There's Always Next Year...
North Stars
If you're interested in joining the 2027 North Stars, please email [email protected]
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Stars Fall to Expos in Round 2. Season Ends Early. There's Always Next Year.
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The 2026 season is officially over. The North Stars saw their season come to an end Sunday at Alimagnet Park, falling 3-0 to the #2 seed Expos in the second round of the TCMABL playoffs.
It was a tough one. The Stars outhit the Expos 6-5 and played six scoreless innings of competitive baseball. The pitching kept the Expos in check. The defense wasn't perfect, but it was good enough to keep the game within reach. The problem was on the other side of the ball. The Stars had opportunities, but couldn't push a run across all day. Six hits weren't good enough. The Expos finally broke through in the seventh scoring three times to take the lead. The Stars offense couldn't find a rally, and just like that the season ends with a 3-0 loss.
Disappointing? Absolutely. But this season was still a step forward and there's nothing to hang heads about. After finishing 8-14 and losing in the first round of last seasons playoffs, the Stars improved to 12-10 in 2026, earned the #3 seed, won their opening playoff game against the Bats, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. This club also proved they can still compete with some of the leagues best teams, picking up wins over the defending champion Coyotes, the Sea Donkeys, sweeping the Legends and Tomcats, and pushing the Expos to their limits in 3 close games this season.
The next step is pretty simple.
Turn more of those close games into wins.
Keep working to clean up the mistakes.
Finish and win innings.
Get the big hit when the opportunity is there.
And stop giving away the little moments that eventually become big moments.
The Stars will have some decisions to make over the offseason. Who's coming back? Who wants another season? Can the club add another bat or two? Is there another arm out there that can help? Can the defense get a little cleaner?
Those questions will be answered over the next several months. For now though, it's time to put the uniforms away. The bats go back in the bags. The cleats get cleaned. The group chat gets a little quieter. The offseason begins, but eventually, everybody starts believing again. That's baseball. The 2026 season didn't end the way the Stars wanted, but it was a step forward. And we'll take that.
See you next spring!
#norfstarz
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Stars Cruise Past Bats, Set to Take On #2 Seed Expos in Round 2.
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The 2026 TCMABL playoffs are officially underway.
The Stars opened the postseason Saturday at Alimagnet Park with a convincing 10-1 first round victory over the Bats, pounding out 18 hits and putting together one of their more complete performances of the season when it mattered most.
After a scoreless first few innings, the Stars offense finally got rolling and never really looked back. The lineup produced up and down the order, with 18 hits and 10 runs as the Stars steadily pulled away and put the game out of reach. The pitching was just as important. Travis Warren turned in seven strong innings, allowing just three hits and one unearned run while striking out seven, as the Stars kept the Bats offense under control throughout the game.
The win sends the Stars into Round 2 against the #2 seed Expos, giving the club a chance to settle some unfinished business from earlier this season. The Expos swept the Stars in June, but both games were decided by a combined two runs, a morning 4-3 walk off loss and a 2-1 loss in the afternoon session.
Both clubs know what's at stake. Win and keep playing into next weekend. Lose and think about what could have been...
For the Stars, the formula remains simple.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Keep bringing the PLAYOFF energy!
And keep playing baseball.
See you tomorrow!
#norfstarz
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Stars split with Babycakes to close out Regular Season. No. 3 Seed and Playoff Baseball Awaits. Round 1 - Stars vs #6 seed Bats, Saturday.
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The regular season is now complete. The North Stars are going to the playoffs!
The Stars split their final two games of the regular season with the Babycakes Sunday, dropping the first one by a 7-2 score before bouncing back with a convincing 14-4 victory in the late game.
The opener was a frustrating one. The Stars struggled to find much offensive rhythm while the Babycakes took advantage of their opportunities. The Stars collected seven hits, but couldn't string enough of them together to turn baserunners into runs. A few defensive mistakes also extended innings and gave the Babycakes extra chances, and they were able to turn those opportunities into a 7-2 victory.
Fortunately, there was still one game left. And the Stars responded. The afternoon game saw the offense come alive, piling up 14 runs on 14 hits with contributions throughout the lineup. The Stars jumped out early and kept the pressure on, turning the final game of the regular season into a much more complete performance. The pitching did its part as well, holding the Babycakes to four runs as the Stars closed out the schedule with a 14-4 W.
