Prep athletes of the week: Pumped-up Woodbury pitcher starts with two gems

Woodbury • baseball

Two games. Two terrific outings.

While the young baseball season has had trouble getting warmed up, the Royals' senior righthander hasn't faced any such difficulties.

In the season opener, Mazur tossed a five-inning no-hitter, getting 11 of 15 outs by strikeout, in a 15-0 drubbing of North St. Paul. His next start was in the Royals' next game, a week later, and he was just as good. He hurled a complete-game one-hitter, again striking out 11, in a 5-2 victory over crosstown rival East Ridge. Both runs were unearned, and the lone hit was an infield single off his glove in the top of the seventh inning.

Oh, and Mazur went 6-for-8 and drove in three runs in the two games.

"With all the adrenaline of it being the first game and getting back out there after a long offseason, I was ready," he said of his season-opening start.

Following it up was no problem, he said, considering the opponent.

"I wanted to prove to my team I had what it takes," he said. "And I know a lot of guys on the other team. That was special."

Mazur, who throws in the upper 80s and is signed with South Dakota State, says "the sky's the limit'' for the Royals in the postseason this spring.

"Like our coach [Kevin McDermott] always says, you don't have to be perfect to win," he said. "You just have to give the best you have each day and that will be enough."

Mounds View • baseball

The senior outfielder/pitcher had a major hand in the Mustangs' early-season victories over Osseo and Cretin-Derham Hall. The Minnesota signee went 5-for-7 with two doubles and pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four.

Maple Grove • softball

In two victories last week, the senior catcher had three hits in five at-bats, walked twice, homered twice and drove in seven runs as the Crimson defeated Coon Rapids 8-1 and Spring Lake Park 22-5. Culhane has signed to play at St. Cloud State.

Forest Lake • softball

The freshman third baseman got her high school softball career off to a rousing start. In her first game, Frechette was 5-for-5 with three home runs, two doubles and seven RBI in a 17-2 romp over Woodbury.

St. Francis • baseball

The senior righthander threw a five-inning no-hitter in a 10-0 victory over Cambridge-Isanti in the Saints' only game last week. He struck out five, didn't walk a batter and added a base hit, two walks and three runs scored.

Rogers • softball

The sophomore pitcher ran her record to 3-0 in a 6-5 victory over Big Lake. She gave up just five hits and one earned run and struck out 13, giving her a metro-leading 35 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched through three games.

Simley • baseball

The senior shortstop's big bat has been a positive in the Spartans' 1-2 season start. In 10 at-bats, Rogers has six hits, all for extra bases — three doubles and three home runs. He has a 1.600 slugging percentage and has driven in eight runs.

JIM PAULSEN

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