Third-seeded Fairmont erased a four-run deficit to defeat second-seeded Jackson 13-5 Friday at Fairmont and sweep the best-of-three Region 13C playoff series in two straight games. The Bulls had won both regular-season meetings with the Martins.
Fairmont advances to the region’s championship series and is guaranteed a spot in the state Class C tournament.
The Martins will face top-seeded Luverne starting Wednesday in Luverne. The Redbirds were 2-0 series winners over Windom.
Jackson plays Windom in a series for the region’s third and final berth in the state tourney.
The Bulls scored two runs in the first inning of Friday’s game and then added one in the second and two on the third for a 5-1 lead. Jackson would not be able to dent the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.
Fairmont’s Luke Becker, however, was able to dent the Herb Wolf Field scoreboard as he led off the Martins’ third with a drive off the board in left-center field.
Fairmont drew to within 5-3 before the third inning was over and took a 7-5 lead with a four-run fourth inning. The Martins would add two in the fifth, one in the seventh and three in the eighth.
Evan Olesen and Blaise Jacobsen had two hits apiece for Jackson and each recorded an RBI.
Blake Evans and Chris Gumto also had RBI singles for the Bulls and Easton Bahr plated a run with a sacrifice fly.
Derek Shoen led the Fairmont lineup with five hits including a double and also had a sacrifice fly as he collected four RBI. Tyler Tennyson had three hits for the Martins.
Luke Becker had a double to go with his homer and was walked intentionally and Spencer Chirpich had two hits and walked. Also picking up two hits apiece for the Martins were Lincoln Becker, Ethan Hurn and Landen Meyerdirk. Jon Traetow had an RBI double.
Josh Smith pitched the first six innings for Fairmont and was the winner. Chirpich went the final three innings.
Hadley draftee Tucker Sorenson pitched five innings for Jackson and took the loss. Trace Michelson, Landon Vaske and Talan Holm also pitched for the Bulls.
Region 13C amateur baseball
Final Four
Jackson Bulls (2) vs. Fairmont Martins (3)
Fairmont wins series 2-0
Wednesday, July 31: Fairmont 5, Jackson 0
Friday, Aug. 2: Fairmont 13, Jackson 5
Luverne Redbirds (1) vs. Windom Pirates (5)
Luverne wins series 2-0
Wednesday, July 31: Luverne 5, Windom 2
Saturday, Aug. 3: Luverne 5, Windom 2
