In the Community, With the Community, For the Community
www.minnlocal.com – Thursday, April 21, 2011 – Eden Prairie Sun-Current
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Defending state champion EP opens impressively BY GREG KLEVEN • SUN NEWSPAPERS Eden Prairie would like nothing better than to celebrate another state Class 3A baseball championship on the lush green grass of Target Field in June. The Eagles are defending state Class 3A champions after defeating Burnsville 7-5 in the title game a year ago. Eden Prairie will be a state title contender again if its first two performances of the 2011 season are indicative. EP opened the season with impressive victories over Bloomington Jefferson and Eastview last week. Eden Prairie blanked Jefferson 10-0 April 14 at Round Lake Stadium in a game shortened to five innings because of the 10-run rule. Senior pitcher Adam Bray struck out six and gave up four hits in four. Reliever Tyler Ruemmele struck out two batters in one inning. Lance Thonvold connected for a three-run homer in the first inning. Tony Skjefte and Danny Blasy had RBI singles. Ryan Bull contributed a three-run double in the fourth. “This was one of the best opening games an Eden Prairie baseball team has played,” said Eagle coach Mike Halloran. “We performed well in the
field and got strong pitching from Bray and Ruemmele.” Eden Prairie defeated Eastview 5-1 April 16 in another home game. Ruemmele pitched four innings to earn the win. He allowed three hits and struck out three. Thonvold picked up a save with one-hit pitching over three innings. He struck out three. Ruemmele and Blasy had two hits each. Skjefte, Bull, Grant Soderberg and Blasy had one RBI apiece. “It was a good outing for our pitchers,” said Halloran. “They threw strikes. “The younger guys are getting more confident with each game.” Eden Prairie will travel to Rosemount for a 4:15 p.m. non-conference game Thursday, April 21. Then the Eagles will head north for two games in Grand Rapids. Eden Prairie will play Grand Rapids at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Legion Field before meeting Blake at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Grand Portage Park. Eden Prairie senior pitcher Adam Bray was all smiles after helping his Eagle baseball squad open the season with a 10-0, five-inning home victory over Bloomington Jefferson April 14 at Round Lake Stadium. Bray allowed four hits and stuck out six in four innings of work. (Photo by Greg Kleven • Sun Newspapers)
Willeck tosses three-hit softball gem BY GREG KLEVEN • SUN NEWSPAPERS Eden Prairie softball coach Dan Rubischko likes what he has seen of his squad in the opening two games. The Eagles are 1-1 after defeating Edina 8-1 and losing 2-1 to Bloomington Jefferson. “We haven’t made many mistakes or errors in our first two games,” said Rubischko. “I have been pleased with both our pitching and defense.” Senior pitcher Claire Willeck threw a three-hitter to help the Eagles earn an 8-1 win over Edina April 11. She struck out six. Senior catcher Eryn Yancy had two hits for the Eagles. Junior shortstop Kelli Nute came through with two hits and two RBI. Eden Prairie allowed one Edina run in the top of the first inning before coming back to score five
times in the bottom half of the inning. Eden Prairie lost 2-1 to thirdranked Bloomington Jefferson at home April 14. Yancy hit two doubles and drove in the lone EP run. Nicole Brandenburg, a junior infielder, had one hit. Eden Prairie captains are senior Andie Kuebler (center field) and junior Kallie Nichols (pitcher). Eden Prairie is hoping to improve on last season’s 11-12 record. The Eagles will travel to Rosemount for a 4:15 p.m. game Thursday, April 21. Eden Prairie remains on the road to play Hopkins at 4:15 p.m. Monday, April 25. Eden Prairie plays at Edina at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 27. “Hopkins is the Lake Conference title favorite,” said Rubischko. “Our toughest section opponent will be Shakopee.”
Ziyue Chen is key returnee for Eagle badminton squad BY GREG KLEVEN • SUN NEWSPAPERS Eden Prairie singles player Ziyue Chen is the top returnee for the Eagle girls badminton team. Chen, a senior, finished third in state singles competition last season and is unbeaten this spring. The Eagles, 2-1 overall, blanked Hmong Academy 7-0 March 29. Singles winners were Chen, Aleah Salloway, Ayaka Nishi and Kaylee Damasin. Eden Prairie got doubles victories from Morgan Reese/Allison Becker, Jamie Peterson/Kirsten Peterson and Britta Monger/Samantha Prins. Eden Prairie lost 5-2 to St. Paul Central March 30. Chen recorded a singles victory. The second doubles team of Jamie Peterson and Kirsten Peterson were also winners.
Eden Prairie coach John Becker used his junior varsity players in the team’s third match of the season. The young Eagles squad edged Minneapolis Washburn 4-3 April 11. “It was fun for the girls to move up and face excellent competition,” said the Eagle coach. “And the girls came out on the winning end.” Eden Prairie is a senior-dominated squad. The Eagles’ varsity is composed of all seniors except for the doubles team of Jamie Peterson and Kirsten Peterson, who are juniors. Eden Prairie’s senior captains are Chen, Becker, Reese and Prins. Eden Prairie will travel to St. Paul Como Park for a 3:45 p.m. match Thursday, April 21. The Eagles go on the road to play St. Paul Harding at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 27.