It hasn’t been a season to remember for Lakeville North’s Kyle Rhodus. Going into Friday’s Class 3A quarterfinals, the senior rightfielder was hitting .213, far below expectations.

That doesn’t mean that Rhodus isn’t pulling his weight, however. He made two clutch plays in the same inning – one in the field, the other at the plate – to help the Panthers to a 3-0 victory over Anoka.

Leading 1-0 in bottom of the fourth inning, Rhodus fielded a single and threw a dart to catcher Nick Juaire, who tagged out Anoka’s Bowen Olson to preserve the shutout. He celebrated with some enthusiastic chest-thumping.

With one out in the next inning, Rhodus doubled to the wall in right center off of Anoka pitcher Alex Pribyl. He stood at second base, grinning broadly and pumping his fist. He came around to score the Panthers’ second run on a double by Nick Juaire.

“I’m an energy guy,” Rhodus said. “The team looks to me for a spark. I haven’t had the greatest season, but I’m always trying to get the team excited if we need it.”

With Rhodus building energy and pitcher Billy Riach keeping the Anoka hitters off-balance, Lakeville North advanced to the Class 3A semifinals for the second consecutive year.

“Kyle’s a spark for us,” said Riach, who was the model of efficiency on the mound, pitching six shutout innings, giving up seven hits, on just 74 pitches. “He gets us going.”

Riach’s pitching style had a lot to do with Lakeville North’s energy level as well. A pitcher who induces ground balls, his goal is to get hitters to put the ball in play and let his defense do the heavy lifting.

“My role is to throw the ball over the plate and let them hit it,” Riach said. “I was throwing all of my pitches for strikes and we played some great defense.”

Riach gave way to senior Grant Gunderson, the Panthers’ closer, in the seventh. Some uncharacteristic sloppiness in the field allowed Anoka to get two runners on base, but Gunderson slammed the door, earning his team-record fifth save.

“That’s the way we want to play,” Rhodus said. “Get a lead and then let the defense keep it. That’s why Billy’s been our best starter.''