Kasson-Mantorville at Zumbrota-Mazeppa
4:30 p.m., Thursday, April 14

Kasson-Mantorville and Zumbrota-Mazeppa — longtime Class 2A, Section 1 rivals — won’t meet in the postseason this year after the KoMets moved to Class 3A.

That may be good news for the Cougars.

The teams have quite the history, as Kasson-Mantorville prevented Zumbrota-Mazeppa from reaching the state tournament last season with 4-0 and 2-0 victories in the double-elimination section tournament. It was a bit of revenge for the KoMets, who were sent to the consolation round after a 1-0 loss to the Cougars earlier in the playoffs.

Kasson-Mantorville also beat Zumbrota-Mazeppa 16-6 in the 2013 section title game, which ended a 23-3 season for the Cougars.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa hasn’t reached the state tournament since 2011, when it won the Class 2A consolation title and also happens to be a year in which the KoMets were in a different section.

Cougars standout pitcher Morgan Olson struck out 10 and gave up just three hits and one earned run to pick up the win as Zumbrota-Mazeppa (1-0) kicked off its season with a 12-1 win over Cannon Falls on Thursday.

Olson, a North Dakota State recruit and Class 2A all-state selection last year, also contributed on offense, going 2-for-3 with four runs scored in the game.

Kasson-Mantorville (2-0), the two-time defending Class 2A state champions, opened the season with home victories over Northfield and Pine Island.

Chante Thome struck out nine hitters in each of the victories, including in a 7-1 win over the Raiders, and has helped ease the transition for the KoMets, who graduated starting pitcher Maddie Damon.

McKenzie Hemann went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in a 4-2 victory against the Panthers.