EDDIE ESTRADA JR.

Litchfield • baseball

It's a well-worn cliché, but still very appropriate: Baseball is indeed a very humbling game.

Estrada, a senior shortstop and future Minnesota Gopher, was made aware of that Saturday at the Delano Wood Bat tournament. "I didn't have a great day," he said. "Three games, I think I was something like 2-for-11."

It was what Estrada did before Saturday that carries the "wow" factor. He showed why he was called by one publication "Minnesota's best pure hitter" with a four-game stretch in which he had 13 hits in 14 at-bats. "That was really fun," Estrada said. "You couldn't fathom how confident I was. I felt like no one could get me out."

He was brought back to Earth a bit Saturday, but he's still hitting a robust .559 (33-for-59) with six home runs.

His sights are now set helping Litchfield get to the state tournament for the first time in team history. In 2014, the Dragons fell one game short.

"I feel like this team is different than other Litchfield teams," Estrada said. "One through nine, we're hitting like crazy. We have the confidence to do it this year."

Peter Asplin, Dassel-Cokato track

PETER ASPLIN

Dassel-Cokato • track and field

Just a sophomore, Asplin set himself up as a force to be reckoned with for the next few years by winning three events at the Wright County Conference West meet. He won the 110 and 300 hurdles — both for the second consecutive season — and added a championship in the triple jump.

MADI JEWELL

Buffalo • golf

The senior, a Minnesota State Mankato signee, played her best golf of the season last week. She won two Mississippi 8 conference meets, shooting a 1-over 73 at Fox Hollow G.C. and a 4-under 68 at St. Cloud Country Club.

REBECCA LIEBELT

Columbia Heights • softball

In four games last week, including three victories in the Section 4, 1A playoffs, the senior shortstop went on a serious offensive tear. She hit .722 (13-for-18), had three doubles, three triples, three home runs and 14 RBI.

SCOTT MCNAMARA

Holy Angels • lacrosse

McNamara, a senior midfielder, is running away with the scoring lead in the state with 50 goals and 75 points. In his past four games, McNamara has 19 goals and 12 assists, including an eight-goal outburst against Mahtomedi on May 9. He has committed to play lacrosse at Marquette.

ASHLEY OSBECK

Blaine • lacrosse

The junior midfielder led the Bengals to a pair of one-goal victories over two of the top teams in the Northwest Suburban. She had three goals and six assists in a 12-11 victory over Armstrong and a goal and four assists as Blaine handed Champlin Park its first loss, 8-7.

XENA YANG

St. Paul Johnson • badminton

One year after failing to place at the state tournament, Yang, a senior, completed a remarkable ascension to the top of the prep badminton world, beating Burnsville's Ashley VanderWoude 21-15, 19-21, 21-12 to win the state singles championship. Two days earlier, she paced the undefeated Governors to the team title.

JIM PAULSEN