Rochester Century and Red Wing finished as Big 9 Conference co-champions last year, and they'll meet in the first week of this season ready to duel as each squad boasts a pitching corp with strong arms.
Rochester Century will hand the ball to either senior captain Palmer Mickelson or sophomore Mac Horvath to start.
Mickelson finished with a 2.80 ERA in 30 innings last season, and Horvath, who verbally committed to North Carolina last August, posted a 1.64 ERA over 42 2/3 innings pitched in 2017.
Teddy Tauer will likely take the mound for Red Wing on Thursday. The all-conference selection is in his fourth season pitching for the varsity and owns a career ERA of 1.52 in 130 1/3 innings pitched.