Eden Prairie flipped a switch late last season. The Eagles finished the regular season with an 11-9 overall record and a 3-5 mark in the Lake Conference, but the team transformed in the postseason and ended the year as Class 4A's best, hoisting the state championship trophy at Target Field behind an offense that scored 25 runs in the state tournament.
Two starters return from that squad: first baseman Ryan Wrobleski (.222/.309/.388 in 2017) and shortstop Zack Elliott (.337/.384/.424 last year), a Minnesota commit. Both will be counted on as Eden Prairie looks to defend its title.
The Eagles face a significant early season test on Thursday, when they visit Lake Conference foe Minnetonka in our Top Game of the Week.
The Skippers were co-conference champions (with Wayzata) and split their regular season series with the Eagles last season.
Minnetonka also has little varsity experience returning, but the team is chock-full of talent, touting 12 college commits.
Leading the charge are pitchers Nick Lommen, a southpaw who struck out 22 batters in 16 2/3 innings last year, and David Roderick, a future Oklahoma Sooner.