Veteran hurler has special week

CHELSEA DURLAND

Orono, softball

Durland is an old hand in pitching circles, an 18-year-old senior who has been toeing the rubber since she was 7.

She plays on All-Star teams in the summer, getting the chance to face some of the best competition in the country and hone her skills. She has seen plenty and accomplished more.

But even Durland admits her two-day, four-game stretch of pitching last week was something to cherish.

She pitched complete games in back-to-back doubleheader sweeps, beating Waconia 11-0 and 8-0 and Annandale 13-1 and 7-0.

She gave up only one hit in 12 innings and striking out 26 against Waconia, pitching a five-inning perfect game in the opener. Against Annandale, she gave up three hits, did not give up an earned run and fanned 17.

"Sometimes it comes and it goes," Durland said. "But, yeah, I did pitch really well last week."

Durland said a big reason for her success is that she is feeling more comfortable in her role as a leader for the Spartans.

TYLER

EKENBERG

Apple Valley, golf

Ekenberg, a senior, won all three of the meets in which he competed last week, winning an 11-team Lake Conference meet at Hazeltine, the 15-team Nelson Invitational at the Ridges of Sand Creek and the eight-team Northfield Invitational at the Northfield Country Club.

ASHLEY

MULCHRONE

Maple Grove, softball

The junior center fielder has been the Crimson's most consistent hitter. In four games last week, she went 8-for-11 (a .727 batting average), scored five runs, drove in five runs and was a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts.

JOHNNY KROCAK

Montgomery-Lonsdale, baseball

It was an impressive week for the junior pitcher/infielder. He tossed a one-hitter, striking out 11, in a victory over Mayer Lutheran last Monday. In five games, he went 15-for-18 (.833) at the plate with two home runs, five doubles and 15 RBI.

JENNA

PETERSON

Hopkins, softball

The Royals won four of five games, highlighted by three victories en route to the championship of the Shakopee Invitational. Peterson, a senior, pitched three shutouts, lowering her ERA to 0.68, and hit .800 in the tournament.

KIRK

KENNEALLY

Andover, baseball

Andover coach Don Gawreluk admitted that he had rarely seen a player as hot as Kenneally was last week. The senior third baseman went 11-for-14 with two home runs, four double, six runs scored and 11 RBI. "That was incredible," Gawreluk said.

ROSE TUSA

St. Anthony, softball

The senior pitcher tossed three shutouts last week, all against Tri-Metro Conference foes, including a 5-0 victory over league-leader St. Bernard's. In total, she walked two, gave up nine hits and struck out 42. She also helped her cause by going 6-for-16 with three RBI at the plate.

LAQUONE

ROBINSON

Brooklyn Center,

track and field

The senior won the 110 and 300 hurdles, the long jump and anchored the 4x200 relay team in a dual meet against Concordia Academy and won the 100-meter dash, the 110- and 300-meter hurdles and the triple jump at the Princeton Invitational.

JIM PAULSEN