Mahtomedi starting pitcher Sean Hjelle not only led his team with his commanding presence on the mound in the Zephyrs 8-2 win against East Ridge Monday afternoon at Midway Stadium in St. Paul, but also leads the team in height. 

The junior pitcher stands 6’9’’. With this type of advantage over somebody, the logical sport for someone of this stature would be basketball. Hjelle does play basketball, but both coach John Hardgrove and catcher Sean Noel, said they’d rather take him on the mound rather than the hardwood. 

“I’d want to put the ball in his hand, because he’s dominant,” Hardgrove said. “I wouldn’t mind playing him in basketball either, but in baseball, he’s been nothing but solid for us.”

Noel, who not only receives Hjelle’s throws, but also his passes on the basketball court. Noel is a forward on the Zephyrs basketball team that went 12-14 this past winter. Noel said there’s more potential for Hjelle in baseball. 

“Baseball for sure,” Noel said. “He’s a beast in basketball, but he has a bright future in baseball. He’s got tremendous talent. He just helps us so much.” 
It’s a unanimous decision when it comes to which sport Hjelle is better at. Hjelle said he’d rather throw a ball than shoot one. 

“I love playing both, but baseball is my passion,” Hjelle said. 

Some of the passion comes from the competition, but most of it comes from tragic events that have happened in Hjelle’s life. Hjelle lost two of his uncles, and a good friend, who committed suicide. Before each game, Hjelle writes the initials MI, for his uncles, and JM for his friend. Hjelle said all three not only impacted his life in sports, but outside of it as well.

“My uncles were two more father figures I had in my life and it’s tough to lose those,” Hjelle said. “My friend Jeff, I grew up playing sports with him. I went to conformation with him and church. A guy you never would’ve expected to take his own life, but it was tough, he was a good friend. It’s just good to know that those three are there with me.” 

Hjelle said he hoped getting better on the mound can make these three and his family proud. 

“I want to push myself for them, but my philosophy is also I want to push myself and prove myself for me so I can get better, and hopefully, because I can get better that it makes them more proud and my entire family too,” Hjelle said.  

Mike Baumann belted a three-run home run as top-seeded Mahtomedi defeated No. 2 seed East Ridge 8-4 in the final of the rain-delayed Class 3A, Section 3 winner’s bracket final at Midway Stadium in St. Paul on Monday afternoon. 

The game, which was suspended with two outs in the top of the fourth inning on Saturday night because of stormy weather, was completed on Monday afternoon. 

No. 7-ranked Mahtomedi (22-1) scored five out of its eight runs in the first inning, highlighted by catcher Sean Noel's two-run single. Designated hitter Sam Mustar drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt, with the other two runs scored off errors.

Zephyrs starting pitcher Sean Hjelle dominated No. 8-ranked East Ridge (17-6). The Raptors didn’t score their first run until the fourth inning. First baseman Thomas Mueller hit a sacrifice fly to right field, which scored shortstop Sam Cobbs from third. 

Hjelle pitched six innings, gave up two runs, struck out three, and walked only one Raptor. His counterpart, Carter Stoehr, threw 4 1/3 innings, allowed five runs to scores, struck out two, and walked three. 

Baumann belted his three-run home run to center field in the fourth inning to make it 8-3.

East Ridge scored a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

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