SBLive's Minnesota softball Power 25: Mankato East and West jump into the top-10

Photos: Brainerd softball defeats Champlin Park

1. Rosemount (12-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

This week’s games: May 9 at Lakeville South (5-7), May 10 vs. Lakeville South, May 12 at Lakeville North (7-4-1)

Ranking rationale: The Irish aren’t slowing down for anyone. They’re the last remaining unbeaten team in Class 4A, and all of their wins have come by eight or more runs. Rosemount’s 10-runned six straight opponents and 10-of-12.

Last week, the Irish won 10-0 on May 3 at Burnsville (4-7-1) and 17-1 the next day at Shakopee, which actually moved up a spot in the rankings to No. 6 despite the loss.

In fairness to Burnsville, the Blaze did require Rosemount to play all seven innings. Future Gopher Jessa Snippes pitched a complete game two-hitter with 14 strikeouts. She also led the team with three hits.

Her streak of two straight shutouts was snapped vs. the Sabers, but holding a top-10 team to one run might be more impressive. The Irish scored 10 runs in the first inning and won by 15-run rule through four innings.

Snippes went 4-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI. She struck out eight and allowed just two hits in the circle.

Rosemount is leaps and bounds above the rest of the Power 25 at this point.

2. Stillwater (12-1)

Last week’s ranking: 2

This week’s games: May 8 at Irondale (4-8), May 9 at No. 13 White Bear Lake (7-4), May 10 at No. 8 Park of Cottage Grove (11-2), May 11 at No. 4 Maple Grove (10-1), May 12 vs. Woodbury (3-8)

Ranking rationale: The Ponies bounced back well from their one and only loss suffered May 1 at Cretin-Derham Hall (6-5), a team in consideration for a Power 25 spot this week.

Stillwater’s won four in a row, including 4-1 May 5 vs. previous No. 8 Forest Lake (9-3) and 5-4 No. 3 North St. Paul (12-1).

The latter had to feel good as Stillwater got to be the one to hand a team its first loss.

Stillwater’s beaten six opponents by 10 runs or more.

Earning a big win like that may be tough to come by this week. The Ponies are scheduled to play all five weekdays with three top-15 matchups lined up Tuesday through Thursday. A 4-1 week could be enough to keep the Ponies at No. 2, where they firmly sit this week.

3. North St. Paul (12-1)

Last week’s ranking: 3

This week’s games: May 8 vs. Tartan (3-6), May 10 vs. Hill-Murray (4-6), May 12 vs. Hastings (6-4)

Ranking rationale: For the Polar faithful, it had to be fun while it lasted. North St. Paul has been one of the big stories in the state with an 11-0 start to the season.

It didn’t come against cupcakes, either. North St. Paul owns a win over current No. 23 Eden Prairie (7-4) and twice 10-runned a Two Rivers (9-3) team in consideration for a top-25 spot.

The only loss came to a team that looks like it could make a deep run in Mankato next month. The Polars fell 5-4 May 6 at No. 2 Stillwater (12-1).

North St. Paul appears well on its way to a Metro East Conference title at 10-0 with the rest of the competition all having three losses or more.

4. Maple Grove (10-1)

Last week’s ranking: 5

This week’s games: May 8 vs. No. 9 Mankato East (10-1), May 9 vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong (5-5), May 11 vs. No. 2 Stillwater (12-1), May 13 vs. East Ridge (4-7) in Minneapolis

Ranking rationale: Want to hear a crazy stat? Maple Grove gave up more runs in its one loss this season, seven to current No. 11 Hopkins (8-3), than in its nine wins combined.

The Crimson shut out all three opponents last week and are up to four in a row. North Dakota State commit Madison Wihlm has been lights out in the circle.

Maple Grove’s up to six wins in a row. Last week, it picked up a ranked win by a 4-0 score at Rogers (7-3), which held steady at No. 15 this week. Wihlm struck out 14 while helping her cause with a walk and run scored.

It’s no easy objective, but the Crimson could climb up to No. 2 next week if they add two more top-10 victories to the resume coming up.

5. Brainerd (10-1)

Last week’s ranking: 6

This week’s games: May 8 vs. No. 16 Blaine (6-3) in St. Joseph, May 9 at Sartell-St. Stephen (6-1), May 11 vs. Fergus Falls (1-3), May 13 at Forest Lake tournament

Ranking rationale: After a surprising late-April loss to a solid, but unranked St. Cloud (9-3) squad, Brainerd has responded fabulously. The Warriors are on a seven-game win streak and went 4-0 last week.

