It is around six hours until game time for tonight's Region 8B playoff game between Hutchinson and Maple Lake. Each have won one game against this season.

For those not familiar with the Lakers, here is their projected lineup:
1. Chad Raiche, P
* Strong hitter that clobbered the ball Sunday in a 13-3 win over Hamel. Beat Hutchinson, 5-4, at Veterans Memorial Field.
2. Nate Johnson, 2B
* Good defensive infielder
3. Todd Fuller, LF
* Biggest left-handed bat in the lineup - went 4-for-4 in a playoff game last year. Destroys fastballs over the plate.
4. Keith Jerpseth, 1B
* Powerful veteran that can drive in runs
5. Cody Decker, C
* Average arm behind the plate, but does a nice job calling a game and receiving
6. Nick Johnson, CF
* Had a few big hits Sunday against Hamel
7. Marcus Zahn, SS
* Has a knack for reaching base one way or another
8. Bob Fobbe, DH (for 3B Eric Wurm)
Had 2 RBIs in win Sunday
9. Tyler Decker, RF
* Could be biggest steal threat for Lakers

Hutchinson has practiced three times over the last week, so they are as prepared to play as they can be. The key will be pitching and defense. I think each team can hit the ball - but it will come down to who makes more plays.

The Lakers made eight errors in their loss; the Huskies couldn't get the third out in the five-run seventh inning in their loss.

Whoever wins will face St. Michael at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Whoever loses will face Delano at 4 p.m. Saturday in an elimination game. Tonight is a big one because it means the winner has to win just one of the next two games to make state.

See ya in Delano tonight - game time is 7:30 p.m.

* Just released today - the first 2008 boys' cross country rankings for Minnesota:
Teams
1 Wayzata
2 Eden Prairie
3 Stillwater
4 Brainerd
5 Edina
6 Moorhead
7 Owatonna
8 Willmar (Section 2AA)
9 Alexandria
10 Lakeville South
11 Minnetonka
12 Buffalo

Votes: Lakeville North, Roseville, White Bear Lake, Mpls South, Chaska (Section 2AA), Rosemount

1 Mahad Hassan 12 Willmar (Section 2AA)
2 Robel Kebede 12 Mpls. South
3 Drew Paradis 12 Alexandria
4 John-Michael Brandt 11 Winona
5 Thomas Ruttger 12 Brainerd
6 Jeremy Drenckhahn 12 Wayzata
7 John Holt 12 Roseville
8 Eric Truedson 12 Bemidji
9 Danny Ducharme 12 Wayzata
10 Zach Mellon 12 Buffalo (Section 2AA)
11 Ryan Evans 12 Centennial
12 Kamal Jarso 11 St. Paul Central

Votes: Adam Zutz 10 St. Francis, Lucas Gemar 10 Moorhead, Jacob Bastyr 12 Owatonna, Jakob Lindaas 12 Moorhead, Mohamed Hussein 11 Willmar (Section 2AA), Marty Joyce 11 Woodbury

* Here is the web site for the Division II American Legion State Tournament in Sacred Heart this weekend:
http://div2baseball.tripod.com/ [2]