A split wasn't exactly the goal, but responding after the morning loss and closing the regular season out with a convincing win was a good way for the club to head into the postseason on a high note.
The regular season ends with the Stars at 12-10, good enough for the #3 seed in the TCMABL playoffs. Now it gets real.
Last year, the Stars were eliminated in the first round by the Tomcats. This year, they'll get another chance to make a deeper run, opening the postseason against the #6 seed Bats on Saturday, August 15th at Alimagnet Park in Burnsville.
These two teams know each other. The Stars and Bats split their earlier doubleheader this season with the Bats taking the opener 5-3 before the Stars answered back winning 10-3 in the finale. All time in the regular season, the Stars are 5-7 against the Bats, and the Stars eliminated the Bats in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in a back and forth battle, ending with a 13-12 final score.
So there's no mystery heading into Saturday. They've played each other. They know what the other side is capable of. Now there's a playoff game on the line. Win, and keep going. Lose, and start cleaning out the dugout until next year. That's playoff baseball.
For the Stars, the formula remains simple.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Bring the PLAYOFF energy!
And keep playing baseball for a few more weeks.
See you Saturday!
#norfstarz
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Giants Take Two From Stars. Babycakes Close Out Regular Season.
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Sometimes baseball can be a tough. One inning can erase six great ones. One rally can change an afternoon. And sometimes the final score doesn't tell the whole story.
That was the case Sunday as the North Stars dropped both games to a good Giants club, falling 5-0 in the opener before a 10-3 loss in the finale.
The morning game was all about pitching and defense. Adrian Waters was outstanding, matching the Giants through six scoreless innings and giving the Stars every opportunity to earn a win. With neither club able to break through, it looked like one swing might decide the game. Unfortunately for the Stars, that moment came in the seventh when the Giants finally scratched across the day's first run on a bases loaded hit by pitch before delivering the knockout blow with a grand slam, turning a scoreless battle into a 5-0 final. The Stars were held hitless in the loss, wasting one of Waters strongest outings of the season.
The afternoon game offered the Stars a chance to respond. After falling behind 2-0, the Stars erased the deficit with a three run third to take the lead. But the Giants never let the momentum settle, answering with a run in the bottom of the thrid to tie it back up, before gradually pulling away late to finish off the 10-3 victory and the sweep.
Getting swept is obviously never the goal. Sunday's games were a reminder of how quickly momentum can change, and how good you need to be to beat the best teams in this league. The opener stayed scoreless for six innings before one swing broke it open. The finale saw the Stars erase an early deficit and briefly take the lead before the Giants answered right back. Against good teams, the margin for error is small.
The losses drop the Stars to 11-9 on the season with one regular season weekend series remaining.
Next up are the Babycakes. The Babycakes joined the TCMABL in 2022, but Sunday's matchup marks just the second regular season meeting between the two clubs. The only previous series came in 2024 when the Stars got both W's and the sweep. While history between the teams is limited, Sunday's games offer One Last Chance for both clubs to build some momentum before the postseason begins the following weekend.
For the Stars, the formula remains simple.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Finish the regular season on a high note.
And head into the postseason playing your best baseball.
See you Sunday!
#norfstarz
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Heat and a Long Ride Home, Saints Sweep Stars. Giants On Deck.
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If anyone was looking for baseball weather Sunday, they found something closer to a sauna.
With temps climbing in the upper 90's on what felt like the hottest Sunday of the Minnesota summer, the North Stars made the trip east to Stillwater High School hoping to avenge last seasons sweep by the Saints. Instead, they found themselves making the drive home with another pair of losses, falling 2-1 in extra innings in the opener before dropping the afternoon game by a 9-4 score.
The morning session turned into an old fashioned pitchers duel. Austin Nordby gave the club a chance to win striking out 11 Saints over six innings while allowing just one earned run. But the Stars offense never realy found a rhythm only scratching across only 1 run. It stayed tied through seven before the Saints finally walked it off in the bottom of the eigth, escaping with a 2-1 victory in one of the tighter games the Stars have played all season.
