Prep athletes of the week: Lakeville N. star stunned by three-HR, 12-RBI game

The junior shortstop had never hit a home run in his life: not in high school ball, summer ball, even Little League. So no one was more surprised than Altavilla when he hit three in three innings — a three-run shot in the first and back-to-back grand slams in the second and third innings of a 15-0 rout of Eastview on Saturday. He came up with the bases loaded again in the fifth inning and lined an RBI single, giving him a state-record 12 RBI in one game.

"Before that game I was feeling it in the batting cages," Altavilla said. "I was excited to get up to bat. The ball looked like a beach ball."

A Division I recruit (he has verbally agreed to attend Nebraska), Altavilla's strengths are his gloves and his ability as a switch hitter. Hitting for power, he said, had never been a factor in his game until Saturday.

"It's an unreal feeling. I'm just glad I got the opportunity," he said. "The whole team played a great game. That's the best part."

It was a busy and successful week for the sophomore sprinter. In three meets, she won nine of 12 events and finished second in three others. She won all four events she entered in Saturday's Cannon Falls Invitational and is listed among the state's best in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and the long jump.

The junior caught all 21 innings the Mustangs played last week, leading them to two victories in three games and helping them score 28 runs. Lindstrom went 6-for-10 at the plate (.600), tripled twice and drove in seven runs. He also was a perfect 4-for-4 stealing bases.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 start on the season behind the offensive production of the senior catcher. He went 6-for-10 with three doubles, a triple, seven RBI and four runs scored as Eagan defeated Lakeville South 2-1, Eden Prairie 6-5 and Rosemount 12-6.

DeLaSalle has come out swinging, scoring 28 runs in its first two games, both victories. The senior pitcher/third baseman has wielded a hot bat, going 5-for-7 (.714), with all five hits going for extra bases — two doubles, two triples and a grand slam. In total, he drove in 11 runs and scored five.

The senior captain and five-year starter at catcher looked to be in midseason form as the Redhawks won two of three games. She hit .545 (6-for-11) with a pair of doubles and five RBI and she threw out four of nine base-stealers from her perch behind the plate.

JIM PAULSEN