Burnsville Bobcats

08/25/2026

Bobcats season comes to an end as they fall to Lumberjacks in pitchers duel.

Chaska - The Burnsville Bobcats appearance in the 2026 MBA State Tournament was short-lived as they failed to score any runs in a 1-0 loss against the Elk River Lumberjacks on Sunday at Chaska Athletic Park.

Connor Hartley threw another complete game gem for the hometown Kitties but the offense was unable to claw across a run in support of his outstanding effort.

In the 1st, Elk River got on the board after a lead off HBP, a fielders choice in which the runner was called safe at 2nd base in a close play. Hartley was able to get a double play ball but the lead runner moved to third and subsequently scored on a passed ball. That would prove to be all the offense the Lumberjacks needed.

The Bobcats offense didn’t get much going as they only collected two hits in the matchup. They had several innings with multiple baserunners though as they were able to work three walks along with Elk River committing three errors.

In the 4th inning, John Santelman reached on an error, followed by an infield single from Zach Andreasen. Blake Tritch flew out to centerfield but both runners were able to move up and the Bobcats had a great opportunity with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Unfortunately, a ground out with the infield drawn in, and a strike out, ended the threat.

In the 6th, Santelman led off with a single and Andreasen walked but they were left stranded at 1st and 2nd.

In the 8th, Santelman reached on an error again and then stole second with one out. Tritch was intentionally walked to give the Kitties runners on 1st and 2nd but they would be left on again.

In the 9th with the Bobcats needing just one run to extend the game and two for a walkoff win, Gus McIntire led off and reached on an error. Jonah Dawson then walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Matt Trocke laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that moved both runners up with one out. With the infield drawn in again, McIntire attempted to score on a ground ball to first, but was tagged out at home on a very close play. Joe Robinson then hit a line drive to right that looked like it might drop for a tie game but it hung up just enough for the final out and the end of the Bobcats season.

Back on the mound, Hartley went the distance, scattering six hits and walking none while collecting six strikeouts. Arguably his best outing of the year on the biggest stage.

While the season comes to a close, we are already looking forward to another great summer at the ballpark.

A big thank you to all the volunteers this year that ran the concession stand and press box at Alimagnet this year. Without your help, our success, and continued improvement of the townball experience in Burnsville would not be possible.

To our families, thank you for your unwavering support of our dream of playing this kids’ game for as long as possible.

To our fans, thank you for your support at Alimagnet and throughout the River Valley. We know that whether at home or on the road, we have someone to cheer us on and celebrate our victories with. We will continue to improve and hopefully bring a state title home next year!

Lastly, in the words of the late, great, Vin Scully. “There will be a new day, and eventually a new year. And when the upcoming winter gives way to spring, rest assured, once again, it will be time for Dodger (Bobcat) baseball”

08/23/2026

The Bobcats open up the 2026 MBA State Tournament against Elk River today at 4PM at Chaska Athletic Park. Come out and support the Bobcats as they represent the community of Burnsville.

Admission is $10 for adults and $1 for children under 18.

08/17/2026

The Burnsville Bobcats will open the 2026 MBA State Tournament next Sunday, August 23rd at 4:00 PM at Chaska Athletic Park. Our opponent will be the Elk River Lumberjacks.

Tickets for Sunday’s session is $10 for adults and $1 for ages 18 and under. Your Sunday ticket is good for all games at the Chaska location. Below is the full Class A State Tournament bracket.

08/15/2026

08/10/2026

Bobcats Sweep Jays, Clinch State Berth with Late Inning Offensive Barrage

The Burnsville Bobcats travelled to Prior Lake on Sunday evening looking to close out the 5 game series with the Jays in the same fashion as last year, a three game, series sweep. After an early inning battle with only a few hits, the Kitty offense broke through and ended up with a 14-0 victory and the #2 seed to state out of section 2A. The offense was led by Jack Drieman who went 5-6 and hit his first Home Run as a Bobcat, coming up just a triple short of the cycle.

Through the first 4 innings, both teams had at least one runner on in each half inning with the exception of the Bobcats half of the first, but neither team could take advantage. Bobcat starting pitcher Blake Tritch allowed two hits and struck out 5 in those first innings while working around any base runners.

In the 5th, the Bobcats broke the scoreless tie. Noah Juliar led off with a single but then was picked off first by the Jays lefty pitcher. Tyler Hill reached on an error by the SS and then stole second and then advanced to third when the throw went into centerfield. Following a John Santelman groundout with the infield drawn in, Zach Andreasen singled on a dribbler in front of the plate. The Jays oitcher, in an attempt to make the play, threw the ball into right field and Andreasen advanced to second. Tritch walked after the Andreasen single and then Tim Urlaub doubled to right centerfield to plate Andreasen and Tritch for a 3-0 lead. Jacob Neutz, fresh off a late season stint with the Rochester Honkers of the Northwoods league, singled to score Urlaub and the Kitties had a 4-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings.

Tritch ended his night on the mound in the 5th by striking out the side. He finished with 5 IP, 2 H, and 8 Ks.

The Bobcats would add more runs in the 6th. Hill singled to bring in Noah Juliar, and Blake Tritch hit his team leading 4th home run of the year to score Hill to make it 7-0. In the 7th, the Kitties would add two more, a Neutz single was followed by Drieman’s home run to push the lead to 9.

In the 9th, the Kitties scored five more, highlighted by a double from Ben Meuser, RBI singles from Jonah Dawson,Andreasen, and Neutz.

On the defensive side, Nick Discher came on in relief and threw three innings allowing 0 hits and striking out 2. Brandon Hugo pitched the 9th with two base runners only reaching on errors.

The Bobcats will now wait until Sunday, August 16th to learn their first round matchup opponent, location, and time for the first round of the 2026 MBA State Tournament. The tournament begins the weekend of August 21st-23rd and will be held in Shakopee, New Prague, Chaska, and Jordan.

08/09/2026

Prior Lake - The Bobcats and Jays squared off in game 2 of the best of 5 series on Friday night in Prior Lake. In a back and forth matchup, the Bobcats came out with a victory 6-5 and with that, a 2-0 series lead.

The Bobcats had traffic on the bases early with two singles in the first, but a double play ended the threat. Nick Meuser started on the mound and set the Jays down 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the first.

The Jays would score in the bottom of the second on a bases loaded walk but would only score the one run.

In the 3rd, the Bobcats got on the board, a leadoff walk from Gus McIntire was followed by a sacrifice bunt from Joe Robinson. Blake Tritch delivered an RBI single with two outs to plate McIntire, and then Ben Meuser hit a towering, two-run home run to left field to make it 3-1, his 3rd home run of the year.

The Jays added a run in the bottom of the 4th on a misplayed ball to make the score 3-2. However the Bobcats would answer back with a run in the top of the 5th. A walk, a single, and an error loaded the bases for the Bobcats with one out and Tim Urlaub singled to bring in John Santelman from 3rd.

The Jays would threaten in the 5th, loading the bases with no outs, but reliever Luke Hansen came in for the tough ask and delivered by getting the following three hitters to line out, ground in to a fielders choice to cut the runner at the plate, and a strikeout to get out of the jam.

The Jays would take a 5-4 lead after plating two runs in the bottom of the 6th on a single and a wild pitch.

A quick response was what was needed, and the Bobcats delivered in the 7th. A leadoff walk from Tritch and a single from Urlaub moved Tritch to second. Tritch then stole 3rd base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Noah Juliar to tie the game at 5 after 6 1/2 innings.

Hansen went right back to work in the bottom of the 7th and set the Jays down in order by striking out the side.

Burnsville took the lead in the 8th. A leadoff double by Jack Drieman and a sacrifice bunt from Gus McIntire moved Drieman to third. Joe Robinson hit a chopper to third and Drieman got a great jump to head to the plate and beat the throw to move the score to 6-5. In the bottom of the inning, Hansen set the Jays down 1-2-3 again and then closed it out in the 9th with a flyout, and two strikeouts.

Hansen delivered in relief going 4 innings, including escaping the bases loaded, no out jam. In his innings in relief, he allowed 1 hit, and struck out 8.

The Bobcats win gives them a 2-0 advantage in the series with game 3 to played in Prior Lake tonight at 6:00 PM. A win would punch the Bobcats ticket to state for the 3rd straight season. Come cheer on the team as they look to clinch the series tonight. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 18.

08/09/2026

Hartley spins complete game shutout in series opener to propel Bobcats to 1-0 series lead.

Burnsville - The Bobcats opened their playoff series on Wednesday night against the Prior Lake Jays and jumped out to a 1-0 series lead around timely hitting and a workhorse effort from Connor Hartley.

Over the first two innings, neither team was able to get much going. Hartley set the Jays down in order in the first two innings. While the Bobcats were only able to get one baserunner via a walk. The jays threatened in the 3rd following a lead off single. The Jays got another single with two out to put runners on first and second. Another single prompted the visitors to send the runner around to try and score, but a great throw from Jonah Dawson cut the runner down at the plate.

The Bobcats opened the scoring in the bottom of the 4th with following a lead off walk from Blake Tritch. After a steal of second by Tritch, Ben Meuser singled to bring home Tritch and Meuser advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Meuser moved to third on a single by Tim Urlaub and then scored on a wild pitch. The Bobcats would add another run in the 8th after Tritch and Meuser walked to lead off the inning. Urlaub then singled to plate Tritch.

The story defensively was on the mound as Connor Hartley was delivering in the strike zone all night long. The tall right hander set the Jays down in order 4 out of the 9 innings. He scattered 5 hits and didn’t allow a hit after the 5th inning. After the 5th he only allowed to baserunners, one via walk and the other by HBP. He ended the night with 9 strikeouts and only one walk.

08/05/2026

The Bobcats start our playoff series tomorrow night against the Prior Lake Jays at Alimagnet Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 PM. The graphic below contains the dates, times, and locations of our series.

Per section rules, we will be charging admission for all section games. Cost of admission is $5 for adults and kids 18 and under are free.

07/30/2026

Come join us tonight at Veterans Field in Minnetonka. Our final regular season game of the year.

Graphic Courtesy of Minnetonka Monarchs X Page