One could look at the second half of the Minnoka Grays’ season as a disappointment, but then you’re probably not much of a baseball fan — and might not know much about sports. If you haven’t heard by now, the Grays fell short of making history with a four-peat as Class AAA champions in the Federal League. The Rosemount Pipers first defeated the Grays 3-1 on Opening Weekend of the playoffs. The following weekend, the two teams met again in the championship game, where the Pipers prevailed 7-5 to leave the Grays as runners-up in 2026.

But the real story here is that the Grays never gave up.
 

Minnoka wrapped up the regular season at 17-1, winning the division for the sixth consecutive season and entering the Class AAA bracket as the No. 1 seed. They handled a tough Elko team 10-0 behind a masterpiece from Bub Lovas. The next day, however, the Grays fell to the Pipers, suffering their first opening-weekend playoff loss since 2001. To reach the championship game, the Grays would have to battle their way through the losers’ bracket — and the gauntlet awaiting them was anything but easy.
 

The following Thursday, the Grays faced a scrappy St. Louis Park squad. Backed by a one-hitter from Jack and Taylor Nelson, the baby blues rolled to an 11-0 victory. Their reward? A Saturday afternoon showdown with longtime rivals and friends, the East Metro Mammoth.
 

Once again, Bub Lovas was exceptional, tossing a complete-game gem in a 4-1 victory. The Grays got a few hours of rest before taking on a hot Minnetonka Saints team. After surrendering a first-inning home run, Taylor Nelson settled in and quieted the Saints’ high-powered offense. Meanwhile, Matt Johnson was crushing doubles off the top of the wall, and Dustin Wolf continued driving in runs. The Grays came away with a 9-3 win, punching their ticket to a fifth consecutive Class AAA championship appearance — a streak that I believe is a Federal League record.
 

Unfortunately, just as in their first meeting with the Pipers, one bad inning would cost the Grays another shot at the Louie. With the game tied 2-2, things unraveled in the fourth inning. A few questionable walks and calls by the umpires, mixed with a costly error, helped the Pipers put together a four-run frame. It proved to be all the offense they needed. The Grays battled back, but despite their efforts, they couldn’t quite close the gap. The Pipers added another run in the bottom of the sixth before shutting the door in the seventh, securing a 7-5 victory and their first Federal League championship. The Grays collected 11 hits but spent much of the night stranding runners at second and third — a frustrating departure from a summer in which timely hitting had rarely been an issue. The heart, hustle and work from the Grays those two weekends will not be forgotten. 
 

While the quest for a four-peat came to an end, the Grays still made plenty of league and team history in 2026. Joey Olson captured the Federal League batting title with a remarkable .685 average, surpassing teammate Nick Larson’s previous record. As a team, the Grays hit .436, setting a new team record. They also tied their single-season home run mark with six while establishing new records for runs and RBIs, finishing with 226 runs scored and 207 RBIs. Matt Johnson set a new individual team record with 31 RBIs.

There were plenty of other memorable moments, too. Taylor Nelson tossed a no-hitter against St. Michael, marking the third no-hitter in Grays history. And who could forget Joey Olson and Casey Van Krevlen each tying the team’s single-game RBI record with seven apiece in the same game?
 

Perhaps the most staggering statistic of all was the Grays’ run differential. They outscored their opponents 226-28, a plus-198 margin that stands as the largest in Federal League history. In June alone, the Grays outscored their opponents 93-2. Let that sink in for a moment. An unbelievable display of offensive firepower, defensive excellence and pitching dominance.
 

Now, the Grays will turn their attention back to Arizona, heading to Phoenix at the end of October for their sixth appearance in the MSBL 35+ World Series.
 

Joining the team in the desert this year are some familiar faces and exciting newcomers: Federal League legend Jamie Steinberg, Tom Eastman of the Minnetonka Mustangs, Jordy Horsch of the Hastings Hurricanes, Kelly Coates from Aberdeen, South Dakota, and Bo Davies from Indianapolis. The Grays are also excited to reunite with Alex Gonzalez once again.
 

The Grays find themselves in a division featuring plenty of new and unfamiliar clubs, so there will be some scouting to do once they arrive. But one thing is certain: They’ll be looking to carry their momentum into the desert and continue their dune dominance. The four-peat may have slipped away, but the Grays have already put together a historic season. Now, they have one more opportunity to add another chapter to the story.