By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Prior Lake girls won their season opener on Aug. 18, sweeping all three doubles matches in a 5-2 non-conference win over South St. Paul.

The Lakers' No. 1 doubles team of Kristen Tusa and Leah Peterson earned a 6-2, 6-2 victory, while the No. 3 team of Bailey Freer and Janessa Anderson also won handily, 6-0. 6-2.

The No. 2 doubles team of Madison Skalecki and Brittany Jaderston won in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Burnsville volleyball team has one of the best middle blockers in the state in junior Tori Dixon.

But will the team have enough on the outside to contend in the highly-competitive Lake Conference?

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Savage Outlaws pulled off the upset of perennial power Cold Spring in the first round of the Class B state tournament on Aug. 17.

Pat Abbe went three for four with two RBIs and Chris Steenburg also had three hits and RBI in a 5-3 win. Cold Spring was 40-4 heading into the game and was making its 21st straight appearance at the state tourney.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Savage Outlaws are hoping their second appearance in the Class B state tournament goes much better than their first one.

In 2006, Savage made its first appearance in the state tourney since amateur baseball returned to the city in 2000. And it wasn’t a memorable showing, losing both games 10-0 to finish 18-16 on the summer.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

Despite having seven returning varsity members from a year ago, the Burnsville girls tennis team is, in a sense, starting over.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

There’s no where to go but up for the Prior Lake girls tennis team.

Last fall, with no seniors on the team, the Lakers struggled to a 2-16 overall record (0-7 in the Missota Conference). Expectations are a little higher this season with a more experienced group returning, even if this group has only three seniors.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

Natalie Samb of Savage and Gretchen Huhnkerkoch competed in the 37th annual Minnesota Women’s Golf Association Amateur Championship Aug. 11-13 at Edina Country Club.

Huhnerkoch competed in the championship flight and tied for 24th overall with a 54-hole total of 241. She shot a pair of 81s and a final-round 79 (par 72).

By Kevin Busse, Correspondent

The drivers in the Short Trackers put on a display of aggressive driving at Raceway Park in Shakopee on Aug. 10.

And it was Prior Lake’s Dave Auringer who came out on top.

By Brian Hall, Contributing Writer

The list of accomplishments for the Savage Outlaws baseball team is impressive.

A 2008 season that includes a Cannon Valley League championship, an eight-game winning streak, the top seed in the Section 5B playoffs, and a first-round playoff bye is successful by any teams’ standards.

Of course, none of it might have mattered if Savage didn’t follow through in the playoffs. Right or wrong, it’s hard to shake a disappointing postseason.

The Outlaws knew it. They didn’t want that bad taste to linger in their mouths. So, after they finished off Apple Valley, 6-4, on Tuesday to earn a second trip to the state tournament since 2000, there was a sense of relief.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

Paying his dues as an assistant coach, it’s now John Biezuns turn to call the shots.

The 1994 Prior Lake High School graduate is getting ready to embark on his first season as a head high school football coach, taking the reins at Robbinsdale Cooper in New Hope.

Biezuns takes over a Cooper program that went 2-7 overall last fall, 2-5 in the North Suburban League.