CHASKA — Seniors Kyle Jensen and Kyle Young of the Forest Lake High School baseball team and 2009 Suburban East Conference champions, received the prestigious honor of playing in the 35th annual Lions All-Star Baseball Tournament June 20 at the Chaska Athletic Park.

As part of the East Metro team, Jensen and Young played against the South All-Star in its first game and fell 7-6 in 12 innings, followed that with a 9-2 loss to North and closed with a 3-1 win against the West.

“It was the best baseball experience of my life,” Young said of the two-day event. “It's an honor to be selected and to be able to play with some of the best players in the state of Minnesota.”

The tournament gave Jensen and Young one more opportunity to play high school baseball, one week after falling to Centennial High School 2-1 in the third place game of the state tournament, which Jensen pitched eight innings with seven strikeouts, no earned runs, two hits and four walks.

“It was the best high school game he pitched,” coach Brian Raabe said. “Any other game he would have had the win, so to get another shot right away against some of the best was good for him. For both of them, it was nice to rub elbows with guys they played against during the season. Very proud of both of them.”

Jensen and Young were selected to play in this year's tournament because of their play this season, but Raabe said it may be recognition for their prep career.

“I was very excited for them,” he said. “It's not only an award for what they did this season, but for what they have done in their career. Both came up as sophomores and had outstanding careers and will go on and be successful at the next level.”

The two co-captains were not only teammates this season for baseball, but were members of the Forest Lake High School hockey team as well, so sharing the experience with somebody who has been there every step of the way was special, Jensen said.

“It's nice to share this experience with one of your teammates (Young),” Jensen said. “We were both captains and leaders, played hockey together, so it was cool to have him there with me.”

For Young, having Jensen there made the tournament that much better.

“Played a long time together with baseball and hockey, so I wouldn't want to spend it with any other guy,” he said. “Just a great guy to be with, so to spend it with him makes it something I will never forget and not want to change.”

Besides the games itself, Jensen, Young and the rest of the Lions All-Stars got the privilege to get hitting tips from former Minnesota Twins star and Hall of Famer Rod Carew.

“That is something I will never forget,” Jensen said. “I mean, he's one of the best hitters of all-time and he took some time to talk with us. The cool part about him is he's really down to earth. He is in the Hall of Fame, but he talks with you about anything.”

Carew, known for his approach at the plate, caught Young's attention in preparation prior to stepping in the batters box.

“It's something you really take in,” Young said. “It was really interesting to listen to what he had to say. He talked about keeping a book and recording every pitch while on the bench. He studied every pitch that was thrown and that's why he was so successful.”

For the past few season the Rangers baseball team has been on the upswing, especially this season, with a conference championship and a state tournament bid. With the addition of two players selected to the Lions All-Star game, Forest Lake is getting its name out there as a state baseball power.

“Any way you can get Forest Lake's name out there for baseball in a positive matter is good for us,” Raabe said. “These two (Jensen and Young) have been here for a while and being selected is good for our team, but for them is a culmination of a great career.”

In the fall, Jensen will be in Duluth to begin his collegiate career at the College of St. Scholastica and Young will be playing junior college baseball at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn.

Being able to play against the best in Minnesota is more than just a game, Raabe said. It is similar to a tryout for the next level of competition.

“It's just another great opportunity to play against good players,” he said. “What it also does is show you how hard you are willing to work and the time you want to spend in becoming better.”