Big Nine Baseball, Softball: Northfield, Mankato West Closing in on League Titles

In their first year back in the Big Nine Conference, the Raiders are on the verge of capturing the league baseball title. The Scarlets are close to their third straight softball crown.

Big Nine baseball

Northfield can clinch at least a share of the Big Nine title when they play host to Red Wing on Tuesday. Whether the Raiders wrap up the title then might depend on where the Wingers are in their pitching rotation. Red Wing has one of the top players in the state in Ty Buck.

The Big Nine title in baseball and softball is based on an 11-game schedule this spring. Each team plays one conference game against every team. If the teams play twice during the season, only one game counts in the league standings.

Going into Tuesday's action, here are the unofficial conference standings.

Northfield (8-1)  (Raiders' only loss came to Rochester JM early in the season.)
Mankato West (7-2)
Rochester JM (5-4)
Rochester Mayo (5-4)
Red Wing (4-3)
Owatonna (4-4)
Rochester Century (4-5)
Mankato East (4-5)
Winona (3-5)
Albert Lea (3-5)
Faribault (2-6)
Austin (2-7)

Big Nine softball

Mankato West (9-0)  (West has a pair of one-run wins over East and Winona this season.)
Mankato East (7-1)
Rochester Mayo (7-2)
Winona (6-3)
Rochester Century (5-3)
Albert Lea (3-5)
Owatonna (3-5)
Northfield (3-6)
Red Wing (2-4)
Rochester JM (2-7)
Austin (2-7)
Faribault (1-7)