The afternoon game started differently. The Saints built a 4-0 lead before the Stars were able to finally get a run in the fifth. The Saints added four more in the top of the sixth to open the lead, and an already hot afternoon became an even steeper climb. The Stars did answer with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning behind key hits from Hunter Weaver and Will Ferguson, but for much of the day the energy never really matched the moment. In the oppressive heat, it felt like the club was simply trying to survive and get through the afternoon rather than seize it. The Saints added one more in the seventh and finished off the W, winning 9-4 to complete the sweep.
The sweep stings. Getting swept is never fun. Getting swept while playing in temps that had both dugouts searching for every bit of shade and water they could find didn't make it any easier. The losses drop the Stars to 11-7 on the season, but there's little time to dwell on a rough Sunday.
Next up are the Giants. One of the original TCMABL organizations dating back to the leagues founding in 1997, the Giants have been a fixture in the league for nearly three decades. The all time regular season matchups between the Stars and Giants have been competitive with the Giants holding a 7-5 advantage, but since 2022 the clubs have split eight regular season meetings at four wins a piece. The Giants also have a playoff victory over the Stars in 2022. History says these games are usually close. Sunday should be no different.
For the Stars, the formula remains simple.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Earn every inning.
And bring the energy back.
See you Sunday!
#norfstarz
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Bolt Cutters, Brooms, and Baseball: Stars Sweep Colts, Saints Await
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Sometimes the biggest challenge comes before the first pitch.
The Stars arrived at Missile Park on Sunday morning ready to play...but found themselves locked out of the field with a key nowhere to be found. After a slight delay and getting approval to do what needed to be done, the bolt cutters came out, the lock came off, and baseball was finally underway.
Turns out getting onto the field was tougher than beating the Colts. The Stars rolled to a pair of five inning mercy rule victories, winning 21-0 in the opener before completing the sweep with a 15-5 victory in the finale.
The opener was never in doubt. The Stars scored twice in the first, erupted for seven in the second, and never looked back, piling up 21 runs on 13 hits, 8 walks, 3 HBP, and a few free outs, in one of their most complete performances of the season. Quincy Shultz Perry finished 4 for 5 with a home run, five RBI, and five runs scored. Dmitry Rock Gilbertson got hot and added three hits and three RBI, James Rush drove in four, and Sam Nelson homered as well, as the offense overwhelmed the Colts. Tyler Carson was equally dominant on the mound in his first start of the season, tossing a shortened five inning complete game one hit shutout while striking out nine.
The finale was a little more competitive early, as the Colts scratched across five runs, but once the Stars offense got rolling, it quickly turned into another runaway. Sam Nelson earned the win while striking out seven, and the Stars scored 15 runs. Patient at bats, combined with some inconsistent Colts pitching and defense, kept traffic on the bases all afternoon as the Stars collected nine hits, another eight walks, got hit by three more pitches, and capitalized on nearly every opportunity.
The sweep improves the North Stars to 11-5 on the season and keeps the club in the thick of the division race - three games back of the division leading Donks and right on the heels of the second place Expos.
Next up the Stars venture out to Stillwater for a matchup with the Saints at Stillwater High School. The Saints enter the weekend at 8-8 in their third TCMABL season. The two clubs have met just once since the Saints joined the league, with the Saints taking both games in last year's only meeting. Sunday gives the Stars their first opportunity to flip the script.
For the Stars, the formula remains unchanged.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Earn it - stay aggressive and locked in.
Let the scoreboard do the talking.
See you Sunday!
#norfstarz
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Stars Split with Bats Under Smoky Skies, Colts Up Next
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Wednesday night's makeup doubleheader at Siebert Field had a little bit of everything. Heat. Smoke. Baseball.
Wildfire smoke from northern Minnesota settled over Minneapolis throughout the evening, leaving Siebert Field wrapped in a hazy glow. It made for a pretty unique backdrop under the lights...even if breathing wasn't quite as enjoyable as the view was. Still, there's never really a bad night to play at Siebert.
After more than three and a half weeks without an actual game, the Stars looked like a team shaking off some rust.
The opener never quite got going. The offense struggled to find much rhythm, the energy just wasn't there, and the Bats took advantage in a 5-3 win. The Stars had their chances, stranding runners on second and third in the fourth, then again in the seventh loading the bases and scratching across a run, but ultimately leaving the bases loaded with the tying runs stranded in scoring position to end the game. After such a long layoff, it simply felt like the Stars were trying to remember what game speed looked like.
