Only the top five teams in each class were seeded for the state tournament, which is schedule for Thursday and Friday at Caswell Park in North Mankato.
All four defending state champions have qualified, and this is only the second year of a four-class tournament. As the quarterfinals are fast-approaching, it's time to break down the brackets.
Chanhassen: The defending state champions will enter its third state tournament in a row with a target on its backs as the top seed. The Storm (23-1) boast two of the state's top players: Marybeth Olson and Taylor Manno, each of whom have qualified for Minnesota's Ms. Softball award. The team led by eight seniors faces Maple Grove (16-9) in the quarterfinals Thursday, June 8 at 9 a.m.
Anoka: Star pitcher and Ms. Softball candidate Amber Elliot leads the second-seeded Tornadoes, whose 23-1 record matches Chanhassen's. Anoka begins the state tournament with a quarterfinal matchup against Hopkins (16-7) on Thursday at 9 a.m. The Tornadoes did not qualify for the tournament last year.
Class 4A's other seeds are No. 3 Woodbury, No. 4 Park of Cottage Grove and No. 5 Farmington.
Mankato West: The 21-3 Scarlets enter the state tournament for the second consecutive season and hope for an ending similar to last year, when the won the title. They play Waconia (15-8) in the quarterfinals Thursday at 11 a.m.
Totino-Grace: Player of the Week winner Marie Schupanitz and pitcher Erin Poepping power the second-seeded Eagles (21-2) toward a long-overdue shot at a state title. Totino-Grace last qualified for state in 2011, and the team opens the tournament against Big Lake (15-11) on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Third-seeded Winona, fourth-seeded Hermantown and fifth-seeded Visitation round out the top half of the bracket.
Maple Lake: The No. 1-seeded Irish did not make it past the section semifinals last season. This year, they look extend their perfect 24-0 behind the play of pitcher Calli Maki, starting with Albany (19-3) in the opening round on Thursday at 9 a.m.
Zumbrota-Mazeppa: The second-seeded Cougars (21-6) are the defending state champions and face St. Agnes (16-10) Thursday at 11 a.m
The remaining seeds are No. 3 Pipestone, No. 4 Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and No. 5 St. Peter.
Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian: The defending state champions make their third state tournament appearance in the last four years, having been given the No. 1 seed thanks to a record of 22-3. They kick off their attempt at securing another state title versus Red Lake Falls (18-8) on Thursday at 1 p.m.
New York Mills: The second-seeded Eagles (22-2) are back at state for the fifth straight season, and they'll try to top last season's fifth-place finish beginning with a victory over Carlton (22-4) on Thursday at 1 pm.
Third-seeded Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, fourth-seeded Kimball and fifth-seeded Hayfield also open state play on Thursday.
Tag(s): Featured Hub Exclusive MSHSL Conferences Red Lake Falls Thief River Falls/Goodridge Mankato West Winona Pipestone Area St. Peter Kimball Area Maple Lake Albany Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Hayfield Zumbrota-Mazeppa Hopkins Hermantown Chanhassen Big Lake Buffalo Anoka Maple Grove Totino-Grace New York Mills Pillager Carlton/Wrenshall Esko Edgerton/SW MN Christian Farmington Park of Cottage Grove Woodbury Sleepy Eye St. Mary's St. Agnes Visitation Waconia Class AAAA Class AAA Class AA Class A