They picked up a top-25 win in their last outing, an 11-8 victory May 5 at previous No. 17 Champlin Park (7-4). That was Brainerd’s sixth time scoring double-digit runs. Credit the Warriors for scheduling a tough non-conference slate.

The Warriors can add to their resume by picking up a neutral site win at the College of St. Benedict against Blaine.

6. Shakopee (8-2)

Last week’s ranking: 7

This week’s games: May 8 vs. No. 23 Farmington (8-3), May 9 at Minnetonka (6-6), May 10 vs. No. 24 Lakeville North (7-4-1), May 12 vs. Eastview (6-7)

Ranking rationale: It’s hard to move up in the ranking with a 16-run loss, but that just shows how Rosemount is in a tier of its own. The Sabers had a six-game win streak snapped in a 17-1 loss May 4 vs. Rosemount. No one’s hung closer than eight runs against Rosemount.

Shakopee scored seven or more runs in each of its six wins in the streak, which included a 13-3 drubbing at a former top 25 Waconia (6-4) team. The Sabers will look to go for the season sweep this week of a new entrant to the power rankings, Farmington.

7. St. Michael-Albertville (11-1)

Last week’s ranking: 9

This week’s games: May 8 vs. No. 11 Hopkins (8-3), May 9 at Anoka (4-4), May 10 vs. No. 21 Eden Prairie (9-6), May 12 at No. 16 Blaine (6-3)

Ranking rationale: St. Michael-Albertville’s lone loss of the season is getting farther and farther in the rearview mirror. The Knights have won 11 straight with nine wins coming by four runs or more.

The Knights own three top-25 wins, including a 4-3 win May 1 at Wayzata to avenge a 2-0 loss at home in the season opener. Taylor Tschida went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in the Wayzata win, while Ella Luota pitched six innings and stuck out six while helping her cause with a couple hits and a RBI.

The Knights could crack the top five for the first time this season with another strong week.

8. Park of Cottage Grove (11-2)

Last week’s ranking: 10

This week’s games: May 8 at No. 13 White Bear Lake (7-4), May 9 vs. Roseville (1-10), May 10 vs. No. 2 Stillwater (12-1), May 12 at Roseville

Ranking rationale: Park of Cottage Grove has responded to both of its losses this season with big win streaks. After falling 10-2 indoors in the season opener at current No. 23 Eden Prairie (9-6), the Wolfpack rattled off six straight, including a win over defending state champion and current No. 12 Forest Lake (9-3).

Forest Lake salvaged a series split a week later. Park bounced back to win six in a row in an ongoing streak.

The Wolfpack didn’t slow down during a five-game week last week, winning 2-0 in eight innings May 2 vs. a ranked White Bear Lake squad and 5-4 on May 5 against a Cretin-Derham Hall (6-5) team that handed No. 2 Stillwater (12-1) its only loss.

Stella Fritshe earned her first shutout of the season against WBL, going the extra inning and allowing just two hits. She struck out 12 and threw 148 pitches.

9. Mankato East (10-1)

Last week’s ranking: 13

This week’s games: May 8 at No. 4 Maple Grove (10-1), May 9 at Albert Lea (4-8), May 12-13 at Mankato tournament

Ranking rationale: The Cougars are one of the bigger rises in a week without a ton of shake-up in the top 25. They climbed four spots thanks in large part to a 5-4 win May 5 at previous No. 12 Winona (11-2).

That was Mankato East’s ninth straight win. The Cougars also knocked off No. 10 Mankato West (10-1) in what’s still the Scarlets’ only loss. Mankato East’s lone loss was by a run to Le Sueur-Henderson (10-4), which leads the Minnesota River Conference.

The Cougars aren’t shy from taking on tough non-conference competition. How they look against a red-hot Crimson squad to start this week will impact if they can climb higher in the top 10.

10. Mankato West (10-1)

Last week’s ranking: 14

This week’s games: May 9 vs. Northfield (10-4), May 10 at No. 14 Winona (11-2), May 11 doubleheader at Rochester Mayo (7-7)

Ranking rationale: Like its rival Mankato East, Mankato West also makes a four-spot leap in this week’s Power 25. The Scarlets have been impressive since their lone loss came by a run to their rivals on April 18.

West is on a six-game win streak and the bats are scorching. The Scarlets are averaging 11.8 runs in that span and 10.4 for the season. They surpassed both those marks in their first ranked win of the season, a 12-9 victory May 2 at previous No. 4 Hopkins (8-3).

