Once again, Logan Shore lives up to sizable expectations

Each time Logan Shore fired his 94-mph fastball, people took notice. It impressed anyone who heard its pop while befuddling opposing hitters.

The 6-2, 210-pound pitcher is 8-0 and has given up only three earned runs in 47⅔ innings. He has struck out 60 batters and walked only five. His ERA is 0.44 and opposing teams have only a .137 average against him.

Even the Twins were impressed. Area scout Mark Wilson watched the senior righthander whiz pitches by one batter after another throughout the season and encouraged the organization to draft the hometown talent in last week's Major League Baseball draft.

Shore's nearly perfect effort on the mound earned him co-honors as Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year. He earned the honor outright last year. In sharing this one, he was the first in line to congratulate fellow winner Max Knutson of Mounds View.

Shore knows he achieved everything he was supposed to this year. He handled the expectations of his commitment to a prominent Division I college (University of Florida), a high MLB draft status, and a returning player of the year honor with poise and more success.

"I feel like I did everything I could on the mound, for sure," Shore said. "Every start, I got a little better."

Coon Rapids will play in the Class 3A tournament Thursday, thanks to Shore's three dominant starts and one relief appearance that claimed all four Cardinals victories in the Section 5 tournament. In each start, he struck out nine batters.

Shore felt like he had a lot to prove in his final high school season. He ended last season pitching despite a bad back and was defeated in the section playoffs. Two months later, he came up just short of a spot on the U.S. national team. But he returned this season healthy and inspired, and is on track to put together one of the best seasons in state history.

"The more you focus on the team and everyone coming together, that's when good things happen," Shore said. "It's been awesome. We have 12 seniors this year and growing up with them, it's always been our dream to play in the state tournament and it's come true. And to get the one seed, it's going to be a blast."

To read about Max Knutson, the iother Star Tribune co-player of the year, click here.)