The Jackson Bulls will return to the site of maybe their most improbable and most exciting of their dozen all-time wins in the state Class C amateur baseball tournament Saturday when they face the Green Isle Irish at Delano Municipal Baseball Park. Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Jackson played two games in Delano in the 1997 tournament and won each in come-from-behind fashion.
In the first round, the Bulls trailed Richmond 6-1 in the sixth inning. Jackson’s lone run to that point came on a home run by Blaise Jacobsen, who is still a member of the team this year.
The Bulls scored four runs in the seventh and later trailed 8-5 going to the bottom of the ninth.
As they often did at the top of the lineup, Matt Foster and Lincoln Wacker set the table for Jackson as they started the inning with hits. Foster scored on an error and then Wacker scored on a single by Pat Frank to bring the Bulls within 8-7.
A draftee would provide one of the more memorable moments in the 39-year history of the team as Jon Wilson’s two-run blast over the left-fence completed the four-run ninth and give Jackson a 9-8 win.
At the time, drafted players could pitch or catch and could bat and Wilson, from Fairmont, was adept at all three of those phases. Now, draftees can only pitch and cannot bat.
In the second round Jackson again played in Delano and rallied past Watkins 7-5 before falling to St. Michael 12-3 in the third round.
Home team
The Bulls will be the home team for Saturday’s first-round game and occupy the first-base dugout with the Irish in the third-base dugout.
It’s the first meeting ever between the teams.
Jackson is making its 13th trip to state.
Here are those trips: 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2023.
Green Isle is in the state tourney for the 25th time: 1972, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994 C 3rd, 1998, 1999 C 2nd, 2001, 2002, 2003 C champ, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012 C 3rd, 2013, 2014, 2015 C 2nd, 2017, 2019, 2023.
Former Bull
Jackson is going to be very familiar with one player in the other dugout as former Bull Holt Hunziker is a draftee with the Irish.
Hunziker, who played college baseball at both Marshalltown Community College and Northern State, was drafted from the Watertown Red Devils. He played one season with the Bulls.
Green Isle and Watertown are both members of the Crow River Valley League. Hunziker was named to the league’s All-Star team this season.
Last year, Hunziker played a big role for the Red Devils at the state tournament as Watertown made it to the semifinals.
The 6-foot-5 right hander was the winning pitcher for two of Watertown’s three tournament wins and pitched in another game.
Hunziker went 6.2 innings and was the winner in a 6-4 win over the Cold Spring Rockies in the second round and went 7 innings in a 3-2 win over the Bird Island Bullfrogs in the quarterfinals on Sunday morning of the final weekend.
He came back later that same day and was not involved in the decision in a 6-4 loss to the Buckman Billygoats.
Other names
Also on the Green Isle roster is Windom High School graduate Ryan Clark, a first baseman for the Irish. He played college baseball at NCAA Division III Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis.
None of the current Bulls probably have any connection with him, but former Bulls Brett Larson and Mitch Macek played high school hockey at Windom Area with Clark.
The Irish have a couple of other familiar names on their roster.
Walter Johnson is a pitcher (and also a first baseman and third baseman).
Of course, it’s not the Walter Johnson who won 417 games (an average of 19.9 per season) for the Washington Senators from 1907-1927. This one played high school baseball at Minnetonka and college baseball at Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Joining Hunziker as one of Green Isle’s draftees is Jack Nicklaus, who plays with the St. Boni Saints.
But instead of the legendary golfer, this Jack Nicklaus is from Eden Prairie and has played one season at Concordia University (St. Paul).
Third game
The Jackson-Green Isle game is the third of four in Delano Saturday.
There are two Class B games to start the day with Air Freight Unlimited playing the Northfield Knights at 11 a.m. and the St. Louis Park Pirates meeting the Young America Cardinals at 1:30 p.m.
Following the Bulls and Irish will be another Class C first-round game matching the Loretto Larks against the Luxemburg Brewers.
Former major leaguer Corey Koskie plays for Loretto along with his three sons, Bradley and Joshua, who played high school baseball at Concordia Academy; and Caleb, who played at Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
Koskie played seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins and one apiece with the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers. Born in Manitoba, he’s a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
State tournament program
The work of Jackson artist and baseball veteran Blaise Jacobsen is a big part of the state tournament.
Jacobsen is an art teacher and an artist, as well as a longtime amateur baseball player and high school and American Legion coach.
Blaise was able to combine his passions this spring when he submitted the winning artwork that will be used on the cover of the official program for the state tournament, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. It will also be featured on shirts that will be on sale (while supplies last) at the four state tournament sites, Delano, Dassel, Litchfield and Waconia.
The Jackson High School graduate is in his 20th season with the Bulls. He played with Jackson from 1996-1998 and then moved on to other teams for several years before settling back in Jackson and has played with the Bulls continuously since 2010.
Other Region 13C teams
Here’s a look at the three other teams from Region 13C in the state tournament.
Fairmont: The Martins will face the Hutchinson Huskies at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Litchfield. The winner plays the Hinckley Knights in the second round at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 at a site to be announced. Fairmont is in the state tourney for the 23rd time.
