Why Wayzata will win: The core of this Trojans team is made of up players who also played on Wayzata's 2015 American Legion state championship team. Staff ace Tom Skoro only pitched 4 ⅔ innings in the semifinals, so he will be well-rested for the final.
Why Champlin Park will win: The Rebels have 14 seniors who have played together for years. They are not fazed by the big stage, having scored six first-inning runs in two tournament games. Champlin Park is 9-0 vs. Lake Conference foes over the past two seasons.
Key to watch: Keeping Champlin Park off the bases. The Rebels run every chance they get, putting pressure on the defense. If the Rebels score early, they are tough to beat.
JIM PAULSEN
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More From Star Tribune
More From Sports
Sports
Anze Kopitar scores in overtime, Kings beat Oilers 5-4 in Game 2 to tie series
Anze Kopitar fired a wrist shot past Stuart Skinner's glove and into the top corner on a breakaway to give the Los Angeles Kings a 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series.
Sports
Thunder's Holmgren bests Pelicans' Valanciunas in center matchup to help OKC take 2-0 lead
Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren won his center matchup with Jonas Valanciunas and helped Oklahoma City beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series Wednesday night.
Sports
AP PHOTOS: Russian kids ride sticks with a horse's head in hobby horsing competition
Several dozen kids — 48 girls and one boy, from first-graders to teenagers — gathered recently at a gymnasium in northern St. Petersburg for a hobby horsing competition. The event looked exactly like a proper equestrian competition, but instead of a horse they rode a stick with a horse's head.
Sports
Defending champion Golden Knights beat Stars 3-1 to take 2-0 series lead home to Vegas
Jack Eichel and defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas got exactly what they anticipated, and withstood that early hard push in Game 2 by the desperate Dallas Stars.
Twins
Castro's three-run birthday blast helps Twins beat White Sox
Willi Castro celebrated his 27th birthday with a three-run home run Wednesday night, and the Twins defeated the MLB-worst Chicago White Sox 6-3.
