Mankato East or Forest Lake. Which team deserves the title of the No. 1 softball team in Minnesota?

Here’s the list of Minnesota athletes signing their financial aid and athletic scholarship documents in the coming weeks.

Forest Lake makes a strong case for the No. 1 spot over Mankato East.

Staff writer Jim Paulsen’s selections for the Top 25 softball teams in Minnesota, regardless of class.

Now that the state tournament has concluded, here’s where Minnesota’s best teams fall in line according to writer Ron Haggstrom.

Waseca tied the game in the second half, but All-Minnesota standouts Zeke Austin and Sam Hondl pushed back for Albany.

Albany turned away Caledonia and Waseca held off Breck in the semifinals.

Cherry and Dawson-Boyd advanced to the 1A final, and Albany and Waseca reached the 2A semifinal title game.

Class 4A’s higher seeds all won, though Wayzata was tested by Moorhead, and Classes 3A and 2A also went according to form.

Longtime Star Tribune sportswriter Ron Haggstrom forecasts which teams will advance to the semifinals and championship games, including the eventual tournament winners in all four classes.