11. Hopkins (8-3)

Last week’s ranking: 4

This week’s games: May 8 at No. 7 St. Michael-Albertville (11-1), May 10 vs. Minnetonka (6-6), May 11 at Edina (3-8)

Ranking rationale: A seven-spot drop seems a little steep, but the margins after the top two teams in the state all the way down through the top 25 are pretty thin.

The Royals have an opportunity to climb back into the top 10 if they can win a key conference game to start this week. Hopkins had a four-game win streak snapped last week with a 12-9 loss May 2 vs. current No. 10 Mankato West (10-1). It came back two days later and won 4-3 at current No. 21 Eden Prairie (9-6). The Royals then earned their first opponent shutout with a 1-0 win May 5 at a pesky Anoka (4-4) squad.

12. Forest Lake (9-3)

Last week’s ranking: 8

This week’s games: May 8 vs. Mounds View (2-9), May 10 at Irondale (4-8), May 11 vs. Irondale, May 12 vs. East Ridge (4-7), May 13 at Forest Lake tournament

Ranking rationale: After a 2-2 start to the season, the defending Class 4A state champions found their stride. The Rangers reeled off seven straight wins, including resume-boosting wins against current No. 8 Park of Cottage Grove (11-2) and No. 13 White Bear Lake (7-4). Hannah Tong pitched a complete game with 12 strikeouts in the 5-2 win at WBL.

Forest Lake’s win streak came to a close in a 4-1 loss May 5 at No. 2 Stillwater (12-1). Tong only surrendered two hits in five innings, but six walks and cold Ranger bats were too much to overcome. The Rangers drop in the rankings this week, but more due to outstanding performances allowing teams to make a climb.

13. White Bear Lake (7-4)

Last week’s ranking: 11

This week’s games: May 8 vs. No. 8 Park of Cottage Grove (11-2), May 9 vs. No. 2 Stillwater (12-1), May 11 doubleheader at Cretin-Derham Hall (6-5), May 12 at Irondale (4-8)

Ranking rationale: The Bears have played one of the toughest schedules in the state thus far.

All four losses have come to top-12 teams. All came by three runs or fewer and only one opponent out of 11 this season has scored more than three runs.

White Bear Lake went 2-2 last week with a 5-1 loss vs. previous No. 8 Forest Lake (9-3) and 2-0 loss at a red-hot Park of Cottage Grove (11-2) squad that’s up to No. 8 this week. The Bears responded with resounding wins 9-2 May 3 at East Ridge (4-7) and 10-0 May 5 vs. Roseville (1-10).

Chloe Barber contributed to the team’s fifth opponent shutout against Roseville, pitching four innings out of five with one hit and one walk allowed to go with 12 strikeouts. Sister and catcher, Heidi Barber, went 3-for-3 with a home run and 5 RBI.

14. Winona (11-2)

Last week’s ranking: 12

This week’s games: May 8 vs. Rochester John Marshall (2-10), May 9 at Austin (1-13), May 10 vs. No. 10 Mankato West (10-1), May 12 at Kasson-Mantorville (8-3)

Ranking rationale: The Winhawks dropped their first Big 9 Conference game of the season, but they’re still in the mix to win one of the toughest non-metro conferences in the state, at least at the top.

Winona lost 5-4 May 5 vs. current No. 9 Mankato East (10-1). Its only other loss was 4-1 vs. current No. 8 Park of Cottage Grove (11-2).

Winona is seeking its first ranked victory, but it’s obliterating the rest of the competition. The Winhawks swept a May 2 doubleheader at Red Wing (3-10) by a combined 42-1.

They’ve 10-runned seven teams this season. A rare close win came 2-1 in nine innings May 4 vs. a Northfield (10-4) team that was in consideration for a top-25 spot this week.

Makayla Steffes punched all nine innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run. She walked none and struck out 13.

15. Rogers (7-3)

Last week’s ranking: 15

This week’s games: May 8 vs. Totino-Grace (1-9), May 9 vs. Coon Rapids (0-11), May 11 at Anoka (4-4), May 13 at Monticello tournament

Ranking rationale: The Royals went 3-1 last week to stick at No. 15. They dispatched three unranked foes by a combined 29-12 score. They won 7-1 May 1 at one of the top unranked teams, St. Cloud (9-3), and won 11-5 at a 2022 Class 4A state tournament team, Chanhassen (2-7).

Lauren Freeberg had a 3-for-5 day with a home run and six RBI. Olivia Ohme and Amanda Barnacle also had three hits as part of 16 for the team.

Rogers had a five-game win streak snapped in a 4-0 loss May 4 vs. current No. 4 Maple Grove (10-1).

