Hermantown continued the 2026 softball season with a compact schedule, significant travel and a roster built around returning experience, all aimed at positioning the Hawks for a late-May run in the Section 7AAA tournament.
Hermantown opened the season with a 7-6, eight-inning loss at St. Anthony Village on Friday. Abby Noldin went 3-for-4 and was charged with the pitching loss as the Hawks dropped to 0-1.
The Hawks were scheduled to host Greenway today at Rose Road Field, but that game has already been postponed due to field conditions. Hermantown travels Tuesday to North Branch for games against North Branch Area Public Schools and Chisago Lakes.
Hermantown returns home Thursday to face Cloquet before traveling to Big Lake Saturday. Additional key matchups include an April 21 game at Duluth Denfeld and an April 23 home contest against Grand Rapids.
The schedule intensifies late in April, with three games in four days: Superior on April 27 and Proctor on April 28, both at home sites. Tournament play begins May 2 at Becker High School, where the Hawks will face multiple opponents in a single-day format designed to simulate postseason conditions.
Hermantown resumes regular-season play May 5 at Rock Ridge, followed by a three-game homestand against Princeton (May 7), Duluth Marshall (May 8) and Hibbing (May 12). The regular season concludes with road games at Duluth East on May 13 and a doubleheader at Esko on May 14.
Section 7AAA play begins May 19, with opening-round sites to be determined. Subsequent rounds are scheduled for May 21 and May 26 at Braun Park. The section championship is set for May 28 at Rose Road Field.
Hermantown finished 12-10 overall and 6-2 in the Lake Superior Conference last season, placing second behind Cloquet. The Hawks advanced through the elimination bracket in the Section 7 tournament before their season ended with a 5-4 loss to Rock Ridge.
The 2026 roster returns a core of players who gained postseason experience, including several underclassmen expected to take on expanded roles. Rylee Knight, Evie Nelson, Bryden Giesen, Jillian Ritsche and Carlin Carlson are among the returning contributors.
Pitching is expected to anchor the team again. Avery Beranek returns after serving as the primary starter last season, while Noldin adds versatility after contributing in multiple roles as an eighth grader.
Hermantown must replace several graduated players, including catcher Mikayla Sweeney, infielders Claire Kaups and Isabella Wojtysiak, and outfielders Norah Gunderson, Hope Kohanski and Ella Schulz.
The Lake Superior Conference is expected to remain competitive, with Cloquet, Rock Ridge and Hermantown among the top contenders.
Hermantown’s early schedule includes road games at Bemidji and St. Anthony Village before the home opener against Greenway. Conference play follows quickly, including matchups against Cloquet, Grand Rapids and Rock Ridge, the latter a rematch of last season’s postseason game.
With a mix of returning experience and expanded roles for younger players, Hermantown’s season will be shaped by its ability to manage pitching workload and produce consistent offense. The program’s objective remains clear: reach the section tournament in position to contend for a berth in the state tournament.