Rosemount, Farmington tied for first place
The three South Suburban Conference teams that qualified for the state softball tournament in 2023 are still pretty tough in 2024.
Several other teams in the league look poised to challenge Rosemount, Farmington and Shakopee, but they won’t be dislodged easily. Through Monday’s games, defending state Class 4A Rosemount was tied with Farmington for first in the conference at 5-1, with Shakopee and Lakeville South tied for second at 4-2.
Nothing can be taken for granted in the SSC, however. Last week Lakeville South defeated Rosemount 1-0, ending a 30-game Rosemount winning streak. But on Monday, South fell 10-4 against Eastview, which had a sub-.500 record.
Here’s a status report on the SSC softball teams in the Sun Thisweek and Dakota County Tribune coverage area:
Apple Valley
Coach: Shaun Lindquist.
Last season: 1-19 overall, 1-16 South Suburban Conference; 0-2 in Class 4A, Section 3 playoffs.
Record through Monday: 2-7 overall, 1-5 conference.
Next game: vs. Rosemount (doubleheader), noon Saturday.
Eagle notes: The Eagles broke a 15-game losing streak that started in the 2023 season by defeating Chisago Lakes 3-2 in the final round of a tournament April 20 in Mankato. They turned it into a two-game winning streak when they beat Burnsville 2-0 on Monday. Aliyah Passmore pitched a three-hit shutout against Burnsville. Passmore and Olivia Duran had two hits each. Bella Kruckow’s bunt single scored Duran in the sixth inning to put the Eagles in front. Keura Roloff had two hits in the victory over Chisago Lakes and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth on Amelia Duran’s single.
Burnsville
Coach: Eric Reuss.
Last season: 7-14-1 overall, 4-12-1 conference; 0-2 in Class 4A, Section 3 playoffs.
Record through Monday: 1-5 overall, 1-4 conference.
Next game: vs. Eagan, 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Blaze notes: The bats went cold recently for Burnsville, which scored a total of two runs in its last four games. Pitcher Gracie Johnson shut out Apple Valley for the first four innings of their game Monday afternoon and held the Eagles to five hits overall, but it wasn’t enough in a 2-0 loss. Infielder Katie Dam had two of Burnsville’s three hits. Alex Gerber had two hits and a run batted in, and Megan Watson drove in two runs in the Blaze’s 5-3 victory over Prior Lake on April 11.
Eagan
Coach: Christian Duncan.
Last season: 8-13 overall, 6-11 conference; 2-2 in Class 4A, Section 3 playoffs.
Record through Monday: 1-4 overall, 1-4 conference.
Next game: at Burnsville, 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Wildcat notes: The Wildcats ended a nine-day break without a game when they played Prior Lake at home on Monday. They have five games scheduled this week, weather permitting. Jocelyn McClary was 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored in the Wildcats’ first victory, 11-1 over Apple Valley. Outfielder Drew Buslee plans to play softball and basketball at the University of Sioux Falls. McClary, Buslee, Jayden Turner and Taylor Bertrand are part of a lineup that has shown it can be productive. Eagan has scored 26 runs in its first five games despite winning just one of them.
Eastview
Coach: Sydney Dwyer.
Last season: 10-13 overall, 7-10 conference; 1-2 in Class 4A, Section 3 playoffs.
Record through Monday: 2-5 overall, 2-4 conference.
Next game: vs. Eden Prairie, 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Lightning notes: The record might suggest the Lightning have been struggling, but they gave a glimpse of what they’re capable of in Monday’s 10-4 victory over Lakeville South, a team tied for first in the South Suburban entering the game. They had 10 hits against one of the league’s top pitchers. The top two hitters in the Eastview order, shortstop Kennedy Jacobson and outfielder Ireland Murphy, were a combined 4-for-7 with six RBIs. Maya Erickson reached base four times on two hits and two walks, and scored three times.
Farmington
Coach: Paul Harrington.
Last season: 18-11 overall, 11-6 conference; won Class 4A, Section 1 championship; sixth in state Class 4A tournament.
Record through Monday: 5-1 overall, 5-1 conference.
Next game: at Lakeville South (DH), 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Tiger notes: Farmington is tied for first in the South Suburban – not a shock after graduating just two players from a team that reached the state tournament. The Tigers’ only loss was in 10 innings against defending state champion Rosemount. Top returning players include outfielder Lexi Goring, infielder Hannah Hansen and pitchers Marissa Mittelstadt and Kayla Schweich, along with college recruits Katie Klotz (Concordia St. Paul) and Kamryn Hughes (West Texas A&M). Goring, Hughes and Hansen each had three hits as Farmington routed Lakeville North 14-4 on Monday. Shortstop Lila Johannsen drove in three runs.
Lakeville North
Coach: Michael Schultz.
Last season: 11-11-1 overall, 7-9-1 conference; Class 4A, Section 1 runner-up.
Record through Monday: 3-2 overall, 3-2 conference.
Next game: vs. Rosemount, 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Panther notes: Lakeville North started the season fast, scoring at least 10 runs in each of its first three games, all victories. Losses to Lakeville South and Farmington dropped the Panthers out of the lead, although they’re just one game behind Rosemount and Farmington in the loss column. Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference commits Nora Brandt (Winona State) and Hannah Weckman (St. Cloud State) lead the returnees. Brandt, a pitcher, and Weckman, who plays infield, were all-conference players last year, and returning shortstop Alicia Jeanson received honorable mention. Brandt homered in Monday’s 14-4 loss to Farmington and has three hits last week against Lakeville South. Infielder Lydia Rosin had two hits in the 4-2 loss to South.
Lakeville South
Coach: Lisa Smith.
Last season: 10-12 overall, 8-9 conference; 1-2 in Class 4A, Section 1 playoffs.
Record through Monday: 4-3 overall, 4-2 conference.
Next game: vs. Farmington (DH), 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Cougar notes: Lakeville South ended Rosemount’s 30-game winning streak last week, defeating the Irish 1-0 on April 17. St. Cloud State commit Madeline Nutter pitched the shutout, allowing five hits and striking out six. Junior Emily Sirek’s three-run double in the sixth inning was the decisive hit in the Cougars’ 4-2 victory over Lakeville North on April 15. The Cougars entered this week tied for the South Suburban lead but dropped one game behind Rosemount and Farmington after losing to Eastview 10-4. Outfielder Kaylee Hafermann drove in two of South’s four runs.
Rosemount
Coach: Tiffany Rose.
Last season: 26-0 overall, 17-0 conference; won Class 4A, Section 3 championship; won state Class 4A championship.
Record through Monday: 5-1 overall, 5-1 conference.
Next game: at Lakeville North, 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Irish notes: Seniors shouldered much of the load in Rosemount’s state championship 2023 season, but the Irish brought back plenty of talent this year. Jorey Fry moved into the pitching circle full-time, replacing 2023 Ms. Softball Jessa Snippes, and is 5-1 with a 0.31 ERA. Division I recruits CeCe Hanson (South Dakota State), Grace Nosan (St. Thomas) and Ari Princl (Creighton) return at center field, catcher and shortstop, respectively. Through six games, sophomore infielder Julia Wigley leads the starting lineup in average (.462) and on-base percentage (.562) and is tied with Princl for the team lead with six RBIs.
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