Long layoff
JCC, SJA take lengthy breaks into 3AA baseball opener
No matter what level, baseball teams like to be able to get their pitching rotation set for the start of postseason play, although sometimes the demands of the regular-season schedule don’t allow it.
That isn’t the case for Jackson County Central and St. James Area as they get ready to meet in the single elimination first round of the Section 3AA tournament at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Veteran’s Field in St. James.
The Huskies haven’t played a game since splitting a home doubleheader with Hayfield and Springfield on Thursday, May 15.
It’s been an even longer time between games for the Saints, who haven’t played since Tuesday, May 13 when they shut out Blue Earth Area 10-0.
The wait between games will be much shorter for Tuesday’s winner. They’ll have one day off before facing either Luverne or Redwood Valley on Thursday.
Sixth-seeded JCC is 6-13 on the season, while third-seeded SJA is 14-4.
The teams split a pair of one-run games on back-to-back days, with the Saints winning 6-5 in Jackson on May 1 and 9-8 in St. James on May 2. The Huskies did also drop a game to Pipestone on May 1.
Jackson County Central went 2-2 in its last four games during the regular season, claiming wins over Worthington and Hayfield while losing to Class 2A No. 4 Fairmont and Class 1A No. 1 Springfield.
St. James Area won its last four games before its long break and scored 47 runs in beating Martin County West, United South Central, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial and Blue Earth Area.
That outburst has brought the Saints up to 8.2 runs scored per game. The Huskies are averaging 4.0. SJA is allowing 4.9 runs per game and JCC 7.4.
Tuesday’s winner plays either second-seeded Luverne (16-3) or seventh-seeded Redwood Valley (5-15) