Shakopee at Lakeville South
4:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 15
Neil Johnson has been coaching Shakopee for 40 years, and this year he faces a new challenge as the school begins playing in the South Suburban Conference after the Sabers' old league - the Missota Conference - disbanded.
Eight returning Sabers and a talented mix of underclassmen will try to improve on last year's 14-9 season. Junior Taylor Koenen pitched the Sabers into the Class 3A, Section 2 semifinals, but couldn't hold off Prior Lake in a 9-8 season-ending loss.
More exciting is the return of sophomore slugger Megan Schmidt, who hit five home runs last year. The Sabers fell to 0-3 after Saturday's loss at Chanhassen. In one of the toughest conferences in the state, Shakopee won't find an easy matchup.
Lakeville South, which made a surprising run to a Class 3A state title game last year, shocked the local softball world once again -- by losing 7-1 to Farmington on opening day. The Cougars just couldn't string any offense together against Farmington pitcher Maddie Muelken.
Despite the loss, Lakeville South remains a contender for the South Suburban Conference title after losing just two seniors from a squad that finished with a 22-5 record.