Spring sports: A look at what’s ahead

SSC baseball, softball openers scheduled Monday

A year ago, the remnants of an unusually harsh winter prevented many high school spring sports teams from starting their seasons on schedule.

Some were forced to be flexible, such as softball teams playing games that counted inside domes or improvised fields or artificial turf.

This year, a historically warm winter means that a 15-inch burst of snow over a week in late March might not prevent teams from starting on time. Here’s a look at some of the upcoming events as spring sports kick into gear:

Friday

Teams from Burnsville and Apple Valley are headed to a meet at Minnesota State University Mankato, which should be unaffected by weather because it will be indoors at the Myers Field House, which has held two NCAA Division II indoor championships.

Also taking place indoors are varsity and junior varsity softball scrimmages hosted by defending state Class 4A champion Rosemount. Eagan and Bloomington Jefferson also will participate, with action starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Irish Sports Dome.

Saturday

You’ll have to wake up early for a four-team boys tennis tournament at the Northview Park courts in Eagan. The Wildcats will play host to Elk River, Mahtomedi and St. Paul Academy starting at 9 a.m.

Monday was the first day of lacrosse practice, and teams will start having scrimmages by this weekend. Park of Cottage Grove and Wayzata come to Rosemount for girls lacrosse scrimmages starting at 8:15 a.m. Lakeville South, last year’s girls state runner-up, goes to Cretin-Derham Hall for a scrimmage at 8. New Prague visits Eastview for a boys scrimmage at 11:30.

Monday, April 8

It’s Opening Day for South Suburban Conference softball and baseball – with the standard “weather permitting” disclaimer.

Defending SSC softball champion Rosemount plays at Farmington on Monday. Other games are Lakeville South at Apple Valley, Prior Lake at Burnsville, Eastview at Lakeville North and Eagan at Shakopee. All games are 4:30 p.m. except Eagan-Shakopee, which starts at 6.

The two South Suburban teams that reached the 2023 state baseball tournament, Rosemount and Lakeville South, play each other at Rosemount High School at 4:30 p.m. Also on Monday are Prior Lake at Apple Valley, Eastview at Eagan, Burnsville at Farmington and Lakeville North at Shakopee. All games start at 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 9

Apple Valley is will play host to the Hastings and Holy Angels girls and boys teams in track and field meets at 3:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Lakeville North is one of five schools competing in a boys track invitational at Prior Lake starting at 4 p.m.

Defending SSC boys tennis champion Lakeville North begins its conference schedule at home against Eastview at 3:30 p.m.

Three-time defending state CI Division champion Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville plays at New Prague at 4:30 p.m. in the Blazing Cats’ adapted softball season opener. Also playing Tuesday is 2023 CI Division runner-up Dakota United, which faces Chanhassen/Chaska/Prior Lake/Shakopee at 4:30 p.m. at Twin Oaks Middle School in Prior Lake.

Boys volleyball is in its last season as a club sport. Its first season as a Minnesota State High School League-recognized varsity sport is expected to be spring 2025. On Tuesday, Burnsville is home against Osseo at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 10

Apple Valley, Eastview, Lakeville South and Rosemount are among nine teams scheduled to compete in Lightning Invitational boys track and field meet at Eastview High School at 4 p.m. Athletes in ninth and 10th grades will compete. On the girls side, Farmington goes to Lakeville South for a dual meet.

Among the baseball games scheduled are Rosemount at Apple Valley, Lakeville North at Eastview and Lakeville South at Farmington, all at 4:30 p.m.

In softball, top games include Lakeville North going to Lakeville South, Eastview hosting Burnsville and Rosemount playing at home against Prior Lake.

Thursday, April 11

This is the first day regular-season lacrosse games can be played. Boys games include Farmington at Chisago Lakes (6 p.m.), Northfield at Eagan (6:30) and Hill-Murray at Eastview (7). Farmington’s girls are on the road at Blake and Rosemount’s girls play at Champlin Park in 7 p.m. starts.

One first big invitational of the boys golf season is at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids, traditional site of the Class 3A state tournament. Eagan and Eastview are in the field for the 27-team event, which tees off at 9 a.m. Eastview is three-time defending Class 3A, Section 3 champion.

Farmington will play host to Eagan, Eastview and Lakeville South in a South Suburban Conference boys track and field quadrangular at 4 p.m. Eastview and Lakeville North go to Prior Lake for a girls meet, also at 4.

Dakota United plays Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville at 4:30 p.m. at Century Middle School in Lakeville in a rematch of last year’s CI Division adapted softball championship game, which the Blazing Cats won 7-5 in 11 innings.