Jackson and Lakefield were both winners at home Wednesday on the opening night of the playoffs for amateur baseball teams in Region 13C. The Bulls were 4-1 winners over Pipestone, while the Frogs won 12-2 in seven innings over Ruthton.
At Wacker Field, Evan Olesen and Will Larson combined to give the Jackson pitching staff another double-digit strikeout game as they fanned 11 while limiting the visiting A’s to five hits.
Pipestone’s leadoff batter in the game scored the lone run of the game for the A’s.
The Bulls scored a pair of runs in each of the first two innings and there was no scoring after that.
In the first, Easton Bahr singled, went to second on a wild pitch, moved to third after back-to-back walks to Olesen and Lucas Gardner and stole home on the throw back to the mound from the catcher.
Jackson scored two more in the second. Seth Busch reached on an error and scored on a double down the left field line by Bahr, who picked up his second RBI of the game. Bahr went to third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Olesen.
Four players, Bahr, Olesen, Chris Gumto and Carter Snyder, had two hits apiece for the Bulls. Getting one apiece were Andy Wolf, Busch and Payton Handevidt.
Olesen went eight-plus innings on the mound. He left game game afer allowing a double to lead off the ninth inning. Larson would retire all three batters he faced, two on strikeouts.
In his time, Olesen allowed one run on five hits, walked two and struck out nine.
At Stan King Field, the Pronk brothers teamed up to hold down the Royals. Phil started and went five, while Dustin pitched the final two frames.
Dustin Pronk was also one of four Frogs to get two hits in the game. The others were Taylor Christopher, Nolan Luhmann and Gabe Wolff.
Jackson and Lakefield can both wrap up their series with road wins on Friday. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
If a Game 3 would be necessary in either series it would be played at 2 p.m. Sunday with the Bulls and Frogs playing at home.
In other games Wednesday, Heron Lake topped Worthington 5-3 in 11 innings and Hadley shut out Fox Lake 3-0. Each of those series resumes Saturday.
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 leads series 1-0
Wednesday, July 19 – Jackson 4, Pipestone 1
Friday, July 21 – at Pipestone, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 23 – (If necessary) at Jackson, 2 p.m.
Lakefield (4 FNL) vs. Ruthton (5 Gopher)
Lakefield leads series 1-0
Wednesday, July 19 – Lakefield 12, Ruthton 2 (7 innings)
Friday, July 21 – at Ruthton, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 23 – (If necessary) 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