The South Suburban Conference will also have its champion crowned in the regular season's final week, when Prior Lake and Eastview — the top teams in the league standings — meet in a key doubleheader.
First-place Prior Lake (13-2, 12-2) has the second-best winning percentage in Class 4A and has done it with consistent pitching and strong defense. As a result, the Lakers have allowed more than five runs in a game just once this season — a 10-8 win against defending Class 4A state champion Eden Prairie on May 5.
Pitcher Alex Wattermann tossed a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in a 10-0 victory over conference foe Lakeville South on May 15, and the Lakers followed that performance with back-to-back wins against league challenger Lakeville North (6-3 last Wednesday and 9-5 a day later), an impressive feat against a team that’s averaged 6.8 runs per game this season.
Eastview was hanging lock-step with Prior Lake before being relegated to second place after a 3-1 upset to Apple Valley on May 17.
The Lightning (11-4, 11-3) have the ability to swap spots with the Lakers with a win, and they own some awesome pitching as well. Tommy Springer and Sam Brill have thrown 42 1/3 combined innings and have allowed just four earned runs with a WHIP of 0.80 to lead Eastview's pitching staff.
--Second game to follow