SAM SCHAEFER

Eagan • baseball

Hard work, an air-tight defense and the best stuff he's had all spring proved to be an unhittable combination as the junior righthander, in just his fourth varsity start, threw a no-hitter in a 5-0 victory over Bemidji on Saturday.

"It feels pretty good," Schaefer said. "But it was only possible because of the defense I had behind me, considering they put the ball in play 18 times."

Schaefer, who is strictly a pitcher for the Wildcats ("I get DH'd for," he admitted), said he became aware that he had a no-hitter going in the fourth inning.

"I was just trying to keep my mind off it," he said. "And, of course, there was the superstition about no-hitters. People weren't talking to me."

Schaefer relied his ability to mix pitches and pinpoint location for success. "I was hitting my spots better than I have all year," he said. "I worked on that in the off-season. Hopefully, that's just the first of a few no-hitters."

JESSICA BREN

Chanhassen • softball

The junior catcher/third baseman had an oustanding week at the plate as the Storm, ranked No. 4 in Class 4A, won three times. Bren went eight-for-12 with three home runs, four runs scored and 10 RBI. She is hitting .528 on the season and is tied for the metro lead in home runs with five.

JEDAH CALDWELL

Chanhassen • track and field

The senior remained dominant in the sprints at the Hamline Elite Meet on Friday, sweeping the 100 and 200 meter dashes for the second consecutive year in meet-record times: 12.01 seconds in the 100 and 24.38 in the 200. She is the defending Class 2A state champion in both events.

EMILY KOMPELIEN

Edina track and field

The sophomore ran the lead leg for the Hornets' winning 4x800 relay team at the Hamline Elite Meet on Friday, then ran a school-record setting 4:55.90 to finish third in the 1,600 meters. The next day, she won the 400 meters at the Eden Prairie Invitational.

NAOMI ROGGE

Eden Prairie • lacrosse

Better known for her prowess on the ice — the senior has commtted to play hockey at Minnesota-Duluth — Rogge showed some serious lacrosse skills with five goals, an assist, 11 draw controls and three ground balls in leading the No. 1-ranked Eagles to a 20-4 victory over No. 5 Minnetonka.

REECE SANDERS

Blake • golf

The defending Class 2A individual champion outlasted a top-flight field and gusty conditions to win The Preview (formerly Tri-State Invitational) at Edinburgh U.S.A. over the weekend. The junior shot 68-73 to finish with a three-under-par 141, five strokes ahead of runner-up Ben Sigel of Minnetonka.

SAM THORESON

Minnetonka • baseball

The talent-rich Skippers are starting to hit their stride, having reeled off seven consecutive victories. Their latest may be the most impressive. Thoresen blanked Class 4A, No. 1 Wayzata 2-0 on Saturday, giving up just an infield single in the fifth inning, while striking out eight and facing the minimum 27 batters.

JIM PAULSEN

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