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MSHSL: Boys Hockey: State Tournament: Five-millionth fan walking through Xcel Energy Center gates tonight
Mike Isola Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 3:52pm

The five-millionth fan in the 65-year history of the Minnesota State Boys’ Hockey Tournament will walk through the gates tonight (Thursday) at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota State High School League officials announced today that prior to the start of the Minnetonka-Lakeville North game at 6 p.m., one surprised but lucky fan will be recognized with a special celebration just inside Gate 1.

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Boys State Hockey: Class A Quarterfinals: Mahtomedi steamrolls past Alexandria 7-1
Mike Isola Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 5:19pm
Alexandria's Casey Vangsness (17) makes a sharp turn to knock down the puck during the quarterfinal action with Mahtomdedi at the Xcel Energy Center Wednesday.
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Boys Hockey: State Tournament Preview: Breck School returns to defend Class A title
Mike Isola Monday, March 8, 2010 - 11:48am

In the fourth year of seeding the qualified teams, Breck School of Golden Valley was chosen No. 1 in Class A and Minnetonka was chosen No. 1 in Class AA for the 2010 State Boys’ Hockey Tournament.

The Breck School Mustangs qualified to seek their second consecutive and fourth overall Class A title. A new champion will emerge in Class AA because Eden Prairie, the 2009 champion, was defeated by Minnetonka in the Section 6AA final.

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Boys Basketball: Sebeka bounces back to handle Park Christian 76-58
Mike Isola Sunday, March 7, 2010 - 9:31pm

Sebeka bounced back from Friday’s loss to close out the regular season Saturday afternoon with a convincing 76-58 non-conference victory over the ninth-ranked Park Christian Falcons.

“It was great to see us respond to a tough loss with a hard fought win.” Sebeka coach Jon Lillquist said. “With back-to-back games we looked a little tired in the legs in the first half but after halftime we caught our second wind and took over the game.”

The win extended the Trojans’ home winning streak to 28 games.

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Girls Basketball: Sebeka cruises past Upsala 82-59 to reach subsection finals
Mike Isola Sunday, March 7, 2010 - 6:07pm
Sebeka' Jessica Lillquist (45) sidestepped a few Upsala defenders in the paint en route to the basket.
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MLB: Minnesota Twins sign Nick Blackburn to four-year deal; sign 20 others for 2010
Mike Isola Sunday, March 7, 2010 - 11:38am

The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have signed right-handed pitcher Nick Blackburn to a four-year, $14 million contract. The deal also includes an $8 million club option for the 2014 season.

Blackburn was 11-11, 4.03 (205.2 ip, 92 er), allowing 240 hits with 41 walks and 98 strikeouts in 33 starts last season. He had 21 quality starts in 2009 and led the club in innings pitched, tied for the lead in starts and was second in wins. Blackburn has pitched 399.0 innings in the past two seasons.

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College Baseball: Gophers fall to Oklahoma State 16-9 in Dairy Queen Classic
Mike Isola Sunday, March 7, 2010 - 11:23am

The Minnesota baseball team (2-7) fell to Oklahoma State (4-1) 16-9 in the Dairy Queen Classic at the Metrodome on Saturday.

In the first game of the day, Northwestern defeated Loyola Marymount 3-0. Oklahoma State is now 2-0 in the Dairy Queen Classic, while Northwestern and Loyola Marymount are 1-1.

Minnesota trailed 12-0 heading into the bottom of the third, before it clawed its way back into the game to make it 12-9. It remained a three-run lead before Oklahoma State scored four insurance runs in the top of the ninth.

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Mens College Hockey: Gophers to open WCHA Playoffs at North Dakota
Mike Isola Sunday, March 7, 2010 - 9:18am
Photo Courtesy of University of Minnesota

For the first time since 1987, Minnesota will play a postseason hockey game against North Dakota in Grand Forks as the teams will meet in a first round Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff series March 12-14.

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College Softball: Maverick bats erupt in Rebel Spring Games; open with two wins
Mike Isola Sunday, March 7, 2010 - 8:37am

The Minnesota State softball team opened its annual spring trip to the Rebel Spring Games with an offensive explosion as the Mavericks downed Shippensburg, 15-0, and Georgian Court, 6-1, Saturday. MSU will play 12 games in the next seven days during its stay in the Sunshine State.

In the opener, the Maverick pounded out eight hits and took advantage of for Shippensburg errors en route to the victory. Minnesota State scored four runs in the first inning, three in the third and closed the scoring with an eight-run fourth frame.

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Womens College Hockey: Gophers advance to WCHA championship on May's game-winner
Mike Isola Saturday, March 6, 2010 - 11:10pm
Gophers Laura May and Becky Kortum celebrate the game-winner Saturday afternoon. Minnesota now faces Minnesota-Duluth for the WCHA Championship at noon on Sunday. Photo courtesy Eric Miller/University of Minnesota

Laura May scored the game-winning goal at 3:31 in double overtime to help the No. 3 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team to a 5-4 win Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena.

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