Fairmont’s appearances: 1930 A champ, 1943, 1945, 1952 AA 3rd, 1953 AA 3rd, 1959 A champ, 1969, 1980, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2012 2 2nd, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 C champ, 2022, 2023.
Hadley: The Buttermakers will play Elrosa at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Dassel. The winner plays the Minneota Mudhens at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. This is the 13th appearance in the state tournament for the Buttermakers.
Hadley’s appearances: 1940, 1942, 1943, 1945, 2001, 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023.
Luverne: The Redbirds get a first-round bye as region champion. Luverne play its first state tournament game at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27 vs. the winner of a first-round game between the Plato Blue Jays and the St. Stephen Steves. It’s the 15th state tournament trip for the Redbirds.
Luverne’s appearances: 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.
All-tournament team
Jackson has had a player named to the Class C all-tournament team three times.
1996 – Lincoln Wacker
1997 – Pat Frank
1999 – Lincoln Wacker
Broadcast
If you’re not going to Saturday’s game in Delano you have options to watch or listen.
You can watch the game after buying a subscription here:
https://www.nspn.tv/townball
The Jackson American Legion plans to show the game. Other businesses may as well.
If you prefer, the radio station from Glencoe is covering the game and you can hear the audio for free at: https://radio.net/s/kglb
You can also download the KGLB app.
Another former Bull
A former Bull is a member of a team in the Class B state tournament.
Tom Hady plays for the Shakopee Indians, who play the Plymouth Hit Dawg in the Class B tourney at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Delano.
He has a 1-1 record with a 4.85 earned run average on the season.
Hady was the all-time wins leader for the Bulls before being passed by Ryan Rasche in 2021.
State tournament scores
Results of state tournament games played by the Jackson Bulls. Jackson has won 12 games and lost 13 in state tournament play.
1993
At Cold Spring: Forest Lake Brewers 9, Jackson 6
1995
At Wadena: Jackson 11, Midway 2
At Wadena: Jackson 10, Starbuck 1
At Perham: Glyndon 14, Jackson 4
1996
At Brownton: Jackson 8, Fort Ripley 7
At Glencoe: Jackson 10, Glencoe 3
At Glencoe: Union Hill 7, Jackson 1
1997
At Delano: Jackson 9, Richmond 8
At Delano: Jackson 7, Watkins 5
At Maple Lake: St. Michael 12, Jackson 3
1998
At Hamburg: Jackson 9, Waite Park H.R. Pesty’s 5
At Chaska: Jackson 6, Perham 5
At Hamburg: Glencoe 2, Jackson 0
1999
At Marshall: Jackson 10, Union Hill 6
At Granite Falls: Jackson 6, Sleepy Eye 5
At Granite Falls: Sauk Centre 9, Jackson 8
At Granite Falls: Montgomery 11, Jackson 7
2000
At Fairfax: Jackson 5, New Munich 1
At Fairfax: New Ulm Brewers 8, Jackson 5
2005
At Hutchinson: Plato 7, Jackson 2
2008
At Chaska: New London-Spicer 6, Jackson 2
2012
At St. Cloud Putz: Winsted 8, Jackson 5
2014
At Jordan: St. Patrick 6, Jackson 5
2018
At Shakopee: Jackson 3, Lake Henry 2
At Shakopee: Sobieski 2, Jackson 0
State champions
State amateur baseball tournament champions:
1924
St. Paul Armour’s
1925
White Bear Lake
1926
St. Paul Armour’s
1927
Mora
1928
Mankato
1929
Albert Lea
1930
A: Fairmont
B: South St. Paul
1931
A: St. Paul Bohn Ref.
B: Maple Lake
C: Madelia
1932
A: St. Paul Milk Drivers
B: Chaska
C: Brooten
1933
AA: St. Paul EMBA
A: St. Peter
B: Harmony
1934
AA: Minneapolis Jerseys
A: Willmar
1935
AA: St. Paul J.J. Kohn
A: Red Wing
1936
AA: St. Paul Comm. Row
A: Windom
1937
AA: Minneapolis Heinies
A: Austin
1938
AA: St. Paul N. St. Env.
