Amateur baseball: Willmar Rails have a fresh look

May 12—WILLMAR — The

are back in Class B and have one of their best pitchers back from Tommy John surgery. New manager Gunnar Banks is excited about the possibilities for the Willmar amateur baseball team in 2026.

"I think it's like a rebuild," said Banks, a 2019 Willmar High School graduate and long-time player for the Rails who takes over the managerial duties from Dustin Overcash.

"Dustin ran it for eight years, so it's going to be a little different," Banks said of the former manager, who announced his resignation before the beginning of last season.

One big difference from last season: Christian Lessman is back. The 24-year-old right-hander missed 2025 because of Tommy John surgery. When he's right, he's one of the top pitchers in the Corn Belt League. Banks is hoping for a return to form from the former St. Cloud State player.

Largely everyone else is back for the Rails, who open the Corn Belt season at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the Marshall Athletics at Marshall's Legion Field. Willmar played an exhibition game last Friday at Hutchinson, winning 7-3.

With Lessman back, it figures to take some heat off a pitching staff that includes Jayden Dierenfeld, Adam Herman, Jordan Steffer, Cullen Gregory, Jack Baumgart and Zach Reierson. Also returning to the Rails after a year off is Zak Madsen.

"Really, it's not a whole lot different," Banks said of the roster.

The Rails also have added a couple of high school players, including Hudson Sjoberg and Griffin Banks. Griffin Banks is Gunnar's younger brother. Gavin Banks, another brother, is also on the roster.

It's a Willmar-centered roster. with Connor Smith, Tyler Madsen, Mason Thole, Ashton Gregory and Sergio Fernandez. There is also Daniel Overcash, a Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg graduate and the former manager's son, on the roster, and Cody Hohl.

Gunnar Banks believes there is the talent to contend not only in the Corn Belt, but also for a state tournament berth.

"Our goal is to win the Corn Belt," he said, adding: "Obviously, our league is pretty tough."

Banks expects Bird Island and Raymond to be at the top, as they have been. This season, the Rails are in District 8B with six teams: Bird Island, Raymond, Marshall and the Willmar Indians from the Corn Belt League and the Janesville Gators from the 13/60 League. Two teams will earn berths into the state Class B tournament, which this year will be in Chaska, Jordan, New Prague and Shakopee.

Last year, the Rails were moved into Class A as part of a massive reshuffling of all three of the state's classes. Willmar received the top classification because of a paperwork snafu after a misinterpretation of the new rules. Everything's straightened out this year. Willmar went 0-2 in the District 8A playoffs, falling 10-8 to the Sabin Mets and 14-4 to the Moorhead Brewers.

This year, the Rails have a 24-game schedule, including eight home games, including six at Bill Taunton Stadium and two at Elsie Klemmetson Field across the street from Taunton. Among the highlights is an August 2 doubleheader with a team from Wahpeton, North Dakota that won the North Dakota state title and the Litchfield Blues.