The Richfield Rockets boast a storied baseball legacy, dating back to their founding by former Federal League Commissioner Ron Cottone in 1989. Over the years, the Rockets have been part of some unforgettable moments in Minnesota and national baseball history. They claimed the Federal League Championship in 2004 and mounted a remarkable Class A playoff run in 2019 after starting the season 0-13 — proving that anything is possible on the diamond.

But perhaps one of the most groundbreaking moments in Rockets history happened in 1994 at Municipal Stadium in St. Paul. That year, the Rockets faced off against Lee Anne Ketcham and the Colorado Silver Bullets — a pioneering all-women's professional baseball team. The Silver Bullets defeated the Rockets 7-2, marking what is believed to be the first win by a professional women’s baseball team over an all-male team in American baseball history. In true Ron Cottone style, he wasn't sad about the loss - he saw the bigger picture. “My hope is that young girls will see this and realize they can do this,” he said, embodying his lifelong belief in the power of the game to inspire.

Ron wanted everyone to experience the joy of baseball — a passion that laid the foundation for the iconic fall tournament in St. Michael, originally called the Old Hickory, now proudly renamed the Ron Cottone Classic in his honor. Cottone passed away in 2022 after managing the Rockets for an incredible 34 seasons. His legacy lives on through the countless generations he helped rediscover the game by picking up a glove and bat again and feeling like a kid. 

With the support of former Rocket manager Adam Fleitman and longtime Federal League veteran JayBee Blackshear, the Rockets are gearing up for a new chapter. Under the leadership of new manager Brett Springsted, they're ready to blast off with a fresh roster of young, turbocharged talent. But don’t worry — they’re sure to keep the parking lot charm intact. You’ll still find full coolers in the parking lot, Jay-Bee Blackshear smoking stogies, and the legendary storytelling that makes Rockets post games special.

“We enjoy the game, then kick back with some grilling and a beer in the parking lot after the game,” Fleitman said with a grin. “We’re competitive, but we’re not here to shame anyone for booting a ball. It’s all about having fun and celebrating the love of baseball.”

We sit at the console of mission control with Brett Springsted and talk about the new Rockets…

How did you guys decide on a manager after Rons passing and Adam’s retirement? Vote? Volunteer?

Adam had been talking all season about retiring, but I don’t think any of us took it seriously until the season was basically over. A few of the veteran Rockets had been hinting that I should be the one to take over—something about legacy, I guess. My dad had played with or against Ron since the mid-90s on other Richfield teams like Carp and the Rounders, so I basically grew up around the Fed. When I turned 35, I joined the Rockets alongside my brother (who had joined two years earlier) and my dad,

Jon, who was still going strong at 60—still playing with Ron, no less. So yeah, the three of us got to play a full season and part of another together. For me, that kind of legacy came with a sense of responsibility.

But I was only going to do it on one condition, that my buddy Ricky Shotton co-manage with me. The time commitment was just too much to handle solo. I’ve known Ricky since youth sports into HS sports, and we served together in the Army for over 12 years. His organization and selflessness have really brought this team even closer together. Honestly, he deserves a lot of the credit for the transition over the last few years.
 

Was it sad to leave Richfield behind or are you excited about the new RC name and playing at Killebrew? New field in the future?

Yeah, it was a tough call—but it had to be made. There’s a deep history with the city and the parks we’ve played in, and that legacy isn’t lost on us. But as the years went on, old partnerships faded, communication broke down, and scheduling became a constant struggle. We were done scrambling at the last minute to patch together a home schedule, bouncing between fields all over the south metro. We know we’re not the only team that’s had trouble finding a consistent home, and anyone who’s been through it knows—it’s not the kind of offseason you want to repeat. We needed stability. A field we could count on. A place to call home.

For a few of our guys, that place was already familiar—Killebrew. They played their high school home games there, and when the time came, we figured: why not run it back? Over the past two years, we’ve worked to build a relationship with the Parks and Rec Department. It hasn’t always been easy, but their willingness to collaborate and invest more in the field is starting to show. Players will notice the improvements this season, it’s a reflection of the work both our team and the city have put in. There’s still more to do, but we’re fully committed to staying in South Minneapolis. We’re not going anywhere.

As for the name—RC was the easy part. We didn’t need a city name behind the Rockets. Ron Cottone was more synonymous with the Rockets and deserved to have his name behind the “re-brand’.
 

How has recruiting been going with the older players leaving and the Rockets picking up new talent?

Even before we officially took the reins, we knew we had to be more active in building this team. The Rockets had been one of the older squads in the Fed for a while, and the incoming numbers just weren’t there. So we started talking—about baseball, about playing into your 30s—and it turns out that’s a conversation that resonates. A lot of guys our age still feel that pull, especially if they played at a high level in the past.

It’s not surprising, really. In past decades, participation seemed stronger, but you’d be amazed how many former players are out there who just needed a reason to lace them up again, but had no idea how or where to do it. So we hit the phones, reached out to old high school teammates, and slowly built it back up. Some guys found us through word of mouth, others came over because of the South Minneapolis location. A few just sort of fell into our lap.