A: Owatonna
1939
AA: St. Paul T.H. Shoe
A: Maple Lake
1940
AA: Albert Lea
A: Shakopee
1941
AA: Owatonna
A: New Ulm
1942
AA: Austin
A: Fairfax
1943
AA: Minneapolis Mitby Sathers
A: New Ulm
1944
AA: Albert Lea
A: Springfield
1945
AA: Albert Lea
A: Excelsior
1946
AA: Albert Lea
A: Springfield
1947
AA: Albert Lea
A: Chaska
1948
AA: Albert Lea
A: Winsted
1949
AA: Austin
A: Excelsior
B: Little Falls
1950
AA: Fergus Falls
A: LeCenter
B: Lester Prairie
1951
AA: Litchfield
A: Watertown
B: Soderville
1952
AA: Willmar
A: Cannon Falls
B: Soderville
1953
AA: Austin
A: Delavan
B: Rollingstone
1954
A: Benson
B: Milroy
1955
A: St. Peter
B: Cold Spring
1956
A: Minneapolis Teamsters
B: Bemidji
1957
A: Waseca
B: Braham
1958
A: Austin
B: Pipestone
1959
A: Fairmont
B: Shakopee
1960
A: Bloomington
B: Pipestone
1961
A: Minneapolis Twin City Federal
B: St. Bonifacius
1962
A: St. Paul Ganzers
B: Little Falls
1963
A: Minneapolis A&B Sports
B: Braham
1964
A: St. Paul Como Rec
B: St. Bonifacius
1965
A: Bloomington
B: St. Bonifacius
1966
A: Winona
B: Perham
1967
A: Columbia Heights
B: Arlington
1968
A: Columbia Heights
B: Dassel-Cokato
1969
A: St. Paul Sport Spec
B: Arlington
1970
A: Columbia Heights
B: Deer Creek
1971
B: Chaska
1972
B: Columbia Heights
1973
B: Cold Spring
1974
B: Red Wing
1975
B: Prior Lake
1976
B: Prior Lake
1977
A: Minneapolis Mr. Roberts
B: Bemidji
1978
A: Columbia Heights
B: Miesville
1979
A: West St. Paul
B: Arlington
1980
A: Richfield
B: New Ulm
1981
A: Winona
B: Cold Spring
1982
A: Brooklyn Center
B: Dundas
1983
A: St. Paul Stieichens
AA: St. Cloud
1984
A: St. Paul Frontier Bar
AA: Arlington
1985
A: Minneapolis Halek’s
AA: Arlington
1986
A: Columbia Heights
B: Cold Spring
C: Jordan
1987
A: Bloomington
B: Hammel
C: Chaska
1988
A: Minneapolis J. Botten
B: Dundas
C: Delano
1989
A: Columbia Heights
B: Miesville
C: Morris
1990
A: St. Paul Conquest Rooster
B: Red Wing
C: Bovey
1991
A: Minneapolis Angels
B: Rochester
C: Regal
1992
A: Minneapolis Angels
B: Miesville
C: Sartell
1993
A: St. Paul Highland Park
B: Red Wing
C: Granite Falls
1994
A: Minneapolis Angels
B: Jordan
C: Belle Plaine
1995
A: St. Paul Rosetown
B: Miesville
C: Sauk Rapids
1996
A: St. Paul Highland Park
B: Cold Spring
C: Plato
1997
A: Minnetonka
B: Hamel
C: St. Michael
1998
A: Minnetonka
B: Dundas
C: Glencoe
1999
A: Minnetonka
B: Dundas
C: Buckman
2000
A: Glynn Building
B: Cold Spring
C: Brainerd
2001
A: Minnetonka
B: Cold Spring
C: Watkins
2002
A: St. Louis Park
B: Austin
C: Granite Falls
2003
A: Minnetonka
B: Austin
C: Green Isle
2004
A: Minnetonka
B: Jordan
C: Blue Earth
2005
A: Wesley Homes
B: Mankato
C: Holdingford
2006
A: Minnetonka
B: Rochester
C: Blue Earth
2007
A: Minnetonka
B: Miesville
C: Plato
2008
A: St. Louis Park
B: Mankato
C: Elko
2009
A: Minnetionka
B: Shakopee
C: St. Cloud Orthopedic
2010
A: Minnetonka
B: Shakopee
C: Midway
2011
A: Stockmen’s Irish
B: Sauk Rapids
C: Isanti
2012
A: Minnetonka
B: Victoria
C: Maple Lake
2013
A: St. Paul Shamrocks
B: Sauk Rapids
C: Isanti
2014
A: St. Paul Capitals
B: Cold Spring
C: Sobieski
2015
A: Minnetonka
B: Dundas
C: Plato
2016
A: Minnetonka
B: Miesville
C: Raymond
2017
A: Minnetonka
B: Miesville
C: Kimball
2018
A: St. Louis Park
B: Chanhassen
C: Plato
2019
A: Minneapolis Cobras
B: Chanhassen
C: Jordan
2020
A: Minnetonka
B: Chanhassen
C: Fairmont
2021
A: Air Freight Unlimited
B: Chanhasen
C: Sobieski
2022
A: St. Louis Park
B: Rochester
C: Nissswa
Interstate championship
For six years there was an interstate championship game played between the Class A and Class B state champions from Minnesota and Wisconsin.
1958
Class A: Austin 7, Pepin 2
Class B: Pipestone 2, Bangor 1
1959
Class A: Fairmont vs. Soldiers Grove, ccd., rain
Class B: Wisconsin Rapids 4, Shakopee 1
1960
Class A: Bloomington 9, New Richmond 4
Class B: Auburndale 7, Pipestone 3
1961
Class A: Minneapolis Twin City Federal vs. Eau Claire, not played
Class B: St. Bonifacius 9, Goodrich 1
1962
Class A: Pepin 3, St. Paul Ganzers 2
Class B: Little Falls 10, Cushing 4
1963
Class A: Minneapolis A&B Sports 16, Pepin 3
Class B: Braham 3, Cushing 3 (10 innings, tie)
Class B replay: Braham 2, Cushing 1 (10 innings)