CROOKSTON, Minn. - The huddle breaks from outside the dugout with a shout of 'family' as the University of Minnesota Crookston baseball players take their positions on the diamond. A truer statement could not be stated as Minnesota Crookston has become a family, and no family is a greater testament and example of this than the Hjelle family. For nine years, Garret and Kelly Hjelle, their daughter Taylor, parents, and now grandchildren, have trekked across the country following Minnesota Crookston baseball. While their two sons Reed and Jake have become synonymous with Minnesota Crookston baseball, the family is much more expansive. It includes the countless friends and teammates of Reed and Jake they have met along the last nine years.

"I think you know the way I cheer it isn't just about my kid," said Kelly Hjelle. "I get emotional talking about it, but I just love them all and I want to see them all succeed. These last couple of years I feel like people are almost sick of the Hjelle's because in the articles, it is just like 'we heard enough about them.' So I want others to shine."

For years, Kelly and Garret, and their parents Chuck and Linda Eilefson, and Jane and Landis Hjelle have not only traveled the country supporting the team, but they have also hosted countless dinners and hosted other families at their homes. They all have made countless memories along the way.

"I know some of the guys wanted to be Jake or Reed's roommate just to come from family dinners," Hjelle stated. "That is what we did. We had so many family dinners. We enjoyed feeding the boys. Back when Reed played, the guys didn't go home for Easter or Thanksgiving because it was a short weekend, so we had them for dinner. They would come out to my in-laws. I will never forget one time, the boys' teammates were coming for Easter and Reed and Jake were like 'we are going to put on a suit.' They opened the door and made them feel bad that they didn't dress up. They were in their suits, and some of their teammates' faces were priceless."

The journey for Kelly and Garret Hjelle began when their son Reed enrolled at Minnesota Crookston prior to the 2016 season. The Golden Eagles hadn't had a ton of success but had started to turn the corner under Head Coach Steve Gust, who had ties to Garret Hjelle, as they both grew up playing baseball in East Grand Forks. Reed had always had big dreams of playing college baseball, but didn't have the offers he had hoped for.

"When Reed didn't get those options he had hoped for, it was tough because that is what he worked for," Kelly Hjelle said. "UMN Crookston was basically his only option. He didn't get the calls. Right from the get-go, Garret and I were behind him, we told him it was going to be great. We are all in, and we are going to make it the best experience ever."

While it has become much more than just about her sons Jake and Reed, it has been an incredible ride supporting them. Jake and Reed have etched their names in the record books at Minnesota Crookston. They were the first two brothers to ever win NSIC Player of the Year honors, Reed in 2018, and Jake in 2023. Both brothers went on to be All-Region and All-America performers, with Jake earning NCBWA National Player of the Year in 2023. Jake was able to follow Reed's lead.

"Reed set the tone for Jake," Hjelle said. "Jake wouldn't have come to Crookston if it hadn't been for Reed. Jake had a lot more opportunities, he had offers from Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. Reed was the one who said 'you will never feel like a family as much as you will in Crookston.' I don't think Jake wanted to be in his brother's shadow because Reed did so well. I prayed all the time that Jake would get an opportunity to be Player of the Year, to be an All-American. Just because we were so proud of Reed for having that success. I didn't want the two of them to have to compete. When Jake achieved those accolades, it was so awesome."

Reed has continued to be one of the biggest cheerleaders for his brother, catching as many games as he can and helping Jake with baseball, and life. He has been a great support system and example along the way. Reed had dreams of playing professional baseball, but he now gets to watch and support his brother Jake as he plays for the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks of the American Association.

"Reed watches every game," Kelly Hjelle stated. "He tries to help his brother. He couldn't be more proud of his success."

Watching Jake chase his dream with the Redhawks has been a full circle moment for Kelly and Garret, as they used to take the kids to watch the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks when Garret was an umpire in the Northern League (the league the Redhawks used to play in.

"Garret umpired in the minor leagues when I first met him," Hjelle remarked. "He gave it up to have a family. I know he could have gone farther but he was umpiring in the Pioneer League, when he came here he was offered a position at the time, the Northern League, where the Redhawks played. Garret umpired in the Northern League for six years, that was his side job. The kids and I would go to the games and Garret would umpire. We were Redhawks fans. Garret didn't really like it, he would be like 'you can't pick a side when I am umpiring.' We stood outside the player's entrance and we would wait for Garret but we would get autographs, broken bats, all of the players to sign our hats. For one of the boys to now play for the Redhawks brings everything full circle."

It was an emotional experience as well for Kelly and Garret to see the number Jake came out wearing when he made his debut for the Redhawks.

"Jake is number 34, when he got there they had quite a few open numbers but Garret's number was 34," Kelly Hjelle stated. "So he picked that number and we could see him, Garret was like, 'he is 34.' It was really cool."

Family continues to be the string that ties everything together for the Hjelle's and the entire Minnesota Crookston baseball program. It all goes back to Reed's freshman year when Kelly and Garret went to Florida and saw the culture already around Minnesota Crookston baseball set by parents such as Ron and Lisa Haggstrom, and Greg and Jodi Frazier.

"Honestly we learned from the best, like the Haggstroms and Fraziers," Hjelle said. "They welcomed us with open arms and they had a family atmosphere from the get-go. A lot of the credit goes to Coach Steve Gust and his wife Anita, as well. How many head coaches' wives do what Anita does? She doesn't have to do that, but it seems like she is a team manager."

Kelly Hjelle will miss a lot of things about traveling to games to support the teams, but one of the greatest joys has been the time she has gotten to spend with her and Garret's parents Jane and Landis Hjelle, and Chuck and Linda Eilefson. 

"It was more than just about baseball," Hjelle said. "Garret and I got to travel with both of my parents. How many couples get to vacation with their four parents for nine years? We rented the car together. We were on a mission for meatloaf dinner most trips. We had the best meatloaf in almost every town. I love the two dads, everyone laughs that they remind them of the two old guys in the Muppets. They always sit together and they find their spot. We have to plan a trip with our two sets of parents. We just won't be going to a game."

Over their adventures following the Golden Eagles, the Hjelle family has gotten to see the rise of Minnesota Crookston baseball. They got to see the team's first NSIC Tournament appearance since 2001 at the conclusion of Reed's freshman year in 2016, and have been a part of six NSIC Tournament trips in total. The team was just one-year removed from back-to-back one-win seasons in 2016 when Reed started his collegiate career. Kelly Hjelle's answer as to where the success has come from all points back to family.

"Honestly I feel like the brotherhood and how close they are," Hjelle remarked. "They are together 24/7, the team is. Not just during baseball season. I love when they do their huddle and they say family. It is one of my favorite things. I feel like it is about the family. I talked to Jake Dykhoff, he said that he sometimes doesn't like to come to Crookston because he never wants to leave. That is home for a lot of these boys. You know a lot of these boys could play somewhere else, but they don't want to. There were like 75 players at Reed's wedding. It was a family reunion and where else do you get that. They ice fish, they hunt, he has gotten into duck hunting because of his buddies at Crookston. They are doing stuff together all the time and not just baseball.. They don't play for themselves, they play for the guy next to him."

In the end it all points back to what Jake Hjelle had on his baseball hat, F.O.E., Family Over Everything, whether it is about the Hjelle family, or the Minnesota Crookston baseball family. It is all about family, and that doesn't end with blood. It is a Golden Eagle baseball family and those bonds won't end just because Jake and Reed Hjelle are done putting on the maroon and gold uniform. They will stay for life, and that is pretty special.