Hawks take on Skippers in softball sections Tuesday

Michelle Frank

Chaska has a steep section road ahead if it is to return for a third consecutive state tournament.

The Hawks will face Minnetonka on Tuesday, May 20 at 5 p.m. in the first round of Section 2-3A play at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

The winner then takes on Mankato West at 7 p.m., with the loser dropping to the elimination bracket to play at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 22.

After a pair of one-run losses last week, Chaska put the setbacks behind them and hit the road.

The Hawks reached the championship game of the Cloquet Tournament on Saturday before falling 4-2 to White Bear Lake.

Chaska started with an 8-1 win over South St. Paul and clubbed Rice Lake, Wis. 12-0.

Chaska lost 4-3 to Lakeville North on May 7, and fell by the same score Thursday at Bloomington Kennedy, as the Eagles scored in the bottom of the seventh to win.

Apple Valley scored a 7-0 victory over the Hawks on Monday, as Eagle hurler Michele Hogan fired a one-hit shutout and struck out 10.

If that was not enough, Hogan collected three hits and scored a run. Michelle Frank and Sarah Grandstrand pitched for the Hawks.

Bloomington Jefferson clubbed Chaska 13-2 on Wednesday to drop the Hawks to 6-13 on the season, and 3-10 in the Lake Conference.

Chaska finishes the regular season with a game against the state’s No. 1 team, Eagan, at 4:15 p.m. Thursday.

Section 2-3A softball

at Caswell Park, North Mankato

Games Tuesday, May 20

First round games, 5 p.m.

#9 Chaska vs. #8 Minnetonka

#5 Shakopee vs. #12 Waconia

#6 Willmar vs. #11 New Prague

#7 Buffalo vs. #10 Hutchinson

Second-round games, 7 p.m.

#3 Mankato West vs. Chaska-Minnetonka winner

#4 Eden Prairie vs. Shakopee-Waconia winner

#1 Mankato East vs. Willmar-New Prague winner

#2 Prior Lake vs. Buffalo-Hutchinson winner

Games Thursday, May 22

One-loss bracket games, 5 p.m.

Championship bracket, 7 p.m.

Games Saturday, May 24

One-loss bracket games, 11 a.m.

One-loss bracket semifinals, 1 p.m.

Championship semifinals, 1 p.m.

Game May 27

One-loss bracket finals, 5 p.m.

Game May 29

Championship, 5 p.m. (second game follows, if necessary)

Section 2-3A seeding list

1. Mankato West
2. Prior Lake
3. Mankato East
4. Eden Prairie
5. Shakopee
6. Willmar
7. Buffalo
8. Minnetonka
9. Chaska
10. Hutchinson
11. New Prague
12. Waconia