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Edina completes regular-season sweep of rival Minnetonka, takes Lake Conference crown

By Ryan Williamson, SportsEngine, 05/23/18, 9:30AM CDT

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The Hornets held off the Skippers thanks in part to a strong pitching performance from Will Eckland who threw 6 2/3 innings.

Edina pitcher Will Eckland (11) releases a pitch against Minnetonka. Eckland struck out 10 batters in 6 2/3 innings. The Hornets beat the Skippers 5-3. Photo by Carter Jones, SportsEngine

Edina pitcher Will Eckland (11) releases a pitch against Minnetonka. Eckland struck out 10 batters in 6 2/3 innings. The Hornets beat the Skippers 5-3. Photo by Carter Jones, SportsEngine

A Minnetonka base runner slides safely into home during a late-game rally. The Skippers lost to Edina 5-3. Photo by Carter Jones, SportsEngine

A Minnetonka base runner slides safely into home during a late-game rally. The Skippers lost to Edina 5-3. Photo by Carter Jones, SportsEngine

Edina's Andrew Enck lays down a bunt against the Skippers at Minnetonka High School Wednesday night. Photo by Carter Jones, SportsEngine

Edina's Andrew Enck lays down a bunt against the Skippers at Minnetonka High School Wednesday night. Photo by Carter Jones, SportsEngine

First Report

For the second time this season, Edina got the best of Lake Conference foe Minnetonka. After a walk-off 9-8 win on May 4, the Hornets defeated the Skippers 5-3 to clinch the conference championship on Wednesday at Minnetonka High School.

Edina strung together 12 hits in the win. In the first two innings, the Hornets (14-3, 6-1) tallied a pair of runs, thanks in part to senior center fielder Charlie Fischer. The Southern Mississippi commit opened the game with a single and run scored. An inning later, Fischer ripped a RBI double to make it 2-1.

After giving up a run in the first inning, Hornets starting pitcher Will Eckland was masterful. He retired 15 consecutive Minnetonka batters while going 6 2/3 innings. He picked up the win while allowing three runs on four hits and striking out 10.

The Skippers (15-4, 4-3) made things interesting in the final two innings. With two runners on in the bottom of the sixth, Minnetonka scored both runners on an Edina error. In the top of the seventh, though, Edina picked up a much-needed insurance run as senior right fielder Chester Dixon laced a RBI triple to extend the Hornets’ lead.

In the seventh inning, the Skippers threatened once again and knocked Eckland out of the game. However, Hornet sophomore pitcher Noah Meffert finished off the effort and got out of a bases-loaded jam to finish off the win.

For Minnetonka, its offense revolved mostly around Mason Nadolney. The senior third baseman went 1-for-3 in the loss and knocked in all three of the Skippers’ runs.

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