The South Suburban Conference may be on par with the Suburban East as one of the state's most competitive leagues, with defending Class 4A state champion Farmington leading a group of highly talented teams sure to emerge as battle-tested at the end of the regular season.
Farmington returns several key players from last year, including the left side of the infield — a pair that is not only solid defensively but can produce at the plate. Senior third baseman Emma Frost hit .310 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI last season, including a walk-off home run that claimed the Class 4A crown. Junior shortstop Olivia Hazelbaker is another threat after hitting .424 her sophomore season.
Eastview (1-0) is looking to tame the Tigers and compete for a top spot in the conference. The Lightning got off to a strong start, defeating Eagan 5-2 on April 9 behind senior pitcher Grace Gall. She threw a complete game while striking out six and allowing only one earned run. Senior catcher Abby Lien was also key in the win, as the Iowa commit walked twice and scored a run.