Top-seeded Park got an intense wake-up call Monday, finally overcoming a surprising winless Apple Valley team 6-5 in the opening round of the Section 3AAAA playoffs.

Brady Strand ripped a ball into the outfield which he turned into a leadoff double to get Park started in the bottom of the ninth inning. Brady Drkula was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Blake Johnson then reached on an error and Strand came home with the game-winning run on an error by the Apple Valley third baseman.

“We’re very fortunate, very fortunate to come out with a win today,” said Park head coach Dave Darr. “Hand it to our guys, down four-nothing and they didn’t hang their heads.”

It was a wild finish that somehow seemed appropriate to what turned out to be a surprisingly wild, windy and competitive game.

Park (15-6) advanced to a home game against the Eagan Wildcats (13-8) on Wednesday, starting at 4:30 p.m.

In other section opening round games Monday, fifth-seeded Eagan edged fourth-seeded Hastings (17-4) by a 5-4 count, second- seeded Rosemount (15– 6) got past seventh-seeded Burnsville (6-14) in a 9-8 game and third-seeded Lakeville North (14-7) slipped past sixth-seeded Eastview (9-12) 9-7.

Rosemount will host Lakeville North in the other game of the championship bracket Wednesday. Hastings, Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eastview fall into the elimination bracket.

Monday’s game was a bit of a shocker. Apple Valley came in 0-19 on the season and had been non-competitive in several games. Park, on the other hand, had been rolling, having won its last three games by an average of 13-1.

The scenario of Park winning easily changed in a hurry Monday.

Apple Valley jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and led 4-0 after three. Park got back into the game with a three-run third inning, then tied the game at 5-all with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Park scored three runs in the fourth on two Apple Valley errors, a Strand double, a Sam Janski single and walks to Josh Hatano and Will Smoot.

The Wolfpack tied the game at 5-all with two out in the bottom of the fifth on no hits. The Wolfpack loaded the bases on an error, Brady Drkula was hit by a pitch, Sam Janski walked, Jackson Tessman was hit by a pitch to score one run and Josh Hatano walked to score another.

That’s where it stood until the ninth-inning heroics by the Wolfpack, but it took a dramatic play in the top of the seventh for Park to keep playing.

Apple Valley’s Christian Hagelee reached base on an error, then went to third on another Park miscue. But Hagelee was tagged out at home on the play, keeping the game tied at 5-all.

Park players understandably took Apple Valley lightly coming in.

“A little bit,” said Strand. “But the big thing is coming out on top. That’s all that matters.

“I think we learned that you’ve got to take every team serious,” Strand added. “It’s playoff baseball and every team is going to give you their best look.”

“We couldn’t hit well today, and I think we were just mentally as prepared,” said Janski. “We were expecting an easier game.”

Brady Drkula opened on the mound for the Wolfpack, but struggled, giving up six hits and four earned runs in three innings Janski came in to relieve him in the fourth and pitched the remaining six innings. Janski allowed just two hits and one run in six innings, striking out six and walking none.

Strand’s doubles in the fourth and the ninth were the only extra-base hits for the Wolfpack. Tessman, Hatano, Smoot, Drkula and Blake Johnson each had run-scoring singles.

Darr didn’t think the Wolfpack necessarily underestimated the Eagles coming into the game. “I don’t know. I didn’t think so,” said Darr. “Coming in we had a really good practice Friday and Saturday, and guys came here and seemed pretty loose.

“We had chances early and hit the ball hard and their outfielders made some plays and that’s kind of frustrating. I think that might have gotten us a little bit down but then they brought in guys – we usually don’t see guys that throw real soft – that was a struggle for us. We’ve been doing a really good job of hitting the ball where its pitched and when the balls not coming real fast it’s a little harder to do that, especially with the younger guys its just wait, wait, wait. Thankfully Brady got a couple of inside pitches that he was able to pull.” Park 12, Minneapolis Washburn 0 Brady Drkula hit back-toback home runs in the second and third innings to lead Park to a five-inning win over visiting Minneapolis Washburn Friday in the final game of the regular season.

Drkula hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second inning, then socked a two-run homer in the third to give Park an 8-0 lead.

Park broke the game open in the second inning after Drkula’s homer on singles by Blake Johnson and Jackson Tessman, followed by a two-run triple by Josh Hatano. Hatano then scored on an error by the Washburn catcher to make it a 6-0 Park edge. Hatano went 2-for-2 with four RBIs and scored three runs.

Drkula was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Will Smoot was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

Hatano was at it again in the third inning, hitting a two-run single which put Park up 10-0.

Park pitchers Tessman, Sam Janski and Drkula combined for the shutout, allowing just five hits and two walks while striking out eight batters.

Park improved its record to 14-6 on the season. Washburn fell to 10-9.

Park’s Brady Strand slides safely into second base, after stretching a single into a double to lead off the ninth inning against Apple Valley Monday. Photo by John Molene

Wolfpack pitcher Sam Janski throws in the ninth inning against visiting Apple Valley. Janski allowed just two hits and one run in six innings of work. Photo by John Molene