Edina falls to first-place Wayzata baseball team

Wayzata High’s baseball team came to Edina’s Braemar Park May 3 intent on moving closer to the Lake Conference title.

The Trojans achieved that goal with a 6-2 victory, but it was a hard-earned win. The Trojans used a two-run home run in the top of the seventh by Michael Reem to pad its lead to four runs. In the bottom of the seventh, relief pitcher Brady Lash shut the Hornets down.

“Edina is a talented, well-coached team with Tom Nevers and the rest of the staff,” Wayzata head coach Bobby DeWitt said after the game. “We will probably see them in the Section 6AAAA finals again this year,”

Wayzata was the undefeated team going into the 2023 section finals, but lost two games to the Hornets to lose their chance at state. Edina, making its first state appearance in 40 years, came home with a third-place trophy.

DeWitt is determined not to have a similar result this spring. His Trojans are 11-0 going into this week’s action with an 8-0 conference record. There are four games remaining for the Trojans and if they win two of them, they are the outright Lake champs. The other contenders have no room for error with Edina and Eden Prairie 4-3 and Minnetonka 3-3.

George “Doc” McIntyre led Edina in the loss to Wayzata with a three-for-three night. Wayzata starter Noah Filer was throwing fastballs. McIntyre was hitting fastballs.

The only other hits for Edina were one each from shortstop Jackson Nevers and first baseman Michael Simonson.

Earlier in the week, Edina played one of its best games of the season in a 10-5 victory over Eden Prairie.

Edina had nine hits in the game, including two each from Jack McCoy, Peter Sullivan, Reid LaFrenz and McIntyre. Simonson also had a hit.

Charlie Moore started on the mound for Edina before Kade Chrysler and Blake Schultz worked in relief. Schultz got credit for the win.

The Hornets played Maple Grove in a non-conference game and lost a slugfest 10-9. McIntyre and catcher Owen Hatch each had two hits for Edina. Simonson and Dylan Curme each had one hit. The Hornets did more watching than swinging as they drew a season-high 12 walks in the ballgame.

With Jackson Nevers returning recently from a stint in Junior hockey, Edina’s infield has stabilized with Hatch behind the plate, Simonson at first base, Sullivan at second, Nevers at short and McIntyre at third. McCoy and Curme anchor the outfield will veteran presence.

Next for the Hornets is a 6:30 p.m. Lake Conference road game against Hopkins Friday, May 10. Edina faces Minneapolis Southwest at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 13, at Braemar.