MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (KTTC) \u2013 The Pine Island Panthers and Lourdes Eagles are conference foes, but for their first meeting of the 2026 baseball season, these teams were under the lights at Target Field.<\/p>\n
Pine Island and Lourdes were the first of fourteen teams getting the chance to play on the same field as the Minnesota Twins.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m playing under the same field as some of the professionals,\u201d said Lourdes\u2019s Owen Streefland. \u201cIt\u2019s just an incredible moment that I can save for the rest of my life with all my family watching.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Panthers won the HVL Conference battle, 6-1, but both teams left Minneapolis with memories that will certainly last a lifetime. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Twins are very gracious and let us have an expanded roster,\u201d said Lourdes head coach Dave Jenson. \u201cEvery player (grades) 9-12 in our program got to be on the field for infield and outfield reps, playing catch on the field, and their family sees that, and they\u2019ll have those pictures forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both teams attended the Minnesota Twins\u2019 series finale against the Detroit Tigers. Minnesota won the fourth and final game 3-1 to sweep Detroit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what it\u2019s all about at the end of the day, right? Wins and losses are great, but it\u2019s not what you\u2019re going to be remembered for,\u201d said Pine Island head coach Dan Drazan. \u201cI\u2019m just proud of each and every one of those kids, and it\u2019s awesome to see them have such a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of Drazan\u2019s players, Isaac Krueger, is a freshman. Krueger hit ninth in the lineup and hit an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely the best one ever,\u201d said Krueger. \u201cI had so much fun today. I didn\u2019t have to go to school. It was a big stadium, and it was really cool to be able to play here. I played well, so that was great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next Games:<\/p>\n
No. 3 Pine Island: at Randolph on Tuesday, April 14, at 5:00 p.m.Lourdes: vs. Plainview-Elgin-Millville on Saturday, April 11, at 11:00 a.m.<\/p>\n