EMILY HANSEN
Buffalo • softball
There's really no other way to put it: Hansen, a junior shortstop known for her bat, is on fire.
She's been so hot that it's been nearly two weeks since she officially recorded an out. In five games dating to May 10, Hansen, who has committed to the University of Minnesota, is 13-for-13. Over that span, she has hit two home runs, driven in 10 runs and raised her batting average to .685 (37-for-54).
"I knew I was 7-for-7," she said with a laugh. "But I'll take that."
Hansen's big game came Saturday, in her second of the day. She went 5-for-5, hit two home runs, scored three times and had seven RBI in a 17-2 rout over Monticello.
Going back to the start of May, Hansen is hitting .864 (19-of-22). That hot streak coincides with a 10-game winning streak that has put Buffalo, the 2016 Class 4A runners-up, back into consideration as a championship contender.
"We started slow because we felt the pressure to get back there," Hansen said. "Now we're more relaxed and having fun."
OLIVIA KONIGSON
Stillwater • lacrosse
There's some unfinished business Konigson would like to take care of before she leaves to play hockey at Quinnipiac University.
The Ponies have made six consecutive appearances in the state semifinals without reaching a championship game. They've lost to Eden Prairie in four of those semifinals, by just one goal in each of the last two seasons. The high-scoring senior midfielder (42 goals, 53 points) has had it with getting so close with no reward.