Setting the schedule for spring sports
Owatonna baseball’s Nolan Rolloff fires a pitch toward home plate against Lakeville North. Rolloff and the Huskies finished last season 18-6 and will be in the hunt for a section run again in 2026. Staff photo by Johnnie Phillips
The warm, sunny weather we’ve all been waiting for all winter is just around the corner, and with it comes the much-anticipated return of spring sports in Steele County.
This week marks the beginning of softball and baseball for local Gopher Conference teams, with Owatonna High School sports making their debuts a week later.
While the fields are being raked and the hurdles are brought out of their off-season sheds, take a look at the following list to keep track of where your favorite teams will be in the coming weeks.
Softball
Blooming Prairie continues its trend of being the first team on the field when the Awesome Blossoms’ softball team opens the spring season at home against GMLOK on Thursday, March 26 at 4:30 p.m.
The team will look to get back to its winning form after a 5-14 finish in 2025 just one year removed from making it to state at 20-7 overall in 2024.
Medford and NRHEG will follow suit a week later with both teams kicking off the year with away games on Thursday, April 2.
The Tigers will travel to North Alexander Park in Faribault to take on Bethlehem Academy at 4:30 p.m. while the Panthers will clash with USC in Wells at the same time.
Despite having already played a few scrimmages earlier in March, Owatonna softball has the longest wait to the official beginning of its season.
The Huskies will debut on Tuesday, April 7 in an away game against Northfield at 5 p.m.
Owatonna finished last season 14-10, but put together an impressive run to the Class 1AAAA section elimination bracket semifinals.
Baseball
Blooming Prairie and NRHEG will both throw their first pitches of the 2026 season on Thursday, March 26.
The Awesome Blossoms will be the first team on the field with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on the road against Grand Meadow-LeRoy-Ostrander-Kingsland (GMLOK).
Head coach Matt Kittelson’s squad was a force to be reckoned with, finishing 15-7 overall in 2025 and making it to the Class 1A section elimination bracket final against Southland.
NRHEG baseball’s season debut will be on the road at ISG Field in Mankato for a matchup against Mankato Loyola at 6:30 p.m.
Medford baseball was supposed to make its season debut at home on April 3, but a cancellation will force the Tigers to travel to Blooming Prairie for their first game on Monday, April 6 at 4:30 p.m.
Owatonna baseball has the longest wait of any team, and will begin the Big Nine Conference action at home against Northfield on Tuesday, April 7 at 5 p.m.
Much like the Awesome Blossoms, the Huskies were a dangerous team last season as well with an 18-6 overall record and taking a trip to the Class 1AAAA section elimination bracket semifinals.
Track and Field
The first crack of the starting pistol for the outdoor track and field season will take place in Elgin this year when Medford travels to Plainview-Elgin-Millville for a nine-team meet on Friday, March 27 at 4 p.m.
Blooming Prairie and NRHEG get their first glimpse at one another in a six-team field at Hayfield High School on Thursday, April 2 at 4:30 p.m.
The Awesome Blossoms were the lone team to produce a state champion last season when 2025 senior Owen Krueger won the Class A shot put competition with a throw of 55 feet, 10.25 inches.
Perennial state contender Owatonna will hit the lanes for its first meet at Faribault’s Ted Nelson Track at Alexander Park on Thursday, April 9 at 4 p.m.
Golf
Tee times have been set and the Owatonna Huskies girls team will take the course first for a meet against Rochester John Marshall at Rochester Northern Hills Golf Course on Monday, April 6 at 12 p.m.
The Huskies boys will skip the travel time and play host to the Rockets at Owatonna Country Club the following day for a match at 2:30 p.m.
Blooming Prairie and NRHEG will go head-to-head in their season debut with the Panthers hosting a match at Riverview Golf Course in New Richland on Thursday, April 9 at 4:30 p.m.
Boys and girls competition will start simultaneously.
Lacrosse
Owatonna boys and girls lacrosse will be the last teams to start their season with each side beginning their schedule on Monday, April 13.
The boys team will travel to Farmington to take on the Tigers at 6:30 p.m. while the girls will host the Lakeville South Cougars at 7:15 p.m.
Tennis
Rounding out the pack is Owatonna boys tennis, who opens its season on the road at Faribault on Tuesday, April 7 at 4:45 p.m.
