lake Orphans vs. Brownton Bruins, 7:30 p.m. at Brownton
Games Saturday
* Farming Flames vs. Milroy Irish, 4 p.m. at Hutchinson
* Hanska Lakers vs. Hawley Hawks, 1:30 p.m. at Brownton
* Le Sueur Braves vs. Urbank Bombers, 11 a.m. at Brownton
* Randall Cubs vs. Leavenworth Orioles, 11 a.m. at Gaylord
* Dumont Saints vs. Regal Eagles, 11 a.m. at Hutchinson
* Glencoe Brewers vs. Morris Eagles, 4 p.m. at Glencoe
* Roseau Royals vs. Cannon Falls Bears, 1:30 p.m. at Gaylord
* Pierz Lakers vs. Mora Blue Devils, 6:30 p.m. at Brownton
* Windom Pirates vs. Elrosa Saints, 1:30 p.m. at Hutchinson
Games Sunday
* Quamba Cubs vs. Cologne Hollanders, 4 p.m. at Brownton
* Waterville Indians vs. Litchfield Blues, 11 a.m. at Hutchinson
* Courtland Cubs vs. Pine Island Pioneers, 1:30 p.m. at Hutchinson