Our veterans are incredible players and have given the Rockets a lot over the years. The culture hasn’t skipped a beat since Ron’s passing—it’s still rooted in the same values and sense of community. We still see retired players show up to support us, and their presence means a lot.

This year, we’ve added a few new faces that we’re genuinely excited about. We’ve got more depth on the mound, more power in the lineup, and a few key guys recovering from injuries who should make a big impact once they’re back. The foundation is solid, and the momentum is building.

Pitching the Federal League is a Premium, now that Warren is making his way back and you have Riedberger, what do you think the Rockets will do going forward?

Whenever Zach’s got the ball, we feel like we can win. When he’s on—hitting spots, mixing it up—it’s electric. The dude gets fired up, and that energy bleeds into the rest of the defense. Everyone stays locked in. Colin getting back on the mound for the first time since his injury? That was a moment. If you want the full scoop, hit up the Fed podcast. We’re still being smart with his innings. but he’s a competitor through and through. He’s doing everything he can to join Zach and turn that into a nasty one-two punch. Matt Hasseler and Brent Larsen gave us some great outings last year as well. Plus, these guys are pretty young by Fed standards, and will be around for some time.

We’ve also got several returning arms who logged significant innings for us last season, and we’re expecting big things from them again this year. Along with the new guys we added, this is the deepest our pitching staff has ever been. A handful of teams have already seen what some of these guys can do. Guys are still finding form, and it’s starting to come back. We’re counting on contributions from multiple arms throughout the season.

It seems like you are one of the few teams in the league that everyone is rooting for, how does that make you and your team feel? 

We have lost a lot of games over the years and that’s always easy to root for! Seriously though, it’s just a testament to Ron and his reputation around the league. He made it a point to seek out anyone and everyone before and after games. We maintain a culture of baseball that Ron would be proud to see continued. He would be happy to see the roster numbers rising and the talent that has come in, while maintaining the type of baseball he represented. Playing the right way, respecting opponents and officials, and building camaraderie with beers and stories, both teams, after games.

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FEDERAL LEAGUE SCORES AND UPDATES
(May 19 - 25)

It was a short week with lots of teams becoming victims of rain and Memorial Weekend vacations. But here are some games that are in the books…

Metro over Chaska V 12-3.
Jason Bujold went 4-4 with a double, 2 RBI and three runs scored. He also got the win throwing 6 innings, striking out five and walking two. Yulian Oviedo continued his hot start to the season with a double and drove in three. Andrew Berenguer, Kevin Becker and  Jack Younggren each had two hits for the Voyageurs in the loss.

Tonka Bay 2 -1 over Rockford
Jim Brower got his second start of the season in an important North matchup versus Rockford. Brower's six innings and ten strikeouts were not enough as Brandon Wolf came in late to steal the 2-1 win over the Rail Splitters. Brandon Bartholomew went 2-3 with a run and an RBI for the Lakers. Lance Reynolds pitched a complete game but got the loss, Reynolds scattered five hits, struck out four and walked one. The must watch rematch will be July 8th at Rockford and could have playoff implications.

St Louis Park over Burnsville 3-2
The Snappers needed three arms; Charlie Ruud, Bryan Edstrom, Rian Heaslip to take down the Burnsville Bulldogs in the close one last Friday night. Ruud picked up the win. Tom Cook, Eric Olson, Mike Arlt had two hits each with Cook driving in a run.

Minnoka Grays 24-1 over Red West
Someone call the police because a straight mugging took place Friday night at Castle Field led by Jack Nelson four hit affair - he also started the game on the bump and went a solid five gaining the win and striking out eight. Doug Groebner doubled and tripled in the game and MIchael Crane drove in five runners. Every wolf scored a run and got a hit.

Hastings 11 - St Patrick 1
Daniel Castillo homered for the Hurricanes and Derek Pfeffer went 3-3 with a double and an RBI. Brent Kompelien got the win going four with no earned and striking out five. Tom Larsen and Eric Solheid had two hits each for St. Patrick.

Milltown 4 Northfield 3
Milltown gets on the board as Mike Rothstein and Brent Cheney with two hits each help lift the Outlaws over the Millers. Rothstein had two RBIs as Cheney crossed the plate twice. Tony Rome got the win with a solid outing. Josh Mears went 3-4 with three RBIs for Northfield in the loss.

River Falls Groupers 8 - St Paul Senators 2
James Wallisch, Javin Smith, Pete Kostichka and Troy Williams all had multiple hits for the Senators but it wasn't enough as River Falls held the hit parade to two runs scored. Senators are still looking for its first win.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: May 19-25

Jack Nelson (Minnoka)
WIN, 5IP, 8K / 4-4, Double, 3 Runs, 2 RBI

Doug Groebner (Minnoka)
2-2, Double, Triple, 3 Runs, 3 RBI, BB, SAC

Jason Bujold (Metro)
WIN, 6IP, 5K / 4-4, Double, 3 Runs, 2 RBI

Daniel Castillo (Hastings)
1-3, Homerun, 2 Runs, 2 RBI