Prep week ahead: Top 3A baseball powers to clash

A couple of baseball rematches featuring four of the top five teams in the Class 3A rankings take center stage this week.

Wednesday, No. 1-ranked Mounds View (12-1), winner of the past two 3A championships, has a juicy matchup at Suburban East rival and traditional baseball power Cretin-Derham Hall (10-3), which is currently ranked No. 3. Mounds View won a previous meeting on April 15, 3-2 in nine innings. Game time is 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, No. 5 Eden Prairie (8-4) travels to Chaska to take the No. 2-ranked Hawks. After winning it first nine games, Chaska (11-1) lost for the first time last week, 4-2 to Bloomington Jefferson, but bounced back with victories over Richfield and East Ridge. Chaska won at Eden Prairie 10-8 on April 1. First pitch from Chaska Athletic Park is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Monday: Eastview at Eagan, 4:15 p.m. Eastview beat Eagan 7-1 Saturday in the finals of the Great 8 Invitational. Two days later, Eagan gets a chance at home to avenge that loss.

Wednesday: Bloomington Jefferson at Chanhassen, 7 p.m. Jefferson, No. 2 in Class 3A, beat No. 9 Chanhassen 3-2 on April 16.

Friday: Kasson-Mantorville at Rosemount, 5:30 p.m. A duel between two of the state's best pitchers in defending Class 2A champion Kasson-Mantorville, led by Purdue recruit Maddie Damon, and Rosemount sophomore Gabby Sprang, who committed to Tennessee as a freshman. 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: Jefferson at Eden Prairie, 5:30 p.m. Eden Prairie started 5-0 and was No. 1 in the boys' lacrosse state rankings before losing to Edina and Wayzata last week. Jefferson (7-0) is one of six unbeaten teams in the state.

• Pitcher Kerrigan Hoshaw dazzled, giving up just two runs in 17 innings of work, to lead host Eastview to the championship of the Great 8 softball tournament Saturday. The Lightning beat Hopkins 7-1 and Bloomington Jefferson 8-1 before rolling over South Suburban conference-rival Eagan 7-1 in the final.

• The West Lutheran softball team lost for the first time this season after 15 consecutive victories, falling to Kasson-Mantorville 1-0 in the final of the Concordia Academy tournament. "We have nothing to hang our heads about," West Lutheran coach Bill Vollbrecht said.