Chatfield > Head Coach: Mark Eickhoff. Last Year: 18-0 in TRC (West Champ), 22-2 overall (1AA East champ, made Section Final Four). Key returnees: Lexi Chase (So. P/OF, All-TRC, 2nd Team All-State > .494, 28 R, 27 RBI, 11-2, .829 ERA, 145 K), Belle Berg (Jr. SS, All-TRC > .402, 6 HR, 17 extra base hits, 37 R, 32 RBI), Carlie Berge (So. P/1B, All-TRC > .397, 19 R, 20 RBI, 6-0, 61 K), Shelby Isensee (Jr. C, All-TRC > .342, HR, 24 R, 17 RBI), McKenna Daniels (So. 3B, All-TRC > .397, 6 HR, 28 R, 24 RBI), Britney Fretland (Sr. 2B > .347, 22 R, 16 RBI), Teagan Allen (So. OF > .351, 16 R, 16 RBI), Kim Greiner (So. OF). Synopsis: Gopher softball is stacked again, with five returning A-C picks, eight starters. Chase is back for her fourth year on the mound, Berg her fourth year a shortstop.
GMLOK > Head Coach: John Fenske. Last Year: 14-4 in TRC, 18-6 overall (1AA West 3rd place). Key returnees: Jocelyn Voeltz (Sr. OF > .298, 10 R, 13 RBI), Kori Kruegel (Sr. P > .231, 2-0, 16 K), Lindsey Welch (Sr. OF > .245, 1 HR, 13 R, 7 RBI), Liz Jacobsen (So. C > .235, 6 RBI), Allie Lubahn (Sr. IF > .471, 6 R, 11 RBI). Synopsis: Off best season ever, best two-year run ever, Bulldogs will retool having lost four All-TRC picks, seven starters.
Mabel-Canton > Head Coach: Kati Bergey. Last Year: 5-2 in SEC, 14-7 overall (1A East champs, made Section Final Four). Key Returnees: Maddy Michels (Jr. C, All-SEC > .338, 15 RBI), Harley McCabe (Sr. P > 8-7, 4.10 ERA), Lexi Thorson (Jr. OF > .458, 29 R, 22 RBI), Payton Danielson (So. OF > .365, 20 R, 13 RBI, 8 SB), Kenidi McCabe (Fr. C/OF > .459, 19 R, 12 RBI), Hannah Snell (Jr. 3B > .255, 22 R, 14 RBI, 20 BB, 13 SB). Synopsis: Cougars won first 1A East title last season, lost All-State HM SS Coranda Vickerman. M-C can hit, run, returns key pitcher (H-McCabe). They have 18 on roster.
Houston > Head Coach: Melanie Schultz (new). Last year: 2-5 in SEC, 6-10 overall (lost in 1A quarters). Key returnees: Amber Chapel (Sr. OF > All-SEC, .340, 3 HR, 15 R, 21 RBI), Becca Lee (Sr. SS > .375, 20 R), Alyssa Rostad (Jr. C > 16 R), Becca Rostad (Fr. IF > .269, 14 RBI), Gretchen Hill (Jr. IF > .267, 11 R), Richelle Botcher (Fr, P > 10 GS, 42 Ks, 3.92 ERA), Tessa Peterson (So. IF > .324, HR). Synopsis: Houston has a new coach and Schultz inherits a solid group. Chapel, Lee, and A-Rostad are multi-year starters in centerfield, at shortstop, and catcher.
Fillmore Central/Lanesboro > Head Coach: Tris Tollefson. Last Year: 3-14 in TRC, 4-17. Key returnees: Makaila Eickhoff (Sr. P > .313, 9 R, 11 RBI, 80 1/3 IP, 70 K), Ajay Jorgenson (Sr. OF/C > .338, HR, 17 R, 11 RBI), Claire Pieper (Sr. 2B > .280, 9 R), Daysha Erickson (Jr. SS > .348, 7 RBI), Krista Jorgenson (So. P/OF > 43 1/3 IP, 31 K). Synopsis: Falcons have good numbers, 16 total including seven seniors. The battery of Eickhoff/Jorgenson returns. Senior Kaelyn Marzolf, a part-time pitcher in 2016, rejoins the team.
Rushford-Peterson > Head Coach: Jeremy Tesch. Last Year: 1-16 in TRC, 2-21 overall (upset 1A 1-seed Randolph). Key returnees: Ellie Dahl (So. IF > .240), Peyton Hoiness (Jr. P/IF), Megan Oian (Jr. C), Karissa Eide (So. 1B), Anna Kjos (Sr. OF), Jasmine Schueler (So. IF). Synopsis: Trojans graduated their only two plus-.250 hitters. They have experience but come off a very tough season.