Postseason baseball continued Friday on both the amateur and American Legion levels.
Amateur
Jackson advanced to the Region 13C Playoffs while Lakefield will have another opportunity to advance on Sunday.
Rain delayed the start of the Bulls’ game in Pipestone but Jackson started out quick with three runs in the top of the first and the A’s would score one in the bottom. That was all the scoring in the game as the Bulls won 3-1.
Bulls’ all-time wins leader Ryan Rasche went the distance, striking out 16. He allowed six hits, walking two, and hit one.
Andy Wolf had three hits including a double and walked once. Carter Snyder had two hits.
In the first inning, Chris Gumto’s two-run single scored Easton Bahr and Wolf, and Lucas Gardner had an RBI groundout that brought in Evan Olesn.
The Bulls will open the Region 13C Playoffs with Game 1 of a best-of-three series on Wednesday. Pairings will be determined on Monday.
Meanwhile just up Highway 23 in Ruthton, the host Royals rallied for a 6-4 win over Lakefield to set up a deciding Game 3 at 2 p.m. Sunday at Stan King Field in Lakefield.
The Frogs had a 3-2 lead before Ruthton scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-3 advantage. Lakefield would score one in the ninth for the final margin.
LEAGUE PLAYOFF ROUND
Fairmont (1 FNL) bye
· The Martins have a bye into the Region 13C Playoffs
Windom (2 FNL) bye
· The Pirates have a bye into the Region 13C Playoffs
Jackson (3 FNL) vs. Pipestone (6 Gopher)
Jackson win series 2-0
· Wednesday, July 19 – Jackson 4, Pipestone 1
· Friday, July 21 – Jackson 3, Pipestone 1
Lakefield (4 FNL) vs. Ruthton (5 Gopher)
Series tied 1-1
Wednesday, July 19 – Lakefield 12, Ruthton 2 (7 innings)
Friday, July 21 – Ruthton 6, Lakefield 4
Sunday, July 23 – at Lakefield, 2 p.m.
Heron Lake (5 FNL) vs. Worthington (4 Gopher)
Heron Lake leads series 1-0
Wednesday, July 19 – Heron Lake 5, Worthington 3 (11 innings)
Saturday, July 22 – at Heron Lake, 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 23 – (If necessary) at Worthington, 2 p.m.
Fox Lake (6 FNL) vs. Hadley (3 Gopher)
Hadley leads series 1-0
Wednesday, July 19 – Hadley 3, Fox Lake 0
Saturday, July 22 – at Hadley, 2 p.m.
Sunday, July 23 – (If necessary) at Hadley, 2 p.m.
Milroy Irish (2 Gopher) bye
The Irish have a bye into the Region 13C Playoffs
Luverne (1 Gopher) bye
The Redbirds have a bye into the Region 13C Playoffs
American Legion sub-states
The field is down to two teams in both the Division II and Division I sub-state tournaments.
There were two elimination games in the Division II Southwest Sub-State tournament in St. James Friday.
Minnesota Lake defeated St. James 3-1 and then Windom topped Minnesota Lake 2-1.
In the championship round Saturday, tournament unbeaten Sleepy Eye plays Windom at 11 a.m. If Windom wins, a second game would follow 30 minutes later.
The champion advances to the state tournament in Roseau next weekend and will play the host team in the first round.
In the Division I Sub-State tourney at Johnson Park in New Ulm, New Ulm Gold shut out Mankato National 2-0 Friday.
On Saturday, tournament unbeaten Mankato American plays New Ulm Gold at 11 a.m. If New Ulm wins, a second game would be played 30 minutes later.
The state Division I tourney will be played next weekend on four fields in Rochester.
Look for more on the amateur playoffs later.