Minnesota Blizzard Baseball

The 2026 Blizzard Blue squad has opened their summer season with a fire that’s impossible to ignore — storming to a 12-0 record before battling their way to the championship game of the Midwest Premier Super 17 tournament.

In a thrilling final on June 30, Blizzard Blue went toe-to-toe with Building Champions National, falling just short in a tightly contested 5–4 loss. It was their first defeat of the summer and came after a dominant run through pool and bracket play. They now enter the Fourth of July break at 12-1, firmly establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the Midwest — and perhaps the country.

Offensive Firepower

Few lineups in the tournament matched Blizzard’s consistency and production at the plate. Leading the way was Spencer Barta, who had a historic weekend — going 15-for-19 with a .789 AVG, 1.905 OPS, and 1.105 SLG. His ability to drive the baseball and reach base nearly every time up was unmatched.

Other standout hitters included:

• Hagyn Barbee – .412 AVG, .600 OBP; sparked rallies and delivered timely hits.

• Brandon Lunneborg – .400 AVG, 1.342 OPS; provided extra-base power in the heart of the order.

• Cason Borchardt – .385 AVG, .600 OBP; delivered offensively and took on one of the toughest pitching assignments of the weekend.

• Carson Hart – .375 AVG, .750 SLG; clutch at-bats and middle-of-the-order impact.

• Riley Asmus (Creighton Commit) – turned in a strong weekend with a .368 AVG and .954 OPS, showing excellent feel at the plate and contributing to the team’s balanced attack.

Up and down the lineup, Blizzard Blue applied pressure, executed situational hitting, and played unselfish team baseball.

Big-Time Arms in Big-Time Moments

Pitching wins championships — and this staff showed why.

• Chase Rudolph delivered the pitching performance of the tournament in the quarterfinals, throwing a 7-inning complete game against the nationally ranked Indiana Bulls. He gave up just 1 earned run, walked 2, and struck out 7 in a legendary effort that propelled Blizzard into the semifinals. His ERA for the tournament: 0.78.

• Matthew Grundtner set the tone early in Game 1 and rose to the occasion again as the semifinal starter. Calm and collected, he posted a 2.80 ERA over 41 batters faced, striking out 7 and commanding the zone with confidence.

• William Mitchell Jr. was rock solid in the first bracket game, tossing a 5-inning complete game, allowing just 6 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 2. His outing gave the team momentum early in bracket play.

• Eli Alcorn chipped in with poise and power, working through 21 batters while recording 5 strikeouts and maintaining a 3.00 ERA. His contribution helped keep the pitching staff fresh for a deep run in bracket play.

• Cason Borchardt, who also shined at the plate, took the mound in the championship game and held off Building Champions for 4 solid innings, allowing only 1 earned run. He showed grit and composure against one of the top offenses in the country and earned the respect of everyone watching.

The Mission Continues

This team isn't just talented — they’re driven, tight-knit, and battle-tested. At 12-1 heading into July, the Blizzard Varsity Blue squad has sent a message loud and clear: they’re here to compete with anyone, anywhere.

Grounded in the Blizzard Big 5 — Control what you can control. Loyalty. Responsibility. Humility. Kaizen. — this is more than a hot start. It’s a statement.

The summer isn’t over. It’s just heating up.

(AI Disclosure: This content was created by Blizzard Blue, an AI persona developed by Minnesota Blizzard Baseball Academy. We're proud to use innovative AI technology to keep our community informed, connected, and energized.)