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New Lakeville coach is a builder

By AARON PAITICH, Special to the Star Tribune, 03/27/12, 3:50PM CDT

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Sean Hall brings experience to a budding Lakeville North team with potential, including a pitcher he's worked with before.


Sean Hall takes over as softball coach at Lakeville North following stints at North St. Paul and St. Bernard’s. “I needed a change,” Hall said. Photo by Joel Koyama

Michaela Zins had a rough summer on the mound.

The young pitcher battled through a back injury during her spring softball season as a freshman with Lakeville North. As summer ball started up, she fell into a slump. Zins hadn't been throwing much because of the injury, and it showed.

"I could not throw a strike," she said. "I threw 12 balls in the dirt in a row in one game."

It was rough, but Zins had a friend in her fall ball coach, Sean Hall. Much of the slump was mental. He aided the cure.

"It had a lot to do with him making sure that I knew he believed in me," Zins said. "Just knowing that I had it in me and that it was all in my head. It was just something I could get through."

Hall, who coaches the Minnesota Sting 95 team, joined Zins and Lakeville North High School this past December. Hall spent nine years at North St. Paul, where he built a highly successful softball program. He led the Polars to a state title in 2007, to go with two second-place finishes and a semifinal appearance just last spring. Hall had also coached at St. Bernard's for two years, where he won a state title, prior to his stint at North.

The new Panthers coach brings experience and skills as a builder. He wasn't looking for a new opportunity -- Hall cherished every year at North St. Paul -- but felt a need inside him.

"Something inside kind of made me feel like I needed a change, maybe start to build another program. Start from the ground floor again. I just take so much pride in that," Hall said. "My most enjoyable years at North St. Paul was when we were building the program and getting it to where it was. I probably took more enjoyment in building a program than I did maintaining it."

Hall liked what he saw in the Lakeville North program: Youth, talent, a budding team just waiting to be nurtured and cared for. He also had experience with some Panthers who also play on the Sting, making it an easy transition.

Hall also believed the Polars' program would be in good hands with former assistant Aaron Vail, "so two good things came out of it," he said.

But Lakeville North has growing to do. Zins was the Panthers' backup pitcher last year and will take over the job full-time this spring. Hall believes she has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the state in the next couple of years, and that's where success has to start.

She'll be caught by fellow sophomore and friend Erika Rozell. Lakeville North is very strong up the middle, powered by its battery, along with junior shortstop Emmy Shinn and sophomore center fielder Jessica Meidl.

Left fielder Sara Nelson brings speed to the lineup, and the Panthers will need it. Hitting needs to improve, but Hall called this a "scrappy group" that can take advantage of opponents with team speed.

Hall's leadership is not the only sign of the times at Lakeville North. One look at the starting lineup signals new beginnings, with four juniors, four sophomores and a freshman taking the field.

It's a good feeling.

"Everything's new because it's an entire new program," Zins said. "It's good for us, and we're looking forward to a fresh start. It's great that he's here."

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