The nightcamp saw the Stars get off to a slow start again and looked like it could be a repeat of the opener, but this time the club's bats finally woke up late. After scratching across a pair of early runs, the offense was held in check in the middle innings, then finally broke things open with an eight run sixth inning, turning a close game into a 10-3 victory and earning the split. It was a much better all around effort, with contributions up and down the lineup, cleaner baseball, and the kind of energy that had been missing in the opener.
A split wasn't the goal, but after an extended break, ending the night with a convincing win and finding some rhythm again felt like a step in the right direction.
Now the Stars head to Missile Park in St Bonifacius on Sunday for a doubleheader against the Colts. The Colts entered the TCMABL in 2023 following the folding of the Tigers organization, and since then the matchup has belonged to the North Stars. The Stars are 4-0 all time against the Colts and will look to keep that streak alive this weekend.
Of course, baseball doesn't care much about history or current standings.
For the Stars, the formula yet remains unchanged.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Finish the monents.
And keep proving this team belongs.
See you Sunday!
#norfstarz
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Sweepers Forfeit, Stars Turn Attention to Wednesday Night at Siebert
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The North Stars were supposed to spend Sunday playing a doubleheader against the Sweepers. Instead....they got two wins without anyone throwing a pitch. The Sweepers were unable to field enough players for Sunday's scheduled games at Frank Quilici Field in Minneapolis, resuliting in a pair of forfeits. Officially the standings will show two wins for the Stars. Unofficially....we're choosing to believe they were just too scared to play us. Can anyone prove otherwise? Didn't think so...
While nobody ever wants to win that way, the forfeits improve the Stars to 8-4 on the season and keep them firmly in the hunt in the American Division as the second half of the schedule is underway. The unexpected day off also means the Stars haven't actually played a game since dropping a pair of heartbreakers to the Expos over 3 weeks ago. The club jumps right back into meaningful baseball Wednesday night when they make up the rainout series against the Bats that mother nature washed away back on June 28th. The makeup doubleheader will be played under the lights at Siebert Field on the University of Minnesota campus, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00pm.
The Bats enter Wednesday at 2-10 and riding a 6 game losing streak, but if baseball has taught us anything, it's that standings don't win games. The Stars know better than to overlook anyone, especially after an extended layoff.
For the Stars, the formula remains unchanged.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Actually play baseball this time.
And keep the momentum rolling.
See you Wednesday night at Siebert!
#norfstarz
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Stars Send Shultz Perry and Carson to 2026 TCMABL All-Star Game
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The North Stars will once again have two players representing the club at the TCMABL All-Star Game, as Quincy Shultz Perry and Tyler Carson have earned this years nod to the 2026 squad.
Back to Back - for both players, it marks their second consecutive All-Star selections. The duo has played a major role in helping the Stars to a 6-4 start, and keeping the club in contention in the American Division race heading into the second half of the season.
For Shultz Perry, the selection comes after another scorching first half at the plate, entering the break batting .542 with a .621 on base percentage, 13 hits, 4 doubles, and 3 RBI. Weather it's delivering a clutch hit or grinding out a tough at bat, he's once again been one of the league's toughest outs.
Carson has made his impact in just about every way imaginable. At the plate, he's hitting .417 with 15 hits and 8 RBI while providing steady defense all over the field. He's also been a reliable arm out of the bullpen, posting a 0.00 ERA with 5 K's in three relief appearances, including earning his first career save on Opening Day.
The annual TCMABL All-Star Game will be played Tuesday, July 7, at Bob Bunnell Field / Aligmagnet Park in Burnsville, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00pm.
Congratulations to Quincy and Tyler on another well earned honor, and good luck representing the Stars!
#norfstarz
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Rain Wins, Stars and Bats Wait. Holiday Break Before Sweepers Series
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The schedule said baseball. The weather disagreed.
Heavy rain pounded most of the Twin Cities Sunday morning, including in St Paul at Arlington / Arkwright Field, leaving the field unplayable and forcing the postponement of both games against the Bats before the day's first pitch.
No pitches.
No hits.
No questionable strike zones.
Just a lot of puddles.
