Hopkins rallies to take Classic Lake crown

Hopkins won its second-consecutive Classic Lake Conference softball championship away from the clutches of Wayzata after defeating the Trojans twice in two days, culminating in a come-from-behind 4-2 win at Wayzata on Thursday afternoon. The Trojans entered the two day twinbill with a one game lead in the circuit standings, needing just one win to secure the title. However, after six-plus innings of scoreless softball in game one on Wednesday, Hopkins would prevail as junior Whitney Nelson gave the Royals a 1-0 win in the bottom of the seventh by driving home fellow outfielder Alyssa Nyberg with the lone tally of the contest. It was the tenth win in a row for Hopkins as pitcher Jenna Peterson struck out 10 after scattering four hits in a complete game triumph. The victory set up a one-game "playoff" for all the marbles on Thursday, with Wayzata looking good early as Theresa Tauer and Alyssa Coleman would each hit RBI singles to drive in Allie Siu and Anna Gustafson to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth inning. Yet, Hopkins would cut that lead in half with her fourth home run of the season over the left field wall to make the score 2-1. Anna Twinem replaced Emma Alwin in the pitching circle for the Trojans and held the Royals scoreless in the fifth, but Hopkins would take the lead for good in the sixth. Royals pitcher Sarah Walczak would ensure the win for herself and her team with a two-run single to rightfield, highlighting a three-run frame that propelled Hopkins to its second-straight Classic Lake title. The Royals closed out the regular season with a 17-2 overall record, 10-2 in in the Classic Lake; Wayzata plays Orono in its regular-season finale, carrying records of 14-4 and 9-3 into that contest.