Faribault vs. Mankato East
5 p.m., Tuesday, April 18

Faribault is not going to surprise anyone after last year's 16-9 season that ended with a clash with Mankato East in the Class 3A, Section 2 playoffs that resulted in an 8-7, eight-inning loss.

The Falcons (3-0, 3-0) already knocked off conference foe Winona, last year’s Class 3A runner-up, in the season opener. Faribault hasn’t surrendered a run since that 6-1 victory and just had a five-inning perfect game performance from McKayla Armbruster on April 13 in a 10-0 win over Northfield. Armbruster struck out 11 of the 15 batters she faced.

Mankato East (2-0, 2-0) is going to be back in the mix for a conference title this season and has started the season with an onslaught of offense. The Cougars have scored 29 runs in two games. In the 14-10 win over Rochester Mayo on April 11, Makenzie Hendley hit a two-run homer and Madisyn Kozitza drove in three runs.