Lakeville North’s Drew Stewart is a three-sport athlete who can make a big impact on the field or in the gym, and now the junior is attempting to have an effect in a different arena - mentoring.

Panthers coach Tony Market paired Stewart with freshman catcher Nick Juarie this season. Market’s hope is Stewart will guide Juaire through the transition to playing varsity baseball, and possibly passing on Stewart’s approach for athletic success.

The plan is working as Juarie has been affected by Stewart’s attitude and play.

“It’s just infectious,” Juaire said. “It gets to you and you want to replicate him.”

Stewart provided Juaire with a performance worth copying in the Panthers’ 6-5 victory over Eden Prairie on Thursday at Lakeville North High School. Stewart hit a two-run, walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap a comeback that propelled the Panthers to a 5-0 record.

Market, who is also a Lakeville North football coach, has seen Stewart succeed in multiple sports - including winning a Class 4A state basketball championship and logging significant minutes with the football and baseball teams. Stewart has competing in a total of six state tournaments during his Panthers’ career.

That experience made Stewart the perfect role model for Juaire, Market said.

“What I enjoy most about (Stewart) is how he works with a young player like Nick Juaire,” Market said. “I was able to talk to (Stewart) and say, “Hey, we have a young player who is going to be in the fire and you’ve been in the fire as a young player on the varsity team. So anything you can do to help him maturity-wise (would help).’”

Stewart also started his varsity baseball career as underclassman, giving him insight to what Juaire is going through as the only underclassman on Lakeville South’s varsity roster.

It’s unique perspective that has already benefitted Juaire.

“I’ve been struggling a little bit lately,” Juaire said. “He’s been just giving me advice, calming me down and encouraging me.”

The baseball diamond can be a daunting location for a freshman competing at the varsity level. Luckily for Juaire, his mentor has experience succeeding in high-pressure situations. 

Stewart said being confident and reacting, rather than thinking, help him avoid failure in those stressful situations.

“You have to have a mentality that you know what you're going to do up there and you just stick to your plan,” he said.

For Stewart, having a plan doesn’t always keep him from getting nervous - a condition he uses to thrive.

“I use the nerves to get my reflexes going still,” Stewart added. “I use them to my advantage; I like being nervous sometimes.”

At least Market shows no signs of being anxious over his decision to pair Stewart with Juaire. 

“(Stewart) is a great individual and cannot only help a team with his own ability by leading by what he does, but also by leading by what he says to younger players,” Market said. “That’s a true sign of a great kid and the kind of guy you want to surround yourself with.”

Lakeville North center fielder Drew Stewart gave his team its only lead of the day, and the junior did so when it mattered most. 

Stewart’s two-run, walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Panthers over Eden Prairie 6-5 in a nonconference matchup Thursday at Lakeville North High School.

The Eagles, ranked second in Class 3A by Let’s Play Baseball, showed off their offensive prowess early in the game. Senior catcher Tyler Safgren rocketed a two-run home run to left-center field in the first inning, and Wesley Young hit homer to deep center in the second inning as Eden Prairie built a 3-1 lead. 

The No. 1-3A Panthers added a run in the third and another in the fifth, but trailed 5-3 entering the final inning.

In the seventh, Lakeville North trimmed the lead to 5-4 on Angelo Altavilla’s RBI double,and then won the game when Stewart’s hit soared down the right-field line allowing two more runs to score.

Spotlight Game Coverage