School board members for the Carlton and Wrenshall school districts voted on Monday to move ahead with adding softball as a cooperative spring sport. If approved by the Minnesota State High School League, the partnership would begin immediately and be effective for at least this season.

Both schools have lagging participation rates that would have put junior high students on varsity rosters, often before they are ready, the application to the MSHSL said.

The two districts earlier this year agreed to combine track programs as well. The cooperative, which runs under the Raptors nickname, has...