“Overall I think we hit the ball really well, like we pounded the ball all over the place,” Brainerd coach Shane Jordan said. “It was 11–1, all of a sudden it turns to 11–8 and it was OK to face some adversity. You know, we have to learn from that adversity. 

“That’s what we talked about (after) is, come down to the Metro to play a really good team, face some great competition because that’s what we’re going to face in the section tournament. You know, we had a positive outcome on the scoreboard, but we learned a little bit about ourselves as well.”  

The Warriors, who were state finalists in 2022, made the two-hour trip down to Champlin to test themselves against tough Metro competition. Despite having plenty of quality in the Central Lakes conference, only a handful of teams are Class 3A with the Warriors themselves a Class 4A school.  

The adversity that they faced against the Rebels, added on to the long travel, showed just how tight knit this Brainerd team is. Nothing showed that more than when the Warriors’ dugout burst into celebration watching Molly Wieland crush a three-run double far into right field at the top of the seventh. Wieland returned the celebration with a scream at second base.  

“At the end of the day, team chemistry wins and loses games,” Jordan said. “We talked about it in the circle at the end of the game about how it takes all of us to win. Even the kids in the dugout that aren’t playing in the field or in the batter’s box. They’re screaming their heads off the whole game and giving us energy.  

“So that’s probably the thing I’m most proud of with this team, is we have 18 kids in the dugout, seniors included who aren’t playing right now. But they are losing their voices because they’re cheering so loud for our team. I’m just super proud of all of these kids who may not be playing but they’re giving us more than anybody would know.”  

Jordan’s lesson of teamwork and fighting through adversity is something he hopes the Warriors players can take to heart throughout all aspects of their lives. It wasn’t just the impressive pitching of Mya Tautges or the powerful hitting from Wieland that won Friday night’s game for Brainerd. It was the collective effort from the Warriors squad, top to bottom.