There's nothing quite as therapeutic as looking forward to something. Noticing that leaves are popping, days are lengthening and the sun is around much longer is a nice antidote for the collective lavender-tinged melancholia that has gripped the Twin Cities for the past few days.

Clearly, high school athletic events pale in comparison to the death of a dearly beloved native, but with them come a sense of normalcy. Things move forward, games still are played, life still happens. Looking ahead can be just as important to healing as looking back.

Two of the biggest events of the spring season are on tap this week: the Hamline Elite Track and Field Meet and Tri-State Invitational boys' golf tournament.

The Hamline Elite Meet was devised specifically to showcase the top boys' and girls' track and field athletes based on posted performances this season. This year's lineup still is not set — the deadline for entry requests is Tuesday — but the meet, which starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Hamline's Klas Field, is a must-see for track and field fans.

The Tri-State Invitational is a two-day affair that brings together some of the best boys' golfers in Minnesota and adds a little regional spice with teams from North Dakota and Wisconsin. Among those scheduled to play are the top three boys in the current MGA state rankings: Minnetonka's Ben Sigel, Wayzata's Ben Frazzini and White Bear Lake's Mason Fiddle. The tournament will take place Friday and Saturday at Edinburgh USA in Brooklyn Park.

Here's a glance at some of the other top prep matchups around the metro this week:

Baseball

Monday: Sibley East at Belle Plaine, 5 p.m.

Friday: Wayzata at Minnetonka, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday: Minnehaha Academy at St. Cloud Cathedral, 1 p.m.

Girls' lacrosse

Wednesday: Minnetonka at Eden Prairie, 5:30 p.m.

Softball

Tuesday: Anoka at Elk River, 4:30 p.m.; Bloomington Jefferson at Benilde-St. Margaret's, 4:30 p.m.

Friday: Becker at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: Lake­ville North Panther Classic — Andover, Burnsville, Cretin-Derham Hall, Eden Prairie, Elk River, Hill-Murray, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, New Ulm, North St. Paul, Rogers, Superior, Tartan Senior, Visitation, Wayzata and Woodbury. At Aronson Park, Lakeville. Friday, 4:15 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.

Boys' tennis

Wednesday: Wayzata at East Ridge, 4 p.m.