07/01/26
 

July is usually known for big booms of fireworks and loud firecrackers going off, but the booms came a month early for the Grays as Minnoka outscored it’s opponents 93-7 in the month of June, including two 20 point games and a 30 piece. 

The offensive firepower started out on a Saturday night in Chaska as the Grays scored eleven runs in the top of the 5th highlighted by a Matt Johnson Grand Slam over the left field wall at Chaska Athletic Park, the Wolves would go on to win 22-1. Three days later the Grays faced a hot Metro Loons team with Bub Lovas throwing a complete game shutout and a 8-0 win at Lighted Field.

The following Sunday the Grays hosted a hot New Market team who came into Anoka with an iron nine lineup and no motivation and the Grays put up 20 in five innings for a 20-0 shutout. Dustin Wolf had a four hit game and the Grays smashed seven doubles, including two each from Joey Olson and Taylor Nelson.

Five days later the Grays visited the friendly confines of Greenfield Park and the Capital City Cannons putting up a 30 piece with Olson and Mark Von Ruden each tying the Grays single game record for RBIs in a game with 7. Casey Van Krevelen and Olson also homered in the game. Ryan Bruns doubled twice and had four hits, also with 4 hits were Olson and Van Krevelen. Michael Crane scored four times. Ben Schroeder had a perfect game going into the last inning when he finally gave up a hit. The third time this season a Grays pitcher had a no-hitter going into the last inning. So not only has the offense been booming the pitching has been keeping others quiet.

The rest of the month was more down to earth in a 10-5 win in a rematch verses Metro and a tough pitchers duel with the RC Rockets in a 3-1 win to top off the month of June.

Minnoka currently sits in first place in the competitive North Division at 12-1 with five very important games left. Two verses Rockford, rematches verses St Louis Park and Saint Michael and a Sunday matchup against Tonka Bay to close out the home schedule. All games will be tough and the league will be watching as all games have significance going into the last weeks of the regular season and teams are jockeying for playoff seeding and importance.

Let’s hope some of that June carries over into July and August.

MINNOKA GRAYS BASEBALL CLUB
CASTLE FIELD - 600 CASTLE FIELD BLVD, ANOKA MN 55303