Chuck Fitzer
Recent Stories
Sports
‘Cats make a deep push into sections, but run out of gas late
Catcher Kellen Meissner would likely have started the fourth-seeded Wildcat baseball team’s opening Section 7AAA playoff game at home against the fifth-seeded Hermantown Hawks, but the Wildcats’ only other catcher missed the game, so Meissner had to go behind the plate. The Wildcats exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second inning, but Wildcat pitchers allowed multiple runs if five of the game’s seven innings, and the Hawks beat the Wildcats 12-8. The loss sent the Wildcats to the elimination bracket for the section tourney.
Sports
Wildcats steal their way to a state berth
Jesa Leritz stole home in the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Wildcat softball team a 2-1 win over the Rock Ridge Wolverines in the Section 7AAA championship game on Thursday, May 29 at North Branch High School. The win sends the Wildcats to their third state tournament appearance in four years. They finished third at state in 2022 and second in 2023. The Wildcats, now ranked second in the state, will play their opening state tournament game at Caswell Park in North Mankato on Tuesday, June 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Sports
Girls track team continues to pile up accolades, claiming the Mississippi 8 Conference title
The Wildcats girls won the Mississippi 8 Conference Championship by nine points over second place Monticello. The Wildcat boys came in sixth on their side of things. The girls had four conference champions: freshman Annika Hall in the 800 meters and the 1600 meters, senior Ava Bringgold in the 300-meter hurdles, and freshman Madison Eagle in the discus. The meet was held at Cambridge-Isanti High School last Thursday, May 22.
Sports
CL cruises through top half, one win away from state
The Wildcat softball team, who jumped from sixth to third in the state in Class AAA in the latest rankings by the Minnesota High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association, are headed to the Section 7AAA championship game after shutting out third-seeded Rock Ridge 3-0 Tuesday May 27 at Hermantown. Rock Ridge beat Hermantown later on Tuesday in the elimination bracket final, so the Wildcats will face Rock Ridge for the section championship today at 3 p.m. at North Branch High School. If the Wildcats win, they will head to the state tournament, to be held June 3-5 at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Their opening game would be Tuesday, June 3 at 12:30 p.m., and their schedule after that will depend on whether they win or lose their opening game. The Class AAA championship game will be played at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 6 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the University of Minnesota Campus.
NEWS
‘Cats finish strong, earn top seed and advance
The top-seeded Wildcats opened the Section 7AAA Tournament with a 10-0 win over eighth-seeded Duluth Denfeld Tuesday, May 20 at Chisago Lakes High School. Beating section opponents Hermantown and Rock Ridge last week solidified the Wildcats’ seeding at the top of the section. The win sends the Wildcats to a winner’s bracket game today at Braun Park in Cloquet today at 10 a.m., with the opponent yet to be determined at our publication deadline. A loss would give the Wildcats another game in the elimination bracket today at Braun Park. If Wildcat move on from the games at Braun Park, they will play at Hermantown next Tuesday in one of the two brackets. The section championship game or games will be held at North Branch High School on Thursday, May 27.
Sports
Chisago Lakes bests Mankato West, crowned Scarlet Invite champions
The Wildcats won all three of their games at the Wiest Mankato Scarlet Invitational last Saturday at Caswell Park in North Mankato to claim the tournament championship.
Sports
Hunters chase down Wildcats
The Duluth Denfeld Hunters broke open a close game with six runs in the bottom of the fifth and beat the Wildcats 8-2 Friday, April 18 at historic Wade Stadium in Duluth. Zander Bleymeyer started and took the loss for the Wildcats.
Sports
Offensive explosion gives ‘Cats convincing 10-3 win over North Branch that moved them to 6-1
Jess Dittel went 4-for-5, scored four runs, drove in two and stole three bases from her spot at the top of the order to lead the Chisago Lakes Wildcats to a 10-3 win over the North Branch Vikings at North Branch High School. The Wildcats, who pounded out 18 hits, scored in every inning but the first, and put the game out of reach with a four-run seventh inning. Makenna Thorsen went the first six innings to pick up the win. She allowed three runs – two earned – on six hits, walked one and struck out two. Anna Zaruba saw her first action as a pitcher this season, pitching a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning. Alyssa Rediske went all the way for the Vikings and took the loss.
Sports
After a tight start to the game, Chisago Lakes ran away with an 8-3 win over North Branch
Trailing 3-1 after four innings, the Chisago Lakes Wildcat baseball team scored seven runs in the final three innings to beat the North Branch Vikings 8-3 on Tuesday, April 15 at North Branch High School. Lucas Weinzetl started and picked up the win for the Wildcats, allowing three runs – two earned – on four hits. He walked seven and struck out seven. Lucas Goggin started for the Vikings. Ethan Thorsen pitched just 2/3 of an inning but took the loss for the Vikings.
Sports