Faribault Fastpitch Team Can Relate to Gophers Feelings

The Faribault Falcon Fastpitch team is unbeaten in Class 3A and defeated the top-ranked defending state champion Mankato West Scarlets last Friday.

Despite that fact, the Falcons are still rated No. 2 in the state in Class 3A in the latest Minnesota Softball Coaches Association poll. Mankato West is still first.

The Scarlets have three losses on the season, falling to New Prague, Prior Lake and Faribault. You think this will be added motivation for Thursday's showdown at the Alexander Park Corral?

Not that any motivation should be needed for Faribault. A win means the Big Nine Conference championship, and one would think the top seed in the Section 2 Class 3A tournament.

The only reason I can think that West is still on top is the fact they did not throw their No. 1 pitcher in last Friday's championship game of the Section 2 Class 3A preview tournament. Do the pollsters really know this?

I will be broadcasting the game on Power 96 Radio, 95.9FM, www.power96radio.com and the free RadioPup app on your favorite mobile device. Coverage begins at 4:45PM.

Below is a listing of the Minnesota State Softball Coaches Association rankings:

Class 3A Softball Rankings

Current Rank, Previous Rank, School, Section, Total Points.

1.(1) Mankato West (S2)-(76)
2.(2) Faribault (S2)-(75)
3.(3) Hermantown (S7)-(66)
4.(4) Rocori (S5)-(63)
5.(6) Totino-Grace (S4)-(60)
6.(4) Chisago Lakes (S7)-(41)
7.(9) Becker (S5)-(36)
8.(7) Academy of Holy Angels (S3)-(35)
9.(9) Winona (S1)-(27)
10.(8) Mound Westonka (S6)-(18)

Others receiving votes: Visitation (S3)-(15), Detroit Lakes (S8)-(10),Stewartville (S1)-(9), Mankato East (S2)-(7), Alexandria Area (S8)-(4), Benilde-St. Margaret's School (S6)-(2), St. Anthony Village (S4)-(2).

Class 4A Softball Rankings

Rank.(prev) School (Section) -(Points)

1.(1) Chanhassen (S2)-(56)
2.(3) Prior Lake (S2)-(52)
3.(2) Anoka (S7)-(51)
4.(4) Woodbury (S4)-(40)
5.(4) Farmington (S1)-(36)
5.(4) Forest Lake (S7)-(36)
7.(4) Park (S3)-(28)
8.(8) New Prague (S1)-(26)
9.(9) Blaine (S7)-(22)
10.(13) Bloomington Jefferson (S2)-(17)

Others receiving votes: North (S4)-(9), Stillwater Area (S4)-(5),Eagan (S3)-(4), Hopkins (S6)-(4), Buffalo (S8)-(3), Maple Grove (S5)-(1).

Class 2A Softball Rankings

Rank.(prev) School (Section) -(Points)

1.(1) Maple Lake (S5)-(91)
2.(5) Rochester Lourdes (S1)-(77)
3.(2) Pipestone Area (S3)-(74)
4.(4) Park Rapids Area (S8)-(73)
5.(3) Chatfield (S1)-(57)
6.(8) Annandale (S5)-(46)
7.(6) Albany (S6)-(32)
8.(9) Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (S8)-(31)
9.(17) St. Cloud Cathedral (S6)-(29)
10.(7) Cotter (S1)-(25)
10.(10) Zumbrota-Mazeppa (S1)-(25)

Others receiving votes: Esko (S7)-(21),St. Croix Lutheran (S4)-(11), Warroad (S8)-(10), East Grand Forks (S8)-(9), Norwood-Young America (S5)-(6), Pine Island (S1)-(4), GMLOK Bulldogs* (S1)-(3).

Class 1A Softball Rankings

Rank.(prev) School (Section) -(Points)

1.(6) New Ulm Cathedral (S2)-(46)
2.(2) New York Mills (S6)-(45)
3.(3) Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's (S2)-(44)
4.(4) Maranatha Christian Academy (S4)-(43)
4.(4) Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (S3)-(43)
6.(1) Edgerton/SW MN Christian* (S3)-(40)
7.(7) Randolph (S1)-(26)
8.(23) Kimball Area (S4)-(17)
9.(8) Blooming Prairie (S1)-(14)
9.(9) Sebeka (S5)-(14)

Others receiving votes: Carlton (S7)-(13), Red Lake Falls (S8)-(11),Badger/GB-MR* (S8)-(8), Cherry (S7)-(7), Lester Prairie \ Holy Trinity* (S4)-(5), Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (S3)-(4), Mayer Lutheran (S4)-(4), Hayfield (S1)-(3), NCE/UH Titans* (S8)-(3).