The Two Harbors Agates are finding their stride at the right time. After a slow start to the spring, the team has won three of its last four games and enters the final week of the regular season with renewed confidence under third‑year Head Coach Adam Labat.
“We had a good win on Friday,” Labat recalled, though the victory over Mesabi East ended under unusual circumstances. The Stewart Trail Fire forced an early stoppage in the 5th inning when the team entered the evacuation zone.
“That was unfortunate,” he said.
Despite the disruption, the Agates have been trending upward. The roster has grown to 31 players in grades 7 through 12, an increase from last season and a sign of the program’s strengthening foundation.
“We’ve been strong in 7th and 8th grade years last year and then this year as well,” Labat said. “Some kids who have never played baseball are now trying it. I think it’s the culture that we’re building here in terms of just making it fun and enjoyable for the kids.”
Labat said his long‑term goal is to have at least five players in every grade level, a benchmark that helps sustain competitiveness year after year. While the program isn’t quite there yet, the upward trend is clear.
The Agates have five seniors this spring, three more than they had in the previous season. This year’s captains are Anders Hastings, Brenner Quinn, and Garren Tikkanen.
“They’re great leaders on the team,” Labat said. “They’ve been a big part of the program for certainly the last three years.”
Leadership has been a steadying force for a group that expected more wins early on. The seniors, Labat said, have helped keep the team grounded and connected.
“They’ve just been really supportive of each other and positive towards their teammates,” he said. “It’s been great to see them step into some of those leadership type of roles.”
Labat said the most encouraging part has been watching the seniors lead in a way that reflects the program’s values rather than falling into the trap of trying to “act like a boss.”
“They don’t like being led by a drill sergeant,” he said. “So it’s good to see them taking on some of those leadership qualities that we are leading them with and they see and are implementing them.”
On the field, the team’s biggest challenge has been on the mound, particularly in throwing strikes.
“We’ve walked a lot of people this year. I would say that’s been our biggest struggle,” Labat said.
Even so, the Agates have found consistency in key spots.
“We’ve had some pretty solid hitting at the top of the lineup,” the coach said. “Our catcher’s been really good this year as well, and it’s been a good something that can count on day in and day out.”
One of the season’s standout performances came against Carlton, when junior pitcher Tikkonen struck out 16 batters in six innings. “He’s throwing a little bit harder this year,” Labat said. “He’s throwing 3 pitches now more consistently, so he’s widening his pitching repertoire.”
With playoffs approaching, Labat says the group is in its best mental place of the season.
“We’re starting to put together some wins now at the end of the season,” he said. “They’re as confident as they’ve been all year in terms of how we feel about going into playoffs.”
Labat also credits his coaching staff, Tim Perfetto, Pierce Risdon and Nate Gens, for helping build stability in the program. Perfetto has been with him all three years, Risdon joined last season, and Gens works with the younger players.
“Hopefully we’re starting to get a little consistency and the less turnover I have in the coaching staff, I think the better,” Labat said. “So we’re keeping a consistent message for the kids that are coming up and through.”
Overall, Labat says this year’s Agates have been a rewarding group to lead, both for their competitiveness and their character.
“We’ve been competitive this year and really it’s been a fun team to coach,” he said. “We’re trying. Hopefully we can start translating that over into getting a few more wins in the future.”
