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Four Pipestone Area Schools’ baseball players shared in team honors during a season-ending program on Sunday, June 1, at City Field.
The team celebrated with hamburgers and other favorites after the Pipestone A’s no-hit the Heron Lake Lakers.
Landon Quist earned most valuable player accolades, and he also shared Arrow top hitter and “Iron Mike” honors with senior teammate Nohel Vivanco.
(From left) Pipestone Area Schools’ Zayne Zollner, Weston Reinhard, Landon Quist and Nohel Vivanco all received special team honors during a season-ending awards presentation on Sunday, June 1, at Westview Park. (Contributed photo)
“Landon was a great leader for us,” PAS head coach Rick Zollner noted.
Quist was a four-year starter who conveyed positive messages to the underclassmen throughout the 2025 season as the Arrows went 8-12. He was the Arrows primary shortstop, and also served as catcher and pitcher.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Landon Quist follows through on his swing during Game Two of a doubleheader versus Blue Earth Area on Friday, May 2. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Sophomore Zayne Zollner, son of the head coach, was tabbed the most improved player.
Zayne went from a pitcher who was used sparingly during the 2024 season to a dependable starter in 2025. He also was tops on the team in RBI (24), and was a first baseman.
Senior Weston Reinhard was credited with the most hustle, and was the selected as the Arrows top pitcher. Vivanco also was named Mr. Defense.
Pipestone Area Schools’ pitcher Weston Reinhard tossed 6-2/3 innings en route to the win as the Arrows downed Windom, 9-4, in a Big South Conference game at Island Park on Tuesday, April 15. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
With unspecified health issues to other players, Reinhard was thrust into the role as PAS top starting pitcher — a role he relished well with two regular-season wins over Windom and one over Redwood Valley.
Reinhard went 4-3 with a 2.21 earned-run average. Opponents hit only .228 off Weston, facing 190 batters in more than 39 innings of work.
What’s next for Reinhard? Weston will be attending Minnesota State in Mankato, where he will study engineering.
Meanwhile, both Quist and Vivanco have enrolled at nearby Dakota State University in Madison, S.D., where they’ll both be on the Trojan football team.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Nohel Vivanco pitched in both games of a doubleheader versus Fairmont from Friday, May 9. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Vivanco’s return from injury made a big impact on the Arrows, and he showed off his versatility en route to additionally winning the Cesar Tovar award.
Tovar was a former Minnesota Twin who on Sept. 22, 1968, became the second in Major League Baseball history (Bert Campaneris was first) to play all nine fielding positions in a single game.
From Venezuela, “Pepito” was adored by then manager Billy Martin because of his speed and contact hitting style — striking out only seven percent of the time during his entire 12-year professional career per baseballreference.com.
Vivanco was needed at third base this season, after playing primarily outfield spots earlier in his career.
The “Iron Mike” award is named for the blue pitching machine the Arrows use during training sessions.
Zollner added the “Iron Mike” honor several years ago when Arrows then showed an abundant reluctance to getting hit by a pitch.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Zayne Zollner (right) touches gloves with Weston Reinhard after working out a jam. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Coach Zollner reported team awards were voted on by the coaching staff and the players alike.
All-Big South Conference and all-section honors will officially be released once the Minnesota State High School baseball tournament has been completed. Look for them a future edition of the Pipestone County Star.
Legion season arrives
Pipestone American Legion Post No. 6 began its season on Tuesday with a doubleheader on Monday, June 9 at Edgerton and a junior level only contest in Slayton Tuesday, June 10.
The senior team opener is set for Thursday, June 12, at A’s/City Field in Westview Park. The junior game will begin at 5 p.m., with the senior level to follow at 7.
Other home games are set versus Marshall (June 16, junior level only), Windom (July 19), Heron Lake-Okabena (June 23, junior level only), Adrian (June 25) and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (June 5).
The junior sub-substate tournament follows July 13-15, and substate in Luverne during several more dates in July.
Details on the senior tournament weren’t readily available at press time.
Pipestone Area Schools logo. (Contributed graphic from the PAS school district)
INFORMATION
BASEBALL
AWARD WINNERS
Pipestone Area Schools
Sunday, June 1
At A’s/City Field
Most valuable player: Landon Quist
Most improved player: Zayne Zollner
Most hustle: Weston Reinhard
Mr. Defense: Nohel Vivanco
Top hitter (tie): Quist and Vivanco
Top pitcher: Reinhard
Cesar Tovar: Vivanco
Iron Mike: Quist and Vivanco