Editor's note: Due to weather-related postponements this week, we chose to spotlight three Top Games instead of five. The matchups below were not postponed at the time of publishing this article. Click the Schedule tab in the navigation bar above to stay up to date on schedule changes.
The Suburban East Conference was widely considered one of the state's most competitive heading into this season, with Stillwater, Forest Lake, Park of Cottage Grove, Cretin-Derham Hall and Woodbury jockeying for the league crown.
Thus far, the conference hasn't had much of a chance to showcase its talent, as winter weather has caused game cancellations across the board. On April 23, however, we may finally get a chance to see two of the league's best teams face off as Stillwater hosts Forest Lake in our Top Game of the Week.
Stillwater enters this year hoping to build some confidence in the circle, where freshman Allison Benning and junior Annalise Bell will share pitching duties after to the graduation of standout Emma Murphy.
Having experience behind the plate should help the pair of pitchers, a responsibility falling on returning junior catcher Torri Chute. She hit .485 with five home runs and 35 RBI and was named second-team all-state a year ago.
The Rangers counter with senior pitcher Megan Baniecke, who returns to the circle after missing time last season due to a concussion. Despite her limited playing time, Baniecke struck out 82 batters in 58.2 innings as a junior. The St. Thomas commit also hit .486.
Senior center fielder Avery Jorgenson hit .378 last year and should help bolster the middle of Forest Lake's batting order.