It’s been a few years since a softball state champion repeated in the largest class in the state. Burnsville won titles in 2004 and 2005 in Class 3A, then the state’s largest.

This year a team looks poised to pull off a two-peat: Rosemount.

The Irish lost very little from their 2021 championship team, returning the bulk of their roster. Leading the way is junior pitcher Jessa Snippes, who elevated herself to elite status last season, both in the circle and at the plate. She was 20-1 with a 0.92 ERA and 216 strikeouts and hit .577 with nine home runs and 42 RBI. Her exceptional sophomore year led to a scholarship offer from the Gophers, and she accepted.

But it’s not just Snippes. The team around her is mighty strong, led by powerful junior Paige Zender — the hero of the 2021 4A championship game — and senior catcher Charlie Hatterman, a pair of talented and versatile juniors in Macy Fry and Isabelle Nosan and outfielders Cece Hanson and Helen McKinnon.

Who could challenge?

The key to winning in softball is clearly pitching, and that gives a few teams title hopes.

In Class 4A, Forest Lake has two talented pitchers in sophomore Hannah Tong and eighth-grader Avery Muellner. They lead a team that includes standout catcher/infielder Bethany Weiss and features the return of senior infielder Grace Frechette, who hasn’t played a high school game since her freshman year because of COVID-19 in 2020 and a knee injury last year.

Chanhassen has talented young players, but the Storm also has the state’s best player in senior Sydney Schwartz. A Gophers signee, she went 21-3 a year ago with 285 strikeouts and five no-hitters — three of them perfect games — while hitting .567 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI. Centennial, behind senior ace Helene Krage, is hoping to build upon its 2021 state semifinals appearance. Lakeville South sophomore pitcher Maddie Nutter wowed everyone with 262 strikeouts, her pitches missing bats because of exceptional ball movement.

In Class 3A, many of the top teams hail from south of the metro (Winona, Mankato West, Mankato East, Byron), but keep an eye on defending champ Becker, St. Anthony and Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

Maranatha steps up?

Could this be year Maranatha Christian makes some noise in Class 2A? The Mustangs have never made a state tournament appearance, but they are prepared to do some damage after adding two junior transfers from Bloomington Jefferson, infielder Grace Kealy and catcher/shortstop Kyllie Weingart. Problem is, Maranatha could have the strongest team in school history and and still not make it to North Mankato. The reason? They reside in Section 5, also home to perennial powerhouse Maple Lake. The Irish feature a strong Miss Softball candidate in pitcher Taylor Hess, who will play in college in the powerful SEC for Kentucky and whose combination of power and movement on her pitches makes them nearly unhittable.

The list: Metro Top 10 and more

1. Rosemount

2. Forest Lake

3. Chanhassen

4. Centennial

5. Stillwater

6. Hopkins

7. Lakeville South

8. Maple Grove

9. Becker (3A)

10. White Bear Lake

Five prominent pitchers

Sydney Schwartz, Chanhassen, senior

Jessa Snippes, Rosemount, junior

Madeline Nutter, Lakeville South, sophomore

Helene Krage, Centennial, senior

Kiera Murphy, Stillwater, senior

Five power hitters

Louisa Stowman, Delano, OF, senior

Lauren Granger, Hopkins, C, senior

Kameron Monson, Woodbury, C/OF, senior

Kurstyn Patnode, Becker, P, junior

Paige Zender, Rosemount, 1B, junior

Five tough outs

Alyssa Blaska, Champlin Park, SS, senior

Avery Wukawitz, East Ridge, SS/OF, senior

Ellaina Novak, Tri-City United, P/INF, senior

Cat Smetana, Stillwater, C, senior

Katy Olive, Edina, SS, senior

Five from the younger crowd

Avery Muellner, Forest Lake, P, eighth grade

Hannah Tong, Forest Lake, P, sophomore

Signe Dohse, Hopkins, P, junior

Susie Tollefson, Chanhassen, 3B, freshman

Siri Springer, Mounds Park Academy, P, junior