Back in March the Cherry boys basketball team won their first state title in program history. Now much of that pack of Tigers is building on their legacy, leading Cherry baseball to their first state tournament since 2008.

“When we go down there, I think that we are prepared because we’ve been in these big games and we don’t get too nervous, we always keep it calm. If we get down, you know that we can get back right into it in an inning,” junior pitcher/catcher Noah Sundquist said.

“It’s been a crazy ride. The community has just been crazy throughout this whole thing, throughout my whole four years of experiencing high school sports,” senior captain Andrew Staples said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything, to be honest. Like small school, but we have packed gyms and we have games packed, a packed football field, packed baseball stands, just everything’s packed.”

Both Staples and Sundquist were members for Cherry’s Class A state championship winning basketball team this winter.

Cherry baseball has only gone to the state tournament twice before in program history: 2008, and 1997 when they won the Class A championship. Many familiar family names were on that team, like the Asumas, Pittman and Aimonetti.

Oh and another guy, current head coach Brian Kemp.

“It’s been a fun year. These kids have played in the section final in football and lost. Obviously section final, state championship in basketball, and now getting the opportunity to win baseball. It’s been a really good group of kids and a fun run. Community is buzzing, as all small towns do when their athletics go to state. So it’s an exciting time in Cherry,” Kemp said.

Senior Isaac Asuma is practicing with the Gophers men’s basketball team this week, but is expected to be back in time for the state tournament.

The top-seed in Class A, Cherry (20-3) opens the quarterfinals Thursday facing Lac Qui Parle Valley (17-6) in St. Cloud. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at Joe Faber Field. For the full Class A bracket, Click Here.