The games will be made up later this season on a date yet to be determined. The rainout also sends the Stars into an extended break, as the TCMABL has no games scheduled this coming weekend in observance of the Independence Day holiday.
During the holiday break, the annual TCMABL All-Star Game takes center stage on Tuesday July 7th, with first pitch scheduled for 7pm at Bob Bunnell Field / Alimagnet Park in Burnsville. The Stars will send two players to represent the club, with those players expected to be announced in the next few days.
The Stars return to regular season action again on Sunday July 12th against the Sweepers who visit Frank Quilici Field in Minneapolis still searching for their first win of 2026, entering the matchup at 0-9-1, after finishing 3-19 in their inagural season a year ago. Ironically, the Sweepers first ever TCMABL opponent was the North Stars who welcomed them to the league by sweeping them in 3-0 and 10-0 victories on Opening Day last season.
Of course, records only matter until the first pitch.
For the Stars, the formula remains unchanged.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Enjoy the holiday weekend.
And come back ready to play some baseball.
Happy Fourth of July!
See you on the 12th.
#norfstarz
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Stars Swept by Expos, Look to Bounce Back Against Bats
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For the first time in 2026, the North Stars got swept.
The Expos took both games Sunday in Eagan at Goat Hill Park, winning 4-3 and 2-1 in a pair of tightly contested games that could have easily gone the other direction.
The opener was particularly tough to swallow. With the game locked at 2 going into the 7th, the Stars would scratch across a run to take the lead 3-2 in the top half - only 3 outs away from a huge divisional win. Instead, in the home half the Expos would load the bases on a walk, a hit, and then another walk, before delivering a one out walk off double to score the tying and winning runs, escaping with a 4-3 victory.
The afternoon game started rough for the Stars and featured more frustration for the club. Two walks and two hit batters to the first four hitters loaded the bases and gave the Expos a free run to start the game, forcing an early pitching change. Despite the rough start, the Stars battled back behind six strong innings of relief from Sam Nelson and kept the game within reach all afternoon. The offense collected eight hits, but couldn't find the timely hit they needed stranding multiple runners on base in scoring position in the afternoon 2-1 loss.
Getting swept is never fun. Getting swept by one of the leagues better teams is a litte easier to handle. The reality is the Stars were just half an inning away from earning at least a split, and a hit or two away from potential W's in both games, and then we'd be talking about a sweep in the other direction. Yet still, close only counts in horseshoes and whatever other sport people play where close counts.
Ten games into the season, the Stars sit at 6-4 and remain firmily in the mix. The challenge now is simple: How do you respond?
Next up, the Stars head to Arlington / Arkwright Field in St Paul on Sunday June 28th to take on the Bats. While the Bats enter the weekend at 2-8, history says this matchup is usually more competitive than the standings suggest. Since joining the league in 2021, the Bats hold a slight 6-4 edge in the regular season matchups. Last year however belonged to the North Stars. The Stars outscored the Bats 34-6 in a doubleheader sweep, including a 24-6 five inning victory in Game 1 and a 10-2 win in Game 2. The last time the Bats defeated the Stars came during the final week of the 2024 regular season when they swept a North Stars team that was preparing for the playoffs. One week later, the Stars got their revenge, eliminating the Bats from the post season.
For the North Stars, the formula remains unchanged.
Throw STRIKES.
Play clean defense.
Finish innings.
And prove that one rough Sunday doesn't define a season.
See you at the yard.
#norfstarz
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Stars Sweep Cats, Expos On Deck In Big Divisional Clash
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The North Stars arrived at Northeast Athletic Park in Minneapolis on Sunday with last year's sweep and playoff elimination at the hands of the Tomcats still in mind. This time, the Stars came in and took care of business.
Two wins and the sweep. 11-2 and 10-6, improving to 6-2 on the season and extending their winning streak to three games. Last year's sweep. The playoff loss. Consider at least a small portion of that debt repaid.
Game 1 belonged to Adrian Waters. The veteran right hander turned in one of his strongest outings of the year, tossing six innings while allowing just two unearned runs and striking out twelve Tomcat hitters. The game stayed tight early before the Stars broke through in the sixth with five runs, then added six more in the seventh to pull away. Tyler Carson collected two hits and drove in a run, James Rush added two hits and two RBI, and the lineup finished with 12 hits in a late breakout.
