JAMES SWOFFORD
Minneapolis Edison • baseball
It's times like these that make James Swofford glad he stayed at Edison. The senior lefthander improved to 3-0 on the season after pitching complete-game victories over Columbia Heights (12-6, 13 strikeouts) and Brooklyn Center (9-0, 15 strikeouts). With Swofford as their ace, the Tommies have jumped out to a 5-0 start, outscoring opponents 70-18. He leads the team in victories and strikeouts (40), and is hitting .450 with three doubles and a triple.
Not long ago Swofford, who lives seven blocks from Edison and has played varsity baseball since seventh grade, considered transferring to DeLaSalle.
"I almost went there, but I decided to stick with Edison because of [head coach] Tony Schrepfer," Swofford said. "He's worked so hard to build this program and now the results are finally starting to show through."
Swofford cited a week in Cocoa Beach, Fla., before the season as a big reason for Edison's fast start. "This team really bonded in Florida," he said. "We're closer than we've ever been before. We're hot right now. Every time I step on that mound, I feel like there's no holding us back and that's a great feeling."
BREONNA ADAMS
Roseville • track and field
The freshman had three first-place finishes — the 100 meter-dash (13.71), 200 meters (27.29) and 400 meters (59.67) — despite running into a strong headwind at the Prior Lake Invitational on Thursday. She added a fourth-place in long jump with a leap of 16-2.
CARSON HAUGE
Fridley • baseball
The senior second baseman provided the offensive spark that boosted the Tigers to a 4-0 record last week. He went 8-for-14 at the plate (.571) with 10 runs scored, eight RBI and six stolen bases. He capped his week with a walk-off three-run homer in a 14-11 victory over Providence Academy.
HAILEY MARTINEZ
Bloomington Jefferson • softball
The Jaguars started the season 2-0, thanks largely to Martinez' pitching excellence. The junior started the season by hurling a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts in a 10-0 victory over Chaska. She followed up with another 11-strikeout shutout victory, defeating St. Louis Park 10-0.
BECKY MANTEUFFEL
Mayer Lutheran • track and field
The junior swept the throwing events at back-to-back Minnesota River Conference meets last week. She won the shot put (35 feet, 2 inches) and discus (110-2) at Jordan and did the same, with a personal best shot put of 36-8 and discus of 110-6, at Belle Plaine.
DELANEY YOUNG
Park of Cottage Grove • softball
The sophomore first baseman made her presence felt with her big bat in helping the Wolfpack to a 4-0 start. Among her big hits were a sixth-inning grand slam that broke a scoreless tie in a victory over East Ridge and a game-winning home run in a 3-2 victory over Forest Lake.
AFTON ZEMKE
West Lutheran • softball
The freshman pitcher has picked up where she left off last season, when she compiled an 11-4 record. She opened this season with a 5-0 record, a 1.28 ERA and 38 strikeouts. She has been equally valuable at the plate, batting.667 with six doubles, 12 RBI and 18 runs scored.
JIM PAULSEN
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