Today is championship day in the baseball state tournament. Winners so far have been St. Thomas Academy in Class 3A, Duluth Marshall in 2A and BOLD in 1A champ. The Class 4A title game between New Prague and East Ridge didn't start until 9:30 p.m. because of earlier weather delays.
Cadets senior Duke Coborn threw a 7-inning, 1-0 shutout against Benilde-St. Margaret's, keyed by a run-preventing throw from centerfielder Charlie Berg in the sixth inning.
Both 2A teams, Minnehaha Academy and Duluth Marshall, have made it this far in recent years; in 1A, BOLD looks for a second title while New York Mills seeks its first.
The turnaround can be traced to a pancake house meeting that helped players open up and overcome a 1-5 start and injuries to six teammates throughout the season.
Self-described “small-town boys’’ from New Prague, playing in the program’s first state tournament in 39 years, are one victory from the Class 4A championship.
As part of recognizing top athletes during the school year, the Star Tribune has extended its high school sports award brand to recognize All-Metro team champions in adapted sports, dance team and synchronized swimming.
A few hours after the school's girls' team won a state title, the boys' team, led by goalie Colin Nauertz, defended theirs by knocking off previously unbeaten Benilde-St. Margaret's.
Coverage of high school sports in the Twin Cities and around Minnesota, from the regular season through the tournaments, with discussion forums and stats.