The Jackson County Central softball team has played two doubleheaders this season and the script for each has been similar. Each time, the Huskies have dropped a competitive first game before rolling to a one-sided win in the nightcap.
On Thursday, Luverne topped JCC 7-4 in the opener before winning 15-0 in five innings in the second game.
Hadley Wachal homered in the first game for Jackson County Central and went the distance in the pitcher’s circle. She struck out 11 in taking the loss.
Mady Wachal was the winning pitcher in the second game as she allowed two hits and struck out 10. At the plate she went 4-for-4 including a grand slam, had five runs batted in and scored three runs.
Also in the second game, Clara Brinks had two hits including a double and had four RBI and Renae Vancura had two hits and drove in a run.
Bailey Finck had two hits, while Braelyn Boogerd and Kinley VanDeVere each scored two runs.
JCC is 4-2 overall including 2-2 in the Big South Conference West Division. Luverne is 3-1 and 1-1.
The Huskies have the first part of next week off before playing a pair of state-ranked Class 2A teams late in the week.
Jackson County Central travels to eighth-ranked Pipestone for a conference doubleheader Thursday and then hosts No. 10 Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial in a single nonconference game Friday.
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE
Softball standings
Small School Division
Windom 5-1
Pipestone 3-1
Jackson County Central 2-2
Luverne 1-1
Blue Earth Area 1-2
St. James Area 1-2
Redwood Valley 0-4
Conference games only
Large School Division
New Ulm 2-0
St. Peter 1-0
Fairmont 1-1
Marshall 0-1
Waseca 0-1
Worthington 0-1
Conference games only
JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL SOFTBALL SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Thurs., April 4: at Fairmont, W 13-0 (5 innings)
Tues., April 9: at St. James Area, L 2-1 (9 innings)
Tues., April 9: at St. James Area, W 16-1 (4 innings)
Fri., April 12: Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian, W 10-0 (6 innings)
Tues., April 18: Luverne, L 7-4
Tues., April 18: Luverne, W 15-0 (5 innings)
Thurs., April 25: at Pipestone (2), 4 p.m.
Fri., April 26: Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, 4:30 p.m.
Mon., April 29: at Blue Earth Area (2), 4 p.m.
Thurs., May 9: Redwood Valley (2), 5 p.m.
Fri., May 10: at Windom (2), 4 p.m.
Sat., May 11: JCC Invitational, 9 a.m.
Thurs., May 16: at Wabasso, 5 p.m.
Tues., May 21: Section 3AA, TBD
Sat., May 25: Section 3AA, TBD
Tues., May 28: Section 3AA, TBD
Thurs., May 30: Section 3AA, TBD
June 5-7: State tournament, North Mankato
Huskies get votes
Jackson County Central received votes in the latest state Class 2A poll by the Minnesota Softball Coaches Association.
As mentioned, the Huskies’ next two opponents are rated in 2A with Pipestone eighth and Lake Crystal 10th. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton remains first in the 2A poll.
New Ulm of the Big South Conference’s Large School Division is tied for third in Class 3A with Mankato East. The Eagles defeated the Cougars 4-2 in Mankato this past Monday. Cretin-Derham Hall leads Class 3A.
New Ulm Cathedral moved from fifth to first in Class 1A and Rosemount took over the top spot in the 3A rankings.
Following are the complete polls. Listed are rank, team, poll points in parenthesis and last week’s ranking.
Class 1A
1. New Ulm Cathedral (47) 5
2. Red Lake Falls (36) 7
3. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (34) 2
(tie) Blooming Prairie (34) NR
5. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (33) 4
6. Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian (32) 1
7. United South Central (21) NR
8. South Ridge (20) NR
9. BOLD (16) NR
10. Browerville (15) 3
(tie) Moose Lake/Willow River (15) 6
(tie) Upsala (15) NR
Others receiving votes: Southland, Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's, East Polk, Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale, Braham, Carlton-Wrenshall, Mille Lacs, Wabasha-Kellogg, Lake Park-Audubon, Wheaton/Herman-Norcross, Springfield, Swanville.
Class 2A
1. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (68) 1
2. Belle Plaine (65) 2
3. Randolph (56) 4
4. Cotter Schools/Hope Lutheran (54) 3
5. St. Agnes (51) 5
6. Hawley (31) 6
7. Rockford (29) 8
8. Pipestone (26) 9
9. Le Sueur-Henderson (24) 7
10. Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial (20) 10
Others receiving votes: St. Cloud Cathedral, Proctor, Melrose, St. Charles, Glencoe-Silver Lake, Jackson County Central, Wadena-Deer Creek, Zumbrota-Mazeppa.
Class 3A
1. Cretin-Derham Hall (86) 3
2. Winona (82) 2
3. Mankato East (76) 1
(tie) New Ulm (76) 7
5. Chisago Lakes (68) 4
6. Mankato West (53) 6
7. Delano (39) 5
8. Academy of Holy Angels (38) 7
9. St. Francis (36) NR
10. Rocori (17) NR
Others receiving votes: Becker, Northfield, Simley, Byron, North Branch, St. Anthony Village, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Kasson-Mantorville.
Class 4A
1. Rosemount (92) 2
2. Forest Lake (89) 1
3. Farmington (79) 3
4. Shakopee (66) 4
5. Maple Grove (56) 6
6. Lakeville South (52) 9
7. White Bear Lake Area (45) 8
8. Stillwater Area (38) 5
9. Centennial (33) 7
10. Brainerd (13) NR
Others receiving votes: Eden Prairie, Rogers, Lakeville North, New Prague, St. Michael-Albertville, Hopkins, Spring Lake Park, Andover, Park, Champlin Park, Minnetonka.