The Crimson haven’t allowed a run in four straight games, so getting blanked isn’t the end of the world. It was the first time Rogers went scoreless this season.

16. Blaine (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 19

This week’s games: May 8 vs. No. 5 Brainerd (10-1) in St. Benedict, May 11 vs. No. 18 Champlin Park (7-4), May 12 vs. No. 7 St. Michael-Albertville (11-1), May 13 at Forest Lake tournament

Ranking rationale: Blaine posted a 2-1 record last week highlighted by a 9-3 win May 2 at previous No. 16 Andover (9-3).

Maddy Bryant and Kendra Schmitz led with three hits each as part of 16 for the team.

Emma Edwards pitched a complete game with just one earned run allowed and eight strikeouts. She also went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.

The Bengals fell 12-6 May 1 vs. Spring Lake Park (8-8) but have yet to lose to a sub-.500 team.

Blaine can earn a marquee win if it can beat defending Class 4A state runner up Brainerd coming up.

17. Andover (9-3)

Last week’s ranking: 16

This week’s games: May 9 at Elk River (6-5), May 13 at Forest Lake tournament

Ranking rationale: No. 4 Maple Grove (10-1) is unbeaten in the Northwest Suburban Conference and has separated itself atop the standings.

After that, there are a ton of good, evenly matched teams. Andover is one of them.

The Huskies are on a four-game win streak and went 4-1 last week. The loss came May 2 to a neighbor in the Power 25, Blaine, which leapfrogged Andover in the rankings to cause a one-spot drop this week for the Huskies.

Andover survived close games in three of its wins but got to breathe easy in a 10-0 win in six innings at Coon Rapids (0-11). Halle Dunleavy went 2-for-4 with a home run, double, run scored and three RBI.

Kaelyn Polzin got the win in four innings with no hits, no walks and eight strikeouts. Alexandra Kostecka completed the combined no-hitter with two walks and three strikeouts.

18. Champlin Park (7-4)

Last week’s ranking: 17

This week’s games: May 8 at Coon Rapids (0-11), May 9 vs. Totino-Grace (1-9), May 11 at No. 16 Blaine (6-3), May 12 at Le Sueur-Henderson (10-4), May 13 at Forest Lake tournament

Ranking rationale: The Rebels were busy last week, going 4-2. A 9-5 loss May 1 at Anoka (4-4) was tough, but the Tornadoes have been tough in 2023.

Champlin Park responded by shutting out its first opponent of the season in a 1-0 win at Osseo (3-9). It added a 6-5 win vs. Elk River (6-5), a team its fighting for positioning with in the Northwest Suburban Conference standings.

An 11-8 loss to No. 5 Brainerd (10-1) was nothing to be ashamed of. No one else has scored more than six runs on the Warriors.

Champlin Park kept the bats going May 6 in Duluth with an 11-1 win vs. Irondale (4-8) and 13-0 vs. Duluth East (0-7).

19. New Prague (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 20

This week’s games: May 8 vs. Chaska (5-4), May 9 at Waconia (6-4), May 10 at Orono (7-3), May 11 vs. No. 20 Bloomington Jefferson (6-2), May 12-13 at Mankato tournament

Ranking rationale: The Trojans are up to four wins over teams that have been in the top 25 this season. They rolled Metro West Conference rivals and 2022 Class 4A and 3A state tournament participants last week, winning 10-4 May 2 vs. Chanhassen (3-7) and 15-5 May 4 at Benilde-St. Margaret’s (1-6).

New Prague can back it up this week starting off with three teams just outside the top 25, as well as a Bloomington Jefferson team it’s hoping to sweep after winning the first matchup 10-3 April 24 in Bloomington.

The Trojans went 3-1 last week with the one slip-up coming 4-3 May 5 on a wet day at another team in consideration for the top 25, Northfield (10-4).

20. Bloomington Jefferson (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 21

This week’s games: May 8 vs. St. Louis Park (3-7), May 9 at Mound Westonka (3-5), May 10 at Chaska (5-4), May 11 at No. 19 New Prague (7-2)

Ranking rationale: Bloomington Jefferson went 2-1 last week and flashed solid pitching in the pair of wins. Maria Torp limited eight hits to one run in the Jaguars’ 4-1 win May 4 vs. Chanhassen (3-7).

Maddy Pieper pitched five innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 win May 5 at a Spring Lake Park (8-8) team that plated 12 runs in a win earlier in the week at a ranked Blaine squad.

Jackie Larsen went 4-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and a run scored against SLP.

