Huskies baseball heads to the big leagues

If you build it, they will want to play there. What kid doesn’t fantasize about playing in a Major League ballpark? Come April 20, 2024, the Owatonna High School baseball team will play at Target Field against Red Wing.

“It’s just such a cool opportunity getting to play at Target Field, where you’ve been watching your favorite team play your whole life growing up,” said senior captain Noah Truelson. He’s gone to many games with his dad and anticipates stepping between the lines. “I’m going to try to take it all in but also play a good game that day,” he said.

Truelson got a small taste of the field through youth baseball.

“We got to walk around the track. I remember doing that a couple of times. You get to be on the field that all those professional athletes get to play on every day. For a second you kind of feel like one,” he said.

Senior Ethan Armstrong remembers going to a few games at the Metrodome.

“But when Target Field went up, me and my grandpa, yearly we’d get tickets to go and watch a game behind home plate or behind the dugout,” he said.

“That’ll be really exciting. It’ll be a different atmosphere than we’re used to. I’m sure we’ll get a few more fans than usual there for the game because of the cool experience. I’m sure a lot of people want to come. All the players will be really hyped up and excited for it,” said Armstrong.

“We can’t wait,” proclaimed Huskies’ Head Coach Tate Cummins. “This brings excitement to our program. Our current players will get the opportunity to play in a big-league park. One of the best in all of Major League Baseball.”

“Coach Cummins brought us captains in a week before and told us to keep it on the down-low, but we were pretty excited when we heard about it,” said senior Mitch Seykora.

Truelson thought the meeting might be about something for the winter.

“He sat us down and said we had the great opportunity to play a game at Target Field. We were all amazed,” he said.

Like father, like son

“My dad got to play in the Metrodome a few times. So, that’s pretty cool, knowing that I get to play on another professional field like he did. Baseball goes back a long way in our family,” said Seykora.

I recall a game at the Metrodome in 1999 against Northfield. Owatonna won 14-11. The scoreboard wasn’t being used and fans continually approached me to check the score. More recent special appearances include U.S. Bank Stadium in 2017 and Siebert Field at the University of Minnesota in 2016.

Cummins said this is a newer tradition with the Twins.

“They’ve been a tremendous partner with our youth baseball. This caught our eye, and we were on the watch. With some assistance from Mark Arjes from Youth 1^st in Owatonna, we were able to communicate our desire to be a part of this at some point. We are very grateful that it’s going to line up for two great baseball communities next spring,” said Cummins.

Arjes said the connection began in 2010.

“The Twins Community Fund became a great partner for the Owatonna Huskies Bullpen Club, funding field improvements, coaching subsidies, equipment, etc. As Youth 1^st grew an emphasis on sportsmanship in youth events, they supported us by providing free tickets to Twins games and having the kids and coaches participate in pregame parades around the field,” said Arjes.

Three thousand players were hosted at Target Field this year with another 1,200 at CHS Field in St. Paul.

“It’s truly a dream come true for many of us. It’s as good as it gets,” added Cummins.

The high school game will follow a Twins’ game on April 20.