Lakeville North at Prior Lake
4:30 p.m., Monday, April 11

Lakeville North reached the Class 3A state championship last season and compiled a 19-8 record in what was thought to be a rebuilding year with several young players in the lineup.

Six seniors departed for college after last spring, a smaller loss compared to past years, and the No. 4-4A Panthers are seeking their fourth consecutive trip to the state tournament. They finished third and second at state the past two years.

Lakeville North welcomes back three South Suburban all-conference honorees, including ace pitcher and North Iowa Area Community College commit Billy Riach, a right-hander who was 8-1 with a 1.43 ERA last season. The others are Augustana commit Joey Larson at shortstop and sophomore catcher Nick Juaire.  

Despite having a veteran squad which features 10 seniors, the Panthers will need to find depth in the bullpen behind Riach to make another run to state. Larson, senior Jake Peterson, junior Ross Bastyr and sophomore Collin Denk are all in line to take on pitching duties.

After earning its first state tournament bid in American Legion play this past summer, No. 9-4A Prior Lake is ready to take the next step and make its first Minnesota State High School League state tournament appearance.

The Lakers finished with an 11-13 overall record (9-8 in league play) and will be tested in the South Suburban before attempting a run in Class 4A, Section 2, which contains defending state champion and top-ranked Chanhassen, No. 2 Eden Prairie, No. 3. Minnetonka, No. 10 Chaska and No. 14 Shakopee, which won the conference title last year. 

Prior Lake returns six starters and its entire bullpen, which features three collegiate commits: Nick Hanson (Kentucky), Jimmy Larson (Kansas State) and Lawson Zenner (Wayne State).

The Panthers swept the Lakers last season, winning the second game 6-5 when Riach pitched six innings and gave up only one earned run.