Chaska steered out of a three-game skid with two victories to polish off the regular season.
So for now, the Hawks are No. 1.
Chaska nabbed the top seed in the Section 2-3A playoffs, and have a first-round bye to start the long playoff road.
The 12-team section is divided into four three-team ‘pods,’ which play a double-elimination tournament to earn a spot in the final four tournament.
The Hawks will begin its pod by playing the winner of eighth seed Buffalo and 12th seed Mankato East at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 24 at Athletic Park.
The winner of that game plays in a one-loss bracket contest following the game at Chaska. That winner then plays for the championship, and must beat the no-loss team twice to get to the final four.
Minnetonka was awarded the No. 2 seed, and hosts the winner of seventh seed Waconia and 11th seed Hutchinson at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 24 at Veterans Park.
Section 2-3A baseball
Pod 1
#1 Chaska (13-7)
#8 Buffalo
#12 Mankato East
Game Friday, May 23
Mankato East at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Game Saturday, May 24
Mankato East/Buffalo winner at Chaska, 1 p.m.
One-loss game, 3:30 p.m.
Game Tuesday, May 27
Championship (2 games if needed)
Pod 2
#2 Minnetonka
#7 Waconia
#11 Hutchinson
Game Thursday, May 23
Hutchinson at Waconia, 7 p.m.
Game Friday, May 24
Hutchinson/Waconia winner at Minnetonka, 1 p.m.
One-loss game, 3:30 p.m.
Games Tuesday, May 27
Championship (2 games if needed)
Pod 3
#3 Eden Prairie
#6 Mankato West
#10 Willmar
Game Friday, May 23
Willmar at Mankato West, 7 p.m.
Games Saturday, May 24
Mankato West/Willmar winner at Eden Prairie, 1 p.m.
One-loss game, 3:30 p.m.
Game Tuesday, May 27
Championship (2 games if needed)
Pod 4
#4 Prior Lake
#5 Shakopee
#9 New Prague
Game Friday, May 23
New Prague at Shakopee, 7 p.m.
Games Saturday, May 24
Shakopee/New Prague loser at Prior Lake, 7 p.m.
One-loss game, 3:30 p.m.
Games Tuesday, May 27
Championship (2 games if needed)
Final Four
First round – May 30
One-loss games and championship semifinal – May 31
Championship game (2 games if necessary) – June 3