Getting through the difficult Class 4A, Section 5 tournament field had been an impossible task for Rogers over the past decade. So moving to Section 8 likely provided some relief for the Royals, who head into the final week of the regular season ranked No. 8 in Class 4A.
But the road really hasn't gotten any easier for Rogers (17-2, 10-2), given No. 2-4A Elk River also competes in Section 8. Another competitor is Buffalo, which eliminated Rogers from tournament play in 2016 and 2017, before moving to Section 8 with the Royals.
Consider Rogers' Northwest Suburban Conference matchup with No. 9-4A Maple Grove on Tuesday a playoff barometer.
The winner will finish third in the conference standings behind No. 2-4A Elk River and No. 3-4A Centennial. Maple Grove won the conference title in 2019. Rogers, meanwhile, is in its first season in the league after playing in the Mississippi 8 Conference in 2019.
Dominant pitching can carry a softball team through the postseason, and Grace Mammen gives the Royals a bettor's chance at their first state tournament berth since 2005.
Mammen, who has pitched all but one inning this season for Rogers, has five shutouts and a 1.23 ERA. Her only losses this season have come against Centennial and Elk River. Mammen is also hitting .358 with 11 RBIs.
She gets plenty of support from a trio of juniors. Sara Kemmetmueller (.361, 13 RBIs), Raegan Kimbler (.356, 25 RBIs) and Emma Kemmetmueller (.340, 9 RBIs) have all produced at the plate. Sophomore Kenzie Jones compliments, hitting .414 with 11 RBIs.
Isabella Daniels, hitting .378 with 14 RBIs and holding an 8-3 record with 97 strikeouts, is the face of the Crimson (13-3, 10-2). Katelyn Kasper has 16 RBIs, Elizabeth Berry has 14 and Jenna Gruenig follows with 12.