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When the rain (or snow) lets up ...

Good events are scheduled, but check the weather before you head to the game.

By Jim Paulsen

April 28, 2014 at 11:43AM

Charlie Adams of Blake. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The weather report has become so intrinsic — not to mention redundant — to spring sports that schedules have become little more than suggestions. Plans must be kept tentative, options left open.

The week ahead looks soggy, meaning that games that do get played will be likely to include a side order of muck.

Here's a look at some of the best events we hope will happen this week, keeping in mind that nothing on the spring sports schedule comes with a guarantee.

Softball

Perhaps the strongest lineup of teams, top to bottom, of the season is set for the Lakeville North Panther Classic, set for Friday and Saturday at Lakeville's Aronson Park.

The top-ranked Panthers lead a 16-team field that includes defending Class 2A champ New Ulm, Orono, North St. Paul, Prior Lake, Visitation and Centennial. The first round is Friday with the second rounds and championship games for the Red and Black bracket set for Saturday.

Boys' tennis

On Friday, in a matchup of the state's two most successful boys tennis programs, Blake routed Edina 6-1. In the spotlight match at No. 1 singles, Blake's Charlie Adams defeated Edina's Max Olson 6-4, 7-6. That was a rematch from the finals of the 2013 Edina Invitational in which Olson defeated Adams, who went on to win the Class 1A singles championship.

It's possible that a rubber match could be in store Saturday, when the Hornets host the 2014 Edina Invitational, which is traditionally the best tournament of the spring. Eight of the top programs in the state — Edina, Mahtomedi, Maple Grove, Mounds View, Rochester Mayo, Minneapolis Washburn and both 2013 team champions, Wayzata (Class 2A) and Blake (1A) — congregate at various courts around the west metro. The quarterfinals begin at 8 a.m., and the championship match is set for 2 p.m. at the courts at the Edina Community Center.