Photo by Eric Viccaro/Pipestone County Star. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton third baseman Brayden Chandler crosses home plate for a run during a baseball game against Hayfield in the Class A consolation bracket on Thursday at Bob Cross Field in Sauk Rapids.

SAUK RAPIDS — After a strong postseason run and earning a spot in the Class A State Tournament for the first time in program history, the No. 7 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton baseball team’s season came to an end with an 8-1 win over sixth-seeded Hayfield in the consolation bracket Thursday morning. 

The Knights were to play in the consolation final after their win over the Vikings, yet inclement weather cancelled the matchup, along with the tournament’s third place game. 

“It [the season] was great. You had your ups and downs, and I learned a lot as a head coach for my second year,” RTR head coach Danny Moffitt said. “I wouldn’t change it any other way because the things that happened got us to the state [tournament].” 

Led by a group of seven seniors, RTR qualified for the state tournament after winning the team’s first Section 3A championship in May after earning the three-seed. 

The Knights defeated two top-seeds in Murray County Central and Dawson-Boyd from each subsection along the way, and claimed the title after two doubleheader wins over No. 2 Yellow Medicine East in the championship. 

“It was a good note [to end on], especially for the seniors and how we made history for RTR baseball for going to state for the first time,” Moffitt said. 

Second-seeded New Ulm Cathedral defeated RTR on Wednesday in the state quarterfinals 6-2, as Hayfield suffered a 2-1 loss to No. 3 South Ridge, to meet the Knights in the consolation bracket on Thursday at Bob Cross Field. 

Brayden Chandler went 3 for 4 at the plate, including an RBI double to center field in the fourth inning, while Eli Determan finished his high school pitching career with a dominant 10 strikeouts and spent the entire game in the circle. He also threw four walks while allowing just three hits and one earned run. 

“I think the nerves got out. We played RTR baseball like we’re used to, and the guys were ready to play today,” Moffitt said. “Our bats woke up again and we were focused. Eli on the mound was excellent today. Everybody played good baseball.” 

RTR’s hitting was contagious throughout the lineup, finishing the game with 12 hits and no errors, to the Vikings’ two errors. Nine different Knights tallied at least one hit. 

Both the Knights and Vikings scored a run in the opening inning before RTR built its lead up with four runs in the fourth inning, and sealed the win with another two in the final frame while simultaneously holding Hayfield scoreless for six straight innings. 

“We were on cue,” Moffitt said. “Everybody was talking again, paying attention and just doing the thing that we’ve always done that got us here.” 

Gabe Elton hit a two-run RBI double on a ground ball to left field to send home Isaac Janish and Gavin Schreurs to get the fourth inning surge started. Chandler hit his double directly after, scoring Elton, and ran home from third after a Determan sacrifice fly to left field. 

RTR finishes its 2025 season 20-8 overall, a significant improvement from its 14-11 campaign last year.  

“I think we got a taste of it [competition at state], and now they got that experience,” Moffitt said. “I can’t wait [to see] what these juniors and sophomores do next year. I think we will be pretty focused and try to be ready to go back up next year.”  

Starting the season with six straight wins, the Knights never lost more than two games in a row and recorded six victories by 10 or more runs. 

RTR finishes with an overall .327 batting average, and Chandler led with 41 hits and 13 doubles. Tyler Wichmann had a team-high three home runs over the year. 

Determan spent the most time in the pitching circle with 49 innings, and finishes with a 5-2 record and 59 strikeouts. 

Wichmann follows closely behind, also with 59 strikeouts through his 43 innings on the season. 

RTR graduates a large group of seniors in Determan, Elton, Sean Griesse, Chase Christianson, Drew Chandler, Seth Cowell and Brooks Hess. 

“This is my second year and I had them as juniors. They are all-around great kids,” Moffitt said. “This program is going in the right direction, and I’m so glad those are the kids that got it going in the right direction.”