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Top Games: New Life Academy, Minnehaha Academy meet in early season showdown

By Nick Gerhardt, Sport Ngin, 04/04/16, 5:00PM CDT

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April 5: The defending Class 1A champion Eagles are now in Class 2A and open the season against the Redhawks.


New Life Academy catcher Malorie Giere, left, and Elena Linster hugged after their victory over Badger/Greenbush- Middle River in last year's Class 1A championship game. The Eagles will adjust to life without both. Star Tribune photo by Aaron Lavinsky

An offseason of changes resulted in plenty of shuffling for several of the state's high school softball programs this spring.

The Minnesota State High School League not only added another competitive class for the upcoming season, but also realigned the sections.

Among the teams making a move is defending Class 1A champion New Life Academy of Woodbury. The powerhouse Eagles have appeared in 10 consecutive state tournaments, a streak that is in jeopardy after New Life was moved up to Class 2A.

The Eagles also lost key pieces of their championship team, graduating several seniors. New Life also begin this year under first-year head coach Emily Evans.

Minnehaha Academy experienced its best season in nearly a decade last year, but still fell short of the state tournament with a loss in the Class 2A, Section 4 championship game to Visitation.

The Redhawks have plenty of rebuilding to do this year as well if they hope vie for a state bid, a task that was made more difficult after New Life was placed in the same section.

This early season meeting between new section rivals should provide both teams with plenty of answers and is our choice for the Top Game of the Week.

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