Prior Lake wraps up the regular season with a test against No. 4-4A Forest Lake on Saturday. The Lakers and Rangers look to use the game as a postseason primer. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine
Prior Lake and Forest Lake have two of the most difficult paths to the Class 4A state tournament, with each playing in loaded sections that include several teams ranked in the Minnesota Fastpitch Coaches Association poll.
To prepare for the challenging brackets, the Lakers and Rangers scheduled a matchup for the regular-season finale, and both hope for a positive result before heading into their respective sections.
Prior Lake (15-2, 12-1) will be itching for the postseason after already winning the South Suburban Conference title, but getting through Class 4A, Section 2 unscathed won't be easy for the No. 3 Lakers, who will battle No. 1 Chanhassen and Bloomington Jefferson -- the team that recently handed the top-ranked Storm their first loss of the season -- for a state tournament bid.
Forest Lake (14-4, 11-4) won the Class 4A, Section 7 title with a 1-0 victory over Anoka a year ago, but the No. 3 Rangers can't rest on their laurels, not with the No. 2 Tornadoes and No. 9 Blaine competing in the bracket.
This meeting between two teams poised to make a run at a state tournament berth makes it our pick for the Top Game of the Week.
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