Jefferson’s setback was 9-7 May 2 vs. Waconia (6-4), which was one of the first teams outside the top 25 this week.

The Jaguars can get revenge against them later in the month, as well as this week against the only other team to beat them, New Prague.

21. Eden Prairie (9-6)

Last week’s ranking: 23

This week’s games: May 8 vs. No. 22 Wayzata (7-4), May 10 at No. 7 St. Michael-Albertville (11-1), May 12 vs. Buffalo (0-11)

Ranking rationale: An up and down season for the Eagles continued last week as they staked a 2-2 record.

Eden Prairie lost its first game to a team that is not or has not been in the top 25, falling 6-4 May 1 vs. Minnetonka (6-6).

The Eagles got off the mat with one of three wins against current or formerly ranked competition, winning big May 2 at No. 22 Wayzata (7-4), 14-7. Eden Prairie squeaked out a 6-5 win the next day at home vs. Edina (3-8) before losing another nailbiter, 4-3, vs. previous No. 4 Hopkins (8-3).

22. Wayzata (7-4)

Last week’s ranking: 22

This week’s games: May 8 at No. 21 Eden Prairie (9-6), May 10 vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong (5-5), May 12 at Minnetonka (6-6), May 13 vs. Prior Lake (5-7)

Ranking rationale: Wayzata salvaged a tough start to last week by winning three in a row. Three of the Trojans’ four losses have come to ranked foes, including 4-3 May 1 vs. current No. 7 St. Michael-Albertville (11-1).

Wayzata is the only team to beat STMA, doing so 2-0 in the April 13 season opener.

The Trojans lost consecutive games for the first time in 2023 when they fell 14-7 vs. current No. 21 Eden Prairie (9-6). As mentioned, Wayzata started a win steak, albeit against all .500 teams or worse.

A 12-8 win May 5 vs. Edina (3-8) must have felt good as it salvaged a season split with the Hornets. Wayzata has beat two of the four teams it’s lost to and has another crack at Eden Prairie coming up next.

23. Farmington (8-3)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

This week’s games: May 8 at No. 6 Shakopee (8-2), May 10 at Apple Valley (0-11), May 11 vs. Burnsville (4-7-1), May 12-13 at Mankato tournament

Ranking rationale: Farmington lacks a signature victory, but the Tigers are rolling past most of the teams they should. They’re on a five-game win streak and won both games last week.

On May 1, Farmington scored a season high in a 12-6 win at Burnsville. It improved to 4-1 on the road thanks to a 3-0 win May 3 at Eagan (4-4) for the Tigers’ second opponent shutout of the season.

The Tigers were in the top 25 earlier this season and can hang in there with a good showing against Shakopee and/or at a Mankato tournament filled with top-25 teams.

24. Lakeville North (7-4-1)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

This week’s games: May 8 at Lakeville South (5-7), May 10 at No. 6 Shakopee (8-2), May 12 vs. No. 1 Rosemount (12-0)

Ranking rationale: It’s been a bit of an interesting first half of the season for Lakeville North. The Panthers began 2023 with a 5-5 tie vs. Burnsville (4-7-1) and fell 11-10 at Eagan (4-4).

An 0-1-1 start against unranked teams was not ideal, but North responded by winning three straight, including an upset of current No. 6 Shakopee (8-2).

Three straight losses followed, though two were to teams in this week’s top 25 and the other on the road at a decent Eastview (6-7) squad.

The Panthers are trending back up after a 3-0 week last week. They got revenge on Eastview by 10-running the Lightning in a 16-5 win on May 5.

25. St. Charles (13-0)

Last week’s ranking: 25

This week’s games: May 8 at Plainview-Elgin-Millville (5-4), May 9 vs. Winona Cotter (9-1), May 11 vs. Plainview-Elgin-Millville

Ranking rationale: St. Charles was in rarified air in April, going the entire month without surrendering a run. The nine-game streak finally came to a close in the Saints’ 11-1 win May 2 at Rushford-Peterson (1-9).

The run came in the fourth inning after St. Charles was already up 11-0. The run was unearned against Brenna Koeppel, who still had a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts.

The Saints boast a 114-3 run differential. Dover-Eyota (3-5) has been the only team able to hang with them.

In the first of two meetings between the Three Rivers Conference rivals, St. Charles won 2-0 April 10. The next time was a 4-2 affair May 4 in Dover.

The Saints trailed for the first time this season when the Eagles scored one in the first inning, but it was short-lived with St. Charles putting up four runs in the second.

Koeppel pitched a complete game with two hits, one earned run and nine strikeouts.

No other team has finished closer than seven runs this season.