Shakopee trio has been bonding for a long time
ST. MICHAEL —One of the aspects of American Legion Baseball that players enjoy most is the opportunity for camaraderie and friendships.
Nine years ago, Nick Johnson, Ryder Peace and Cameron Schroeder became baseball teammates for the first time. The lasting friendship the trio developed is one reason for Shakopee’s rise as a Minnesota Legion power. Sunday, Aug. 3, the boys will try to bring the first-ever state title back home. To do so, they would have to beat Fridley Gold in the morning game and either Gand Rapids or East Grand Forks in the afternoon.
Pearce talked about the next step in the season – winning a trip to the Central Plains Regional: “At the end of the season, you have to put personal statistics aside and do what is needed for the team.”
“The three of us have been playing together since we were 10-and-Under, and it’s too bad we only have a few games left,” Nick Johnson said.
Is there any competition between Shakopee’s three key players? Schroeder smiled before answering and said, “We like to compete for the most homers.”
Peace, who blasted a 400-foot home run against Alexandria in a 9-4 win Saturday, Aug. 2, in a State Tournament game at St. Michael-Albertville High, leads Shakopee in homers with five while Schroeder had four and Johnson has three.
Johnson almost had his fourth homer in the win over Alexandria, but his long drive to right-center field hit the top of the fence and he ran for a triple.
Shakopee head coach Dave Johnson, Nick’s father, was asked for a few statistical highlights from the season, and he had the information at his fingertips.
“In the Sub-State 3 Tournament, Ryder, Carson and Nick combined to go 37-for-53. That must be some kind of record, at least for that sub-state. Shakopee lost to Edina 5-4 early in the tournament, but swept Edina in the last two games 3-1 and 14-5. The 14-5 win, as the score indicates, was a slugging clinic.
Through the first three State Tournament games, Pearce and Schroeder were both five-for-10 and gaining All-Tournament Team momentum.
Each of Shakopee’s big three has a favorite position. Nick Johnson is most at home pitching, but also likes left field, Pearce’s preference is left field and Schroeder likes first base the best.
What are the expectations for Sunday?
“By winning [over Alexandria], we get to stay in a hotel tonight,” Pearce said. “We will be able to get more sleep.”
“A state title would be awesome,” Schroeder said. “I hope we can bring the hardware back to our Legion Post.”
Shakopee goes into Sunday with a 28-5-1 record.
When the summer ends, all three Shakopee stars have college baseball opportunities – Nick Johnson at Minnesota State, Mankato, Peace at Jamestown University in North Dakota and Schroeder at Iowa Central Community College. Coaches at those schools have an idea what the Shakopee players will bring.
Peace is batting .443 this season and Johnson is batting .439. Schroeder, who can also pitch, is close to the .350 mark.
Unless you’re talking about NBA basketball, three players hardly ever win a championship on their own. Johnson, Pearce AND Schroeder are quick to point our that success requires a full-team effort.
The other players on Shakopee’s State Tournament roster are Reid Anderson, Kyser Boran, Devin Drangstveit, Landon Heller, Tanner Heller, Keegan Hutson, Colton Jenks, Shane Kettler, Ethan Krosch, Logan Krosch, Blake Menden, Kaden Olson, Eathan Sauer, Jack Stensrud and Brodie Sullivan.