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Sports

Burnsville Opens Baseball Season With Impressive 10-0 Win Over Lakeville North

Brian VanderWoude pitches a two-hitter and Andy Lieser knocks in three runs with a homer and a single to lead the Burnsville Blaze baseball team

Burnsville High went 20-6 and played in the Class AAA championship game last season before losing the title to conference rival Eden Prairie.

If Thursday’s season opener is any indication, the Blaze are going to be tough again this spring.

Burnsville did everything well in a surprisingly easy 10-0 win over host Lakeville North in the first baseball game of the new South Suburban Conference. Burnsville and Lakeville North were members of the Lake Conference last season, but most of those teams will now compete in the South Suburban Conference.

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Burnsville pitcher Brian VanderWoude pitched a 2-hitter, the Blaze connected for eight hits and committed just one error in the victory.

It was the kind of day where Burnsville’s No. 9 hitter, Andy Lieser, had a two-run homer and a single to drive in three runs.

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Leading 2-0 after five innings, the Blaze broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning.  

“This is an excellent opener for us,” said Burnsville head coach Mick Scholl. “We did the little things right, just one error on the board, excellent pitching. Brian VanderWoude that was excellent. And just clutch hitting.

“I was very proud of our kids,” Scholl added. “Now the thing is we’ve just to keep going after this one.”

Vanderwoude pitched five no-hit innings, striking out eight while walking just two.

Burnsville’s Justin Threlkeld went 2-for-5 and Tyler Hill went 2-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases.

“Defensively I think we played really well,” said Threlkeld. “We only had that errant throw in the first inning. But all the other ground balls, all the plays that were supposed to be made, we’re made.”

It’s just the start of a long season, but the win left the Burnsville players feeling good.

“Just after winning the game, we’re talking about winning the conference,” said VanderWoude. “That’s what we want to do. That’s our first step, conference, section, state. That’s what we’re hoping to do.”

Burnsville plays at Eagan Friday, April 8, in a game starting at 4:15 p.m.

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