Thunderbolts back to state after playoff sweep

The South Washington County Thunderbolts qualified for the 2026 state tournament by scoring a second straight playoff win Thursday, beating Buffalo/Monticello/STMA in the 2026 Varsity CI softball playoffs, taking a 12-2 victory at Buffalo High School.

The Thunderbolts easily won their first playoff game, topping host Minnetonka/Wayzata 20-2 on May 4.

South Washington County (5-5) will meet Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville in the state quarterfinals on Friday, May 15, at Wayzata High School. It will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams, both regular-season games going Burnsville’s way, 16-5 and 14-4. Eight teams qualified for state.

Tournament play continues Saturday with the semifinals, followed by consolation play, and the third place and championship games.

Boys lacrosse team goes 0-2

Park dropped a heartbreaker Friday evening, losing to host Mounds View 12-11 in Suburban East Conference boys lacrosse.

The Wolfpack slipped to 1-6 in the SEC and 2-7 on the season. Mounds View went to 3-4 in the conference and 4-5 overall.

Park hosts TriMAC (0-9) Thursday with a 7 p.m. start, then entertains St. Paul/Two Rivers (7-2) Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. opening.

Stillwater 24, Park 1

You could pretty much see this one coming as second-ranked Stillwater dominated the action with a 24-1 win in Suburban East Conference boys lacrosse Thursday.

The Ponies improved to 8-0 in the SEC and 10-0 on the season. Park slipped to 1-5 in the conference and 2-6 overall.

Flag football team suffers first loss

Park’s flag football suffered its first loss of the season Sunday, falling to an undefeated Tartan team 32-21.

The Wolfpack fell behind 24-0 before closing the gap in the second half.

Park blanked North St. Paul 34-0 in Sunday’s other game. The Wolfpack jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead, then scored a quick touchdown in the second half to end the game.

Park (5-1) plays Hastings and host East Ridge Sunday afternoon in the final games of the regular season.

Young leads Park boys golf team

Cam Young took first as an individual with a 74 and Park’s varsity placed second Thursday in a meet at Mississippi National Golf Club at Red Wing.

The Wolfpack boys and girls teams play Wednesday at Oak Glen Golf Course, then the Park boys are at Victory Links Golf Club in Minneapolis Thursday.

Baseball team loses four

It was a tough week for the Park baseball team. The Wolfpack lost four straight in Suburban East Conference play, falling to Cretin-Derham Hall, East Ridge, Roseville and then at home to 11th-ranked Woodbury 8-3 on Monday.

Park fell to 3-12 in the SEC and 3-13 on the season. Woodbury improved its record to 11-4 in the conference and 15-4 on the season.

The Wolfpack play at White Bear Lake (6-9, 6-10) Wednesday, host SEC leaders and No. 12 Stillwater (12-3, 15-3) Friday, go to Owatonna (11-6) Saturday and conclude the regular season with a home game against Forest Lake (7-7. 7-8) Monday.

Cretin-Derham Hall 18, Park 2

A day after Park knocked off league-leading Mounds View 16-11 on the road Monday, the Wolfpack lost to fourth place and 23rd ranked Cretin-Derham Hall 18-2 at home Tuesday.

East Ridge 19, Park 3

The 20th-ranked Raptors hammered the Wolfpack Wednesday at Cottage Grove, winning 19-3.

Roseville 6, Park 4

Roseville (4-10, 4-11) claimed a 6-4 SEC victory at home against the Wolfpack Friday afternoon.