North Mankato’s Caswell Park has long been the home of the softball state tournament, one of the few state tourneys held outside the Twin Cities. But softball, like baseball, is adding a fourth classification this year, which will strain even Caswell Park. The Minnesota State High School League and the softball coaches association are convinced they can pull it off, but bringing 32 teams together at one location for a two-day tournament will be tricky. And that’s if things go smoothly. Rain, extra-inning games and conflicts with graduation ceremonies frequently force officials to scramble. Adding eight more teams may not be pretty.

At its preseason meeting, the softball coaches association polled its members about three issues: seeding the state tournament (they’re in favor); a 15-run rule after three innings (also in favor, but there are compelling arguments against); and removing the exception to a high school league bylaw that prohibits athletes from playing the same sport for high school and other teams at the same time. Baseball and skiing also are excluded from that rule due to weather conditions necessary to compete. Of 288 coaches polled, 200 said they would like the exclusion removed, citing growing pressure from club teams that adversely affects high school teams. “I’m in favor [of removing the exclusion],” Visitation coach Dan Jameson said.  Others think forcing girls to choose between teams could hurt the sport in the long run, particularly if top players abandon the high school game. Stay tuned.

Under longtime coach Mick Ramey, New Life Academy qualified for 10 consecutive Class 1A state tournaments, a state record for consecutive section titles. New Life won five state championships, including last year. New coach Emily Evans has a tough task ahead of her as the program moves up to Class 2A. In addition to filling Ramey’s spot, the Eagles have to replace a starting battery that had been together for four years in pitcher Val Hohol and catcher Malorie Giere, both of whom graduated. The roster lists only one senior.

Few high school coaches are as connected with the sport they coach than Sean Hall. After stints developing programs at North St. Paul and Lakeville North, Hall has migrated to Forest Lake. This is not a rebuilding job, as former coach Angie Ryan had made the Rangers regular state-tournament participants. But expect Hall to put his stamp on the program quickly.

The Class of 2015 was notable for its depth of talent on the rubber, but softball in Minnesota has improved so much in recent years that others are ready to step up. Among metro players, a quartet of junior pitchers will set the pace: Anoka’s Amber Elliott, Rosemount’s Gabby Sprang, Spring Lake Park’s Halley Jones and Woodbury’s Ashley Mickschl. Rogers’ Katelyn Kemmetmueller and Elk River’s Olivia Wolters aren’t far behind.