Game 2 was a back and forth battle all afternoon. The Tomcats struck first with a first inning run, but the Stars answered immediately in the bottom of the 1st. The Cats would jump ahead again in the 3rd, only for the Stars to respond with four runs of their own to take the lead. The Tomcats would not go quietly and regained the lead again the 5th, setting up the turning point. In the bottom of the 6th, the Stars erupted for five runs. With the bases loaded, Sam Nelson delivered the biggest swing of the day, ripping a bases clearing double to put the Stars ahead for good. Travis Warren and John Demgen also drove in multiple runs. The Stars showed real fight, coming from behind multiple times with the offense delivering in key spots. Austin Nordby earned the win on the bump as the Stars completed the sweep.
Eight games into the season, the Stars sit near the top of the division standings after surviving a tough opening stretch against top tier teams. But there isn't much time to celebrate. Now comes the opportunity. The reality is simple - if the Stars want to seriously contend for a division championship, this is the week.
The North Stars head to Goat Hill Park in Eagan on Sunday June 21st for a cruicial divisional doubleheader with the Expos. The Expos are good. Very good. Which is exactly why these games matter. At 7-1, the Expos sit tied atop the division with the Sea Donkeys, while the Stars trail by just one game. The Expos swept the Stars at Siebert Field in their last meeting in 2024, and the teams haven't met since.
The stakes are simple. Possible first place implications. Old history. A division rival. A chance to make a statement....
For the Stars, the formula remains unchanged.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Win the little moments.
And take advantage of the opportunity sitting right in front of them.
Should be a fun one - see you Sunday!
#norfstarz
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Stars Split with Yotes, Set Up Revenge Week vs Tomcats
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The North Stars split with the defending champion Coyotes on Sunday, but it took a full day's worth of baseball - and a little chaos to get there.
After dropping Game 1, the Stars bounced back with a split and moved to 4-2 on the seasson.
Game 1 was one they let get away early. The Coyotes scored four unearned runs over the first four innings to build a 4-0 lead, taking advantage of questionable defense and extra chances that kept innings alive. The Stars chipped back into it in the 5th, putting together a three run push to cut it to 4-3, but the Yotes answered right away in the 6th, pushing across four more runs to open the game back up and finish off an 8-3 morning win.
Game 2 was more competitive - a pitcher's duel through seven before the extra 8th inning finally saw some offense. The Stars took a 1-0 lead in the 1st, and Austin Nordby controlled the game from the mound for most of his dominating outing, holding the Yotes scoreless through six innings. The only blemish came in the 7th inning - an earned run (that maybe shouldn't have been) after a defensive miscue tied the game at 1-1. Then the 8th innning broke everything open. Quincy Shultz Perry led off with a double, Allan Bates singled, and Sam Nelson walked to load the bases. Tyler Carson followed with an RBI single, Travis Warren added a two run single, and Adrian Waters delivered the big swing - a three run Cleve bomb home run that proved to be the knock out blow. Six runs came across, and just like that the game flipped. The Coyotes pushed back late, but the Stars were able to hold on for a 7-4 afternoon win and a tough series split.
Six games into the season, the Stars are 4-2 - and it hasn't come easy. They've already faced the 2024 champion Sea Donkeys, the 2023 champion Legends, and now the 2025 champion Coyotes. Three straight championship caliber opponents to open the year.
And they've come out above .500.
Next up? The North Stars visit one of their old home stomping grounds - Northeast Athletic Park in Northeast Minneapolis, to take on the Tomcats on Sunday June 14th. These two teams have matched up pretty evenly since the Stars inagural season in 2011. The Stars hold a slight 10-8 edge in regular season play, but last year belonged to the Tomcats - a sweep in the regular season and a playoff elimination that ended the Stars 2025 season early.
The Stars haven't forgotten that.
The Tomcats enter at 3-3, but none of that really matters here. It never realy does.
For the Stars, it stays simple.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
And take a few back from the Tomcats.
See you Sunday!
#norfstarz
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North Stars Sweep Legends, Set Sights on Defending Champion Coyotes
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The North Stars entered Sunday's series against the Legends looking for an early season measuring stick. They found a broom.
The Stars improved to 3-1 on the season with a 6-1 victory in Game 1 and a back and forth 10-9 Game 2 victory completing a sweep of a good Legends club, also extending their winning streak to three games.
