ASHLEY MICKSCHL

Woodbury • softball

An offseason of hard work, both in the circle and in the batters box, quickly paid dividends for the sophomore pitcher.

She pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out 12, in a 9-0 opening-game victory over Roseville last week.

"It was cold, around 35 degrees, but she was in control," coach Bob Samson said.

She then held down a heavy-hitting East Ridge team while she and her teammates went to work on offense in a 26-6 victory over the crosstown rival Raptors. On the week, Mickschl was 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts and went 5-for-9 with a home run, two doubles and six RBI.

"Over the summer, I worked really hard on my pitches and on getting my velocity up," Mickschl said. "I average about 60 to 62 [mph] on my fastball. Last year I was around 58. It keeps the batters on their toes and throws them off when I throw my changeup."

A changeup that, Mickschl said, looks tasty but tops out at 45 mph.

Matt Ganter, Minnehaha Academy baseball, sr., 2015

"A lot of girls were whiffing at it," she said. "That felt pretty good, knowing the hard work has paid off."

MATT GANTER

Minnehaha Academy • baseball

The senior pitcher/first baseman was a force on the mound and at the plate as the Redhawks started the season with four consecutive victories. He earned two victories and struck out seven in eight innings of pitching and went 7-for-11 with a double and six RBI.

JULIA HAYES

Irondale • track and field

In her first outdoor race of the season, the freshman hurdler broke a 17-year-old school record in the 100 meter hurdles, winning the race at Irondale's Knights Under the Lights meet in a time of 15.03 seconds. She also won the 300 meter hurdles in 47.44.

ALEX MARRON

St. Francis • softball

The sophomore pitcher started last week pitching four innings, striking out five, to earn the victory in a 7-4 victory over Big Lake. Three days later, she dominated Minneapolis Washburn, setting a school record by striking out 18 batters in a 4-2 victory.

BRADY MUNDAHL

Woodbury • baseball

The junior infielder homered twice in a season-opening victory over East Ridge, went 4-for-4 in a loss to Roseville and 3-for-4 in a loss to Cretin-Derham Hall. Overall, he went 9-for-12 with a double, a triple, two homers and seven RBI.

BLAKE TRITCH

Chaska • baseball

The Hawks opened the season 3-0 with the North Dakota State signee leading the way. He pitched seven innings in two games, earning a save and giving up only two hits with 12 strikeouts. As a batter, he had a grand slam and drove in nine runs.

SAMMY WAGNER

Blake • softball

The sophomore third baseman was nearly perfect at the plate in two games last week, going 9-for-10 with two doubles, a triple, her first career home run, a slugging percentage of 1.400, and seven RBI. She also walked twice for an OBP of .917.

JIM PAULSEN