Mounds View at East Ridge
4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 22

Despite losing its pitching ace in each of the last two Class 3A state championship seasons, it appears as if No. 2-3A Mounds View (5-0) isn’t going away.

The Mustangs have opened their state title defense with five straight victories, three by shutouts. Senior Henry DeCaster has struck out 11 in 10 innings, including a big combo effort with Bo Lovdahl in a 3-2, nine-inning victory over Cretin-Derham Hall on April 15. The pair combined to throw nine innings of six-hit ball before Joe Fredrickson doubled in the game-winning run in the ninth. Josh Gaworski has won both of his starts and is the only other Mustangs’ pitcher (of seven total) who has allowed an earned run this spring.

No. 12-3A East Ridge (3-3) hopes to bring the Mustangs back to the pack in the Suburban East Conference and has showed offense this spring, scoring 49 runs in six games. The Raptors also played a one-run game against Cretin-Derham Hall on April 17, but fell 7-6. Sam Cobbs led the Raptors’ offense by going 3-for-4 with two RBI.