A steady on and off light rain lingered for most of the day, and it showed in stretches of sloppy defense and inconsistent command on the mound for both teams.
Game 1 featured another strong outing from Adrian Waters on the bump, who kept the Legends offense under control through six innings of work. The Stars scored six runs on six hits and took advantage of several Legends defensive miscues, with a four run fifth inning creating all the separation they would need to secure the morning W.
Game 2 was a different kind of fight. After falling behind 5-1 early, the Stars would battle back and break things open with a seven run fourth inning to completely swing momentum. With only five hits, the offense stayed alive through patience at the plate drawing a lot of walks and stringing together base runners, forcing the Legends to work through constant traffic on the base paths in messy conditions. Travis Warren delivered a key extra base hit to fuel a late rally. On the mound after a solid start from Austin Nordby, Joshua Agresto-Bentler took over in relief giving the Stars the length they needed to navigate the final stretch and close things out. The Legends kept pushing, but the Stars didn't break, playing solid defense to finish the game and earn the afternoon session W, completing the sweep.
Four games into the season. The North Stars sit at 3-1. Sounds pretty good so far...
Now comes the next challenge and another tough test for the club.
The defending champion Coyotes visit Van Cleve Park on Sunday June 7th. While the Yotes come into the series at 1-3, they remain one of the league's most accomplished organizations, having captured six TCMABL championships, with three of those coming in the last five seasons. This is NOT a team to sleep on or take lightly.
For the Stars, the formula remains simple.
Throw strikes.
Play clean defense.
Keep showing up in big moments.
See you Sunday!
#norfstarz
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Opening Day Split With Donkeys Sets Up Early Showdown with Legends
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The North Stars opened the 2026 season Sunday May 17th against the Sea Donkeys, and in many ways, immediately picked up right where they left off last year:
Competitive baseball.
Crooked innings.
Enough chaos to make scorekeepers question, "Did I mark that down right?"
The Stars dropped Game 1 by an 8-1 score despite a solid start from Adrian Waters and a solo homer from Quincy Schultz Perry. The offense mostly sputtered against sharp Donkey pitching and defense, managing just a handfull of hits and never really finding a rhythm. The Donks capitalized on a few defensive mistakes and extra baserunners, which unfortunately was too much for the Stars to overcome.
Game 2 was a different story.
After getting shut down offensively in game 1, the Stars came out swinging as the "visiting" team in Game 2, hanging three runs in the first inning and four more in the second before holding off repeated Sea Donkey comeback attempts for a wild 10-8 victory.
Quincy Shultz Perry stayed red hot at the plate, Sean Moriarty added a hit, 2 walks, and hit by pitch to the mix leading to 3 runs, and Sam Nelson belted a home run and drove in four runs as the offense finally looked like the group the Stars believe can compete with anybody in the league.
New addition to the 2026 club Austin Nordby earned his first win, and Tyler Carson closed things out late with a rare save as the North Stars escaped Van Cleve Park with a split against one of the TCMABL's perennial powers.
Which honestly felt pretty significant. Well done Stars. Well done.
Now the attention turns to the Legends.
The undefeated Legends visit the North Stars at Frank Quilici Field in Minneapolis on Sunday May 31st after opening their season with a sweep of the Milkmen, outscoring them 15-3 behind dominant pitching and clean defense. They've been one of the league's steadiest organizations for years and rarely beat themselves.
So this feels like another early season measuring stick for a Stars club trying to figure out whether they're dangerous contenders, or simply a team that can beat anyone on a good day, and themselves on a bad one.
Either way, this should be an interesting and fun series! See you in a few weeks!
#norfstarz
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2026 Season Opener: Sea Donkeys vs North Stars
Rivalry Renewed at Van Cleve...
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The wait is over.
After another long Minnesota offseason filled with snow shovels, batting cage lies ("I'm in the best shape of my life"), and group texts about who's bringing baseballs this year, the North Stars return to action Sunday morning for Opening Day against division rivals the Sea Donkeys at Van Cleve Park.
Two games. 10am start. Questionable hamstrings. Real baseball.
That's how the season begins...
