Eric Johnson, Minnetonka girls' hockey head coach since 2005, stepped down last week, citing a desire to spend more time with his wife and three hockey-playing sons. He led the Skippers to five Class 2A state tournaments and three consecutive titles (2011-13).

DAVID LA VAQUE

U softball wins two

The No. 21 Gophers softball team won twice in the South Florida tournament in Tampa, beating Butler 3-2 on Sydney Smith's three-hitter and then the host Bulls 3-0 on Amber Fiser's two-hitter.

The first game was scoreless until Minnesota scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on Anne Miller's RBI single and Josey White's bases-loaded walk. South Florida tied the score in the seventh on a two-run homer, but the Gophers got the winning run on a throwing error in the bottom of the inning.

Smith struck out 11 and walked one.

Against the Bulls, the Gophers (17-7) scored twice in the second on Allie Arneson's RBI single and a fielder's choice and once in the seventh on MaKenna Partain's RBI double.

Etc.

• Sophomore Angus Flanagan is in third place and the Gophers men's golf team is tied for ninth after the opening round of the Schenkel Invitational at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Ga. Flanagan, of Woking, England, shot a 3-under-par 69, his fifth round under 70 this season.

• The Gophers women's tennis team won 6-1 over Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., in their first Big Ten outdoor match. Minnesota (8-6, 1-1 Big Ten) handed the Scarlet Knights their first home loss in five matches.

• Matthew Hurt of Rochester John Marshall was named the Gatorade Boys' Basketball Player of the Year in Minnesota. The 6-9 senior forward averaged 37 points for the Rockets (22-7).

• Mike Herauf of the Gophers won the pole vault (16 feet, 2¾ inches) at the Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla.