Washington County notebook: New Life Academy softball wins 10th title

New Life Academy catcher Malorie Giere led the MCAA in hitting with a .639 batting average, pacing the Eagles to their 10th consecutive MCAA conference championship. They've won 41 consecutive conference games dating to April 2011. Pitcher Valerie Hohol, a University of Minnesota-Duluth recruit, led the league with a 16-2 record and 137 strikeouts. She also hit .516 and drove in 34 runs. New Life's 19-8 loss to Jordan in the finals of the Benilde-St. Margaret's tournament May 9 was the Eagles' first loss to a metro area team. The Eagles had lost previously to Hudson (Wis.) and Zumbrota-Mazeppa.

Forest Lake senior James Pleski is taking his state-championship wrestling résumé to a national championship program. Pleski, who won the Class 3A 145-pound title in February, committed to St. Cloud State, the current NCAA Division II champions. Pleski finished high school career with an overall record of 176-40. He is expected to wrestle at 149 pounds.

Forest Lake and Stillwater shared the Suburban East synchronized swimming championship with 5-1 conference records. Stillwater hosted the East Section meet Friday and Saturday (after this issue went to press). The state meet is May 21-22 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

The Suburban East Conference softball championship was undecided going into the last week of the regular season. Park of Cottage Grove finished with a 12-4 league record after an 18-5 victory over White Bear Lake on Monday. Forest Lake, 11-4, had a game left with East Ridge. Woodbury, a game back with an 11-5 conference record, finished with a loss against Roseville on Wednesday. If Forest Lake split its final two games while Woodbury won its conference finale, the SEC would have ended with a three-way tie at the top, each team with 12-4 records.

Jim Paulsen