Waconia at Hutchinson
4:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 16

These section and conference rivals look entirely different from the teams that meet in last year's section semifinals.

Waconia's biggest leap towards success has been pitching. Jack Stoddard has led a staff that has allowed more than four runs just four times, compared to nine such occasions a season ago. Meanwhile, seven players from last year's Wildcats lineup returned, headlined by Jake Hendricks, who's having a red-hot run. He is 6-for-7 with seven RBI in the last two games.

Hutchinson's Chandler Kurth is likely to take the mound against Waconia, as he did in the section victory last spring, but his supporting cast are playing new roles.

The Tigers have succeeded with just two starters returning from last season, but the new guys have stepped up, scoring at least nine runs during eight of their last 10 games, which sets up a probable high-powered offensive battle on Tuesday.