By Ainsley Schafer
With four weeks remaining until section play begins, the Northfield High School baseball team is focused on building momentum – and hoping to top last year’s strong season.
Following their 6-5 victory against Mankato East on April 22, the Raiders are in eighth place in the Big 9 conference. The team is 4-2 this season.
“Overall the goal is that we want to try and get to the state tournament,” said Josh Spitzack, the Northfield High School Baseball Coach. “A couple early season losses doesn’t change that.”
This is Spitzack’s fifth season as Northfield’s head coach. Last season, the Raiders made it to Section 1AAA playoffs.
“We have a really strong group of seniors [this year] who were a big part of our success last year,” said Spitzack.
JT Graupmann, a 2025 1st Team All-State pitcher, has returned this season after the end of the record-breaking Northfield boys basketball season. Several players on the 2026 baseball roster were absent from the beginning of the season due to the basketball team’s long season run at the Minnesota State Tournament.
Spitzack also highlighted seniors Michael Stewart and Rourke Bennett, as well as junior Wade Gilbertson as key players that will “step into a bigger role this season.”
In typical Minnesota spring fashion, several games this season have been rescheduled due to weather conditions.
“We’ve just got to get some momentum going and be playing our best baseball at the end of the season and I think we still have a great shot to reach our goals,” said Spitzack.
Northfield is next set to face Stewartville High School at home at 5 p.m. on April 27.
Ainsley Schafer is a news intern with KYMN, focusing on local sports coverage. Contact her at news@kymnradio.net
