Some Eastview softball games become an inside job

Eastview softball coach Trevor Monroe isn't an advocate of dome softball. There comes a point, though, when necessity wins out.

The Lightning swept a doubleheader from crosstown-rival Apple Valley 10-5 and 10-0 last Thursday in South Suburban Conference action in the dome at the Savage Sports Center.

"I had never been in there, but it's one of the nicer domes," Monroe said. "It's a lot like the West St. Paul dome. It has a high ceiling, and it's spacious. I didn't hear anybody complaining about it."

A year ago, Monroe didn't want to schedule games in a dome due to the weather conditions. The end result, a 16-game schedule instead of the allotted 20.

"We were caught between a rock and a hard place again," Monroe said. "We didn't want to lose games like we did last year."

He expects the Lightning to still get all 20 games in this season. Eastview evened its record at 4-4 with the sweep of the doubleheader.

"It's the joy of living in the state of Minnesota," Monroe said. "We are going to be busy. We are pretty much booked out for the rest of the season."

The conference showcase, all 10 teams in action, will be held Saturday at Alimagnet Fields in Burnsville. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

The schedule is as follows: Bloomington Kennedy vs. Rosemount, 11 a.m., field 1; Prior Lake vs. Eagan, noon, field 2; No. 5-ranked Bloomington Jefferson vs. Apple Valley, 1:30 p.m., field 1; Eastview vs. Lakeville South, 2:30 p.m., field 2, and No. 6-ranked Burnsville vs. No. 1-ranked Lakeville North, 4 p.m., field. The rankings are provided by Let's Play Baseball.

Bloomington Jefferson is first in the conference standings, followed by Lakeville North, Burnsville and Prior Lake. Lakeville North was the consolation champion in the Class 3A state tournament a year ago.

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