The regular season is winding down and the postseason is ramping up.

On the softball diamond, the Tigers played their last regular-season game Wednesday against Rochester Mayo.

Although Albert Lea finished with an 8-9 overall record, the Tigers had the highest ranking through Minnesota-Scores.net’s Quality Results Formula among eight teams in Subsection 2AA South.

However, we were surprised to see our hometown sluggers fall to the No. 4 seed.

The key to the QRF is strength of schedule. According to Minnesota-Scores.net, each game is given an individual score based on three things: a win or loss, the opponent’s amount of wins and the class differential between the two teams.

As reflected by the QRF, Albert Lea played tougher competition than the rest of the subsection.

While we recognize the QRF isn’t perfect, it’s a good baseline.

Although Albert Lea slipped to the No. 4 seed, the Tigers will host their first postseason game in a decade, which is as far back as the records on Minnesota-Scores.net go. Essentially, they’ll play Faribault Academies, the best team in the subsection that didn’t get a first-round home game.

The Tigers can look at their seeding as being slighted. However, we hope they see it as an opportunity. It’s a chance to play with something to prove. It’s a chance to prove they can overcome injuries to three key seniors and play to the best of their ability.

Show the Albert Lea’s softball team support when it hosts Faribault Academies in the subsection quarterfinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday.