Centennial vs. Elk River
4:30 p.m., Thursday, April 13

Centennial faces Anoka and Elk River to start the season, the two teams that finished ahead of the Cougars in the Northwest Suburban Conference last season. The Tornadoes and Elks shared last year's conference title, but Centennial will be eager to fight for its own piece of the league title this season. 

Angie Ryan is now coach of the Cougars, a year after she resigned from Forest Lake to take a job with St. Thomas University. Ryan inherits a team that finished 16-9 overall last year.

Elk River regroups with Lyndsey Geist and Jessica Weisgram as the only returning hitters for the Elks who hit better than .300 last season.

The Elks averaged better than five runs a game last season and finished with a 17-6 record.