Notebook: Ty McDevitt named to lead U of M baseball

Ty McDevitt, an Apple Valley native and Eastview High School alumnus, last week was named University of Minnesota head baseball coach.

McDevitt, who has been associated with Gophers baseball since arriving on campus in 2011 as a student, had been the program’s pitching coach since 2019. For two years before that, he was a volunteer assistant coach. He pitched for the Gophers from 2012 to 2016, working out of the bullpen.

Prior to joining the Gophers full-time, McDevitt coached at The Cages and Northstar Baseball Club, both in Burnsville.

McDevitt agreed to a three-year contract. He is the Gophers’ fourth head baseball coach since 1948 and succeeds John Anderson, who was head coach for 43 years before retiring at the end of the 2024 season. Anderson recommended McDevitt as his replacement.

The highest-profile player McDevitt has worked with at Minnesota is Max Meyer, a pitcher who was selected third in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft by the Miami Marlins. Meyer has appeared in three games with the Marlins this season.

McDevitt also coached Aidan Maldonado, a former Gophers and Rosemount High School pitcher currently in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

“This program is steeped in rich history and tradition, built on the hard work, dedication, and passion of countless players, coaches, and supporters who have come before me,” McDevitt said in a statement released by the university. “As I step into this role, I am committed to upholding the values and excellence that define Gopher Baseball. Together, we will strive to build upon this storied legacy, fostering a culture of integrity, resilience, and success both on and off the field.”

The 2024 Gophers were 25-23 overall, 11-13 in the Big Ten Conference, and missed the conference postseason tournament by one game. There are 32 players on the 2024 Minnesota roster with athletic eligibility remaining.

AV’s Sikich changes jobs

Chris Sikich will have a new hockey job at Apple Valley High School in the 2024-25 season. After serving as head coach of the boys program for 11 years, he will take over the girls team. Sikich succeeds Don (Auggie) Erdall, who was head coach of the girls program since 2010.

The 2023-24 Eagle girls team was 16-10-2 overall, finished fourth in the South Suburban Conference and reached the Section 3AA championship game before losing to Rosemount. The Eagles’ roster had two seniors. Players eligible to return next season include Makayla Moran and Avery Ryan, the top two scorers from last season, and varsity goalies Finley Engfer and Eleanor Carlson.

The school has posted an opening for head boys hockey coach. Apple Valley has been part of a co-op boys hockey program with Burnsville the last two years.

Lacrosse playoffs

Defending state boys lacrosse champion Lakeville North is seeded first in the Section 1 playoffs that started this week. The Panthers defeated Southwest Christian/Jordan 20-1 in the quarterfinals Wednesday. They play host to Owatonna or Northfield in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Lakeville North finished the regular season 9-4 overall and tied for second in the South Suburban Conference. The No. 2 seed is Farmington, which was 11-2 and also tied for second in the SSC. Lakeville North’s 12-11 victory over Farmington on May 16 likely was what gave the Panthers the top seed in the section – and home-field advantage should they face Farmington in the championship game June 4.

Farmington defeated Mankato 19-8 in the quarterfinals Wednesday. No. 6 seed Lakeville South (6-7) beat New Prague 9-8 in overtime and will play at Farmington in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Eagan (10-3) received the third seed in the Section 3 boys playoffs and plays host to No. 6 seed Hastings in a quarterfinal game at 5 p.m. Thursday.

No. 1-ranked Prior Lake also is top seed in the Section 6 boys playoffs. The Lakers’ first opponent will be eighth-seeded Bloomington Kennedy/Burnsville, which defeated Holy Angels 7-5 on Tuesday. That game will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Prior Lake High School.

Rosemount (6-7) is seeded fifth in Section 6 and plays at fourth-seeded Eden Prairie in the quarterfinals Thursday at 5 p.m. No. 6 seed Eastview/Apple Valley (6-7) plays at third-seeded Edina at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Lakeville South took a perfect (13-0) record into the girls lacrosse postseason. The Cougars, 2023 state runners-up, shut out Mankato 19-0 in the quarterfinal round Wednesday and will host Farmington in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Saturday.

No. 4 seed Farmington (7-7) downed Owatonna 15-2 on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals. No. 2 seed Lakeville North (10-4) moved on with an 18-3 victory over Rochester Century and will play Southwest Christian/Jordan/Mayer Lutheran in the semifinals at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at home.

Rosemount (9-4) is the No. 2 seed in the Section 6 girls tournament and plays No. 7 seed Eastview/Eagan (2-12) in a quarterfinal game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Irish Stadium. Eagan/Eastview defeated Minneapolis 16-4 in a first-round game Tuesday.

Eighth-seeded Apple Valley (3-11) defeated ninth-seeded Bloomington Kennedy/Burnsville 12-8 in a first-round game Tuesday and travels to No. 1 seed Prior Lake for a quarterfinal game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.