Rain delays start of high school softball state tournament, sets up a busy Wednesday

The high school softball state tournament won’t begin until Wednesday because of rain, the Minnesota State High School League announced Tuesday afternoon.

The league on Tuesday morning postponed Tuesday’s games to later in the day but decided in the early afternoon, as rain continued, to put off games until Wednesday.

Wednesday’s schedule now will include 16 quarterfinals, the first of them starting at 8:30 a.m., and eight semifinals, spread over four classes and six fields at Caswell Park in North Mankato. The tournament commonly is played on four fields.

MSHSL Communications Director Tim Leighton said postponing until Wednesday “will give the fields a chance to recover, seeing as how we have some good weather coming behind this.”

Thursday remains a day off — only consolation-round games will be held. Championship day is Friday. For the first time, the four state championship games will be played at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.

CLASS 4A

Quarterfinals

8:30 a.m.

Forest Lake vs. Edina

Brainerd vs. Bloomington Jefferson

Eagan vs. Champlin Park

White Bear Lake vs. Farmington

Semifinals, 4 p.m.

CLASS 3A

Quarterfinals

8:30 a.m.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s vs. Chisago Lakes

Byron vs. Cretin-Derham Hall

11 a.m.

Simley vs. Mankato East

Rocori vs. Becker

Semifinals, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

CLASS 2A

Quarterfinals

11 a.m.

Esko vs. Randolph

Spectrum vs. St. Cloud Cathedral

Jackson County Central vs. St. Agnes

Hawley vs. Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial

Semifinals, 4:30 p.m.

CLASS 1A

Quarterfinals

1:30 p.m.

United South Central vs. Blackduck

Wabasso vs. Braham

Bethlehem Academy vs. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley

Badger/Greenbush-Middle River

Semifinals, 9 p.m.