ANNA PIPENHAGEN, Elk River • softball

The 2012 season was a good one for Anna Pipenhagen, who finished with 12 victories. But the Elk River junior pitcher knew she had much more to give. She spent the offseason tinkering, developing pitches and getting stronger. The result: 16 victories, a school-record seven shutouts and a berth in this week's Class 3A state tournament.

Pipenhagen pitched a pair of shutouts in her final two Section 8 games, defeating Brainerd 7-0 Wednesday and shutting down top-seeded Bemidji 5-0 with 12 strikeouts in the final.

"I knew she'd be strong, but this is better than I could have hoped for," coach Stacey Sheetz said.

Pipenhagen credited her teammates for "a really good vibe on this team," she said. "Having a good defense behind me helps. It gives me confidence."

She also has developed an "out'' pitch that has helped her wriggle out of jams on more than a few occasions.

"I came up with a screwball," she said. "It looks like it's going straight, and then it dives into their hands. If I need an out, I'm using the screwball."

Chris Larson, Andover

CHRIS LARSON, Andover • track and field

Saturday's blustery conditions did not faze Larson. The junior won four championships at the Section 7, Class 2A meet, winning the 200 meters (22.92 seconds), the long jump (20 feet, 5 ½ inches) and running on the victorious 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.

CLAIRE OBERLE, Holy Family • track and field

The sophomore blazed to a pair of Class 2A, Section 2 sprint titles, winning the 100-meter dash in a time of 12.05 and the 200-meter dash in 24.77. She also anchored the 4x400 relay team that finished a close second to top-seeded Chaska.

ERIC COLVIN, Stillwater • track and field

Colvin, a senior and Gophers recruit, set a school record en route to winning the 3,200-meter run at the Class 2A, Section 4 meet, finishing in a time of 9:03.86. The next day, Colvin won the 1,600-meter run in a time of 4:15.69.

CELIA KUENSTER, Cretin-Derham Hall • golf

Still only a junior, Kuenster, the defending Class 3A state champion, solidified her claim to the No. 1 ranking in the state when she shot a course-record 68 to win the Section 4 meet at Tanner's Brook. Her score was 13 strokes better than the second-place finisher.

STEPHEN FRIDAY, Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville adapted softball

The junior shortstop, who attends Lakeville South, led the Blazing Cats to their first CI Division state championship. In three games, he went 8-for-11 and played nearly flawless defense, turning two unassisted double plays in the championship game.

SCOTT MCNAMARA, Holy Angels • lacrosse

The sophomore attackman had three goals and three assists in an 11-7 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall. He also had a season-high seven goals along with two assists in a 15-14 victory over St. Thomas Academy.