The Stars enter 2026 carrying the memory of a frustrating but promising 2025 campaigh - one where they battled into the playoffs, flashed real talent, and spent most of the summer proving they could hang with anybody in the league...at least for 6 innings at a time.
Now comes the hard part: turning "almost" into something more.
The Sea Donkeys won't exactly provide a gentle warm up either. They are the 2024 champs, and 2025 runner-ups. These teams know each other well and games between the Stars and Donks usually feature a little bit of everything: loud dugouts, crooked innings, bad hops, questionable strike zones, and somebody pulling a muscle trying to stretch a single into a double in the second inning of Game 1. Classic TCMABL baseball.
Lately, this rivalry hasn't gone the Stars way. The North Stars are just 1-9 against the Sea Donkeys in regular season matchups dating back to 2019, with their last win against them coming that same year. The two teams also met in the 2019 playoffs where the Donkeys ended the Stars season, making the overall record 1-10 against them since 2019. Still, the rivalry is usually tighter than the record suggests. While there have been a few ugly blowouts over the years, most games between these teams come down to one inning, one mistake, or one big hit.
For the Stars, the formula this year is pretty simple.
Hit the ball hard.
Throw strikes.
Throw more strikes.
Don't give away extra outs.
And maybe, just maybe, avoid the catastrophic meltdown innings that have historically aged the manager by at least 7 years.
The core of the lineup returns, led by familiar bats capable of putting up runs. Veterans of the club will once again be counted on to steady the ship, while the younger guys continue bringing energy, athleticism, and functioning knees to the roster.
On the mound, the Stars know consistency and throwing strikes will be the difference between hanging around and making a real push in 2026. The offense has shown it can score. Defense at times looks the part. The challenge now is finishing games, limiting damage, and keeping opponents from turning routine innings into crime scenes.
Still, Opening Day always resets everything.
No standings.
No slumps.
No regrets.
Everybody is 0-0 and fully convinced this could be the year.
The North Stars are ready. Let's ball.
#norfstarz
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North Stars 2025: Close, Confident, and Questionably Competent
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The North Stars finished 2025 with an 8–14 record, snuck into the playoffs as the fifth seed, and were unceremoniously dispatched in the first round by the Tomcats, 13–3 — a harsh reminder that the postseason doesn’t forgive. One bad game and you're out. Season over. Wash up and put away the uniforms til next year. Start Googling “offseason workouts” and “how to hit curveballs”.
Despite the early playoff exit, the Stars weren’t pushovers. They scored 138 runs and allowed 133 — and that positive run differential is the statistical equivalent of saying, “Hey, we were better than this looks”. Leading the offense were Allan Bates (.354), Sam Nelson (.345), and Quincy Schultz Perry (.327), a trio capable of explosive hitting bursts, timely power, and occasionally making opposing pitchers reconsider their life choices. Adrian Waters turned back the clock on the mound with a strong season, anchoring a staff that, on most days, kept things for the most part under control. The addition of a few youngsters injected much-needed energy — and legs that didn’t require postgame ice baths.
When everything clicked, the 2025 version of the Stars looked like a team ready to challenge the league’s best. The problem? Everything didn’t always click. Sometimes it clicked. Sometimes it buzzed. Sometimes it made that noise your car makes right before the mechanic hands you a large bill.
The season was defined by “almosts”, almost winning tight games, almost finishing above .500, and almost making a deeper playoff run. But those close calls weren’t failures — they were proof that this group has the talent and resilience to compete. They were in games. They fought. They made it interesting, occasionally too interesting...
Looking to 2026, the Stars return their core roster — which is either comforting or slightly terrifying, depending on the inning. To make a true run at the cup, they’ll need to close the gap with the league’s elite. That means flipping the script in close games, tightening up the pitching to shave down those 133 runs allowed, and possibly adding another impact bat or arm to the mix. When playing against the top teams in this league with explosive offense and suffocating defense, there’s little margin for error — and even less room for “almost.”
If the Stars can harness their potential, clean up the small mistakes, and maybe borrow a little luck from the baseball gods, 2026 could be the year. Always believe.
For now, one thing is certain: the Stars won’t be content to just sneak in again.
See you this spring. #norfstarz
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"Aye, say f*** that s*** - just tell us where and who we play... We ain't worried about the rest."
- T. Warren #3
The North Stars are ready! #norfstarz Let's ball.
