Chatfield Gophers (five seniors, two juniors, four sophomores, three freshman). Head Coach: Mark Eickhoff (takes over for Jeff Johnson). 2016: 15-3 in TRC (West Champs), 18-5 overall (1AA East Runner-Up), lost to Pine Island in Austin at Section Final Four. Key returnees: Lexi Chase (freshman P > All-TRC, All-State HM), Belle Berg (sophomore SS, All-TRC), Britney Fretland (junior 2B), Shelby Isensee (sophomore OF/1B), Carissa Campbell (sophomore OF), Eryn Radcliff (senior DH), Carlie Berge (freshman P). Four senior starters graduated including Sydney Gould (All-TRC, All-State C) and Megan LaPlante (All-TRC, All-State HM 3B). The top two pitchers (Chase, Berge) and some potent bats return. Chase and Berg are third year players (already).
GMLOK Bulldogs (nine seniors, three juniors, one sophomore). Head Coach: John Fenske. 2016: 10-8 in TRC, 13-10 overall (program record for wins), lost to Pine Island in 1AA West Final Three. Key returnees: Alayna Meskill (senior P, All-TRC), Courtney Schmidt (senior SS, All-TRC), Gretchen Corson (senior OF, two-time All-TRC), Gracie Schmidt (senior C, All-TRC in 2015), Courtney Fate (senior 1B), Kellyn Webster (senior 2B), Hattie Voigt (senior 3B/OF), Marissa Lovejoy (senior OF), Kori Kruegel (junior IF), Emily Servick (senior 1B/DP), Lindsay Welch (junior P/OF). Bulldogs lost one player total, return most experienced team in county/TRC. Meskill and C-Schmidt are fifth-year standouts, Corson and G-Schmidt third year standouts.
FC/L Falcons (six seniors, five juniors, one freshman). Head Coach: Tris Tollefson. 2016: 5-12 in TRC, 7-14 overall, lost in 1AA East quarters. Key returnees: Haley Polin (senior SS, All-TRC), Anna Jorgenson (junior OF), Makaila Eickhoff (junior P/DP), Katelin Mensink (senior C), Abby Lange (senior 1B), Maggie McKernan (senior OF), Alyssa Schibursky (senior OF). Falcons have to replace five starters. Polin is a fourth-year starter.
Houston Hurricanes (three seniors/freshmen/8th graders, two juniors/sophomores). Head Coach: Dean Sonsalla. 2016: 4-2 in SEC, 10-11 overall, lost in the 1A East quarters. Key returnees: Amber Chapel (junior OF, All-SEC), Alyssa Rostad (sophomore OF, All-SEC), Becca Rostad (8th grade C), Becca Lee (junior SS), Annette Dulek (senior IF), Alyvia King (senior OF), Morgan Beckman (senior IF). All-SEC pitcher Cortney Johnston graduated. A-Rostad, King, Dulek, Beckman, and Lee all enter their fourth year on varsity; Chapel is in her third.
M-C Cougars (three seniors/sophomores, four juniors, five sophomores). Head Coach: Kati Bergey. 2016: 3-3 in SEC, 7-10 overall, fell in eight innings in the 1A East quarters. Key returnees: Coranda Vickerman (senior SS, three-time All-SEC), Lexi Thorson (sophomore OF/2B, All-SEC), Harley McCabe (junior P/OF), Maddy Michels (sophomore C), Avery Arneson (junior OF), Kimberly Hauber (sophomore 1B), Kayla Patterson (senior P/OF), Hannah Snell (sophomore 3B). Cougars are near identical as last year, when they nearly beat eventual 1A East champ in play-offs. Vickerman is a fifth-year starter. Thorson returns for her third year.
R-P Trojans (four seniors/juniors, three sophomores, seven freshmen). Head Coach: Jeremy Tesch. 2016: 3-14 in TRC, 4-17 overall, lost in the 1A East quarters. Key returnees: Savannah Skalet (senior P/OF, All-TRC), Allison Oian (senior 2B), Joy Hundorf (senior IF), Ashley Keenan (senior OF). Trojans have just four full-timers, four seniors, back. Skalet is a fourth-year starter, Oian a third year starter.