Chaska has a steep section road ahead if it is to return for a third consecutive state tournament.

The Hawks will face Minnetonka on Tuesday, May 20 at 5 p.m. in the first round of Section 2-3A play at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Tonka topped the Hawks 4-1 in a game on May 3.

The winner then takes on Mankato West at 7 p.m., with the loser dropping to the elimination bracket to play at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 22.

Minnetonka, 5-11 on the season, plays Minneapolis Southwest on Thursday and faces Forest Lake on Friday.

After a pair of one-run losses last week, Chaska put the setbacks behind them and hit the road.

The Hawks reached the championship game of the Cloquet Tournament on Saturday before falling 4-2 to White Bear Lake.

Chaska started with an 8-1 win over South St. Paul and clubbed Rice Lake, Wis. 12-0.

Chaska lost 4-3 to Lakeville North on May 7, and fell by the same score Thursday at Bloomington Kennedy, as the Eagles scored in the bottom of the seventh to win.

Apple Valley scored a 7-0 victory over the Hawks on Monday, as Eagle hurler Michele Hogan fired a one-hit shutout and struck out 10.

If that was not enough, Hogan collected three hits and scored a run. Michelle Frank and Sarah Grandstrand pitched for the Hawks.

Bloomington Jefferson clubbed Chaska 13-2 on Wednesday to drop the Hawks to 6-13 on the season, and 3-10 in the Lake Conference.

Chaska finishes the regular season with a game against the state’s No. 1 team, Eagan, at 4:15 p.m. Thursday.

Section 2-3A softball

at Caswell Park, North Mankato

Games Tuesday, May 20

First round games, 5 p.m.

Chaska vs. Minnetonka

Shakopee vs. Waconia

Willmar vs. New Prague

Buffalo vs. Hutchinson

Second-round games, 7 p.m.

Mankato West vs. Chaska-Minnetonka winner

Eden Prairie vs. Shakopee-Waconia winner

Mankato East vs. Willmar-New Prague winner

Prior Lake vs. Buffalo-Hutchinson winner

Games Thursday, May 22

One-loss bracket games, 5 p.m.

Championship bracket, 7 p.m.

Games Saturday, May 24

One-loss bracket games, 11 a.m.

One-loss bracket semifinals, 1 p.m.

Championship semifinals, 1 p.m.

Game May 27

One-loss bracket finals, 5 p.m.

Game May 29

Championship, 5 p.m. (second game follows, if necessary)