Monarchs strong in first third of the 2024 season

Rain throughout the month of June has limited action for the Minnetonka Monarchs amateur baseball team.

“We’re 11-3 now,” manager Adam Goethke said after a 3-0 win over the Victoria Vics June 26 at Victoria’s Poppitz Field. “I would rather be 21-3.”

The cancellation of games due to rain has a silver lining for the Monarchs, who are able to have their starting pitchers go deeper into games. Staff ace Wyatt Nelson, a Hopkins High graduate, is a good example. He pitched eight innings of the game at Victoria, allowing two hits and striking out 12 hitters.

“Wyatt has not given up an earned run all season,” Goethke noted. With a 96-mile-per-hour fastball as his bread-and-butter pitch, Nelson has worked to develop his off-speed stuff the first month and a half of the town team season.

Jake Marsh, the Wayzata High and Bethel University graduate, was ready in relief at Victoria. “Jake pitched a 1-2-3 inning,” Goethke said.

Shortstop Jarod Wandersee, a Minnetonka High graduate, led the Monarchs’ offense with a pair of doubles.

“Jarod works for the Minnesota Twins, so when they’re in town, he is not with us,” Goethke said. “When we don’t have Jarod, Jack Hanson plays shortstop. Jack can play any of the four infield positions.”

The trip to Victoria was nostalgic for Goethke. His grandfather was once a pitcher for the Vics.

“I have always liked the vibe at the Victoria ballpark,” Goethke said.

He also liked the fact that the Monarchs beat a good team. “One of the guys from Victoria told me that was their first loss this season,” Goethke said.

Both Minnetonka and Victoria qualified for the State Class B Tournament last summer, but on the eve of the tournament Victoria was disqualified for having two ineligible players on the roster. Those players failed to complete the required paperwork.

Looking toward the playoff portion of the season, which begins in late July and runs until Labor Day, Goethke likes the way the Monarchs’ pitching sets up.

In addition to Nelson and Marsh, he has two Wayzata High graduates - lefty Thomas Skoro and righthander Sam Schlecht. Veteran lefty Brandon Broxey can still eat up innings. Veteran righthander Ben Hughes is one of the best money pitchers in Minnesota amateur baseball. Donny Erdall, Minnetonka’s all-time leader in strikeouts and wins, is on the roster, but had not pitched yet as of June 28. Minnetonka High graduate Evan Maass has rejoined the staff this year as another righthander. John Skoro, Thomas’ younger brother, is a new addition.

The Millers are set up nicely for another big offensive year with veterans Wandersee, Hanson, Voelker, Mike Davis, Ethan Roe, Blaine Rutledge, Steve Schmitz, Joe Shallenberger and Nick Thimsen.

Rutledge and Shallenberger aren’t always available due to family commitments, but both add experience and power. Shallenberger is Minnetonka’s all-time leader in RBIs, doubles and home runs and is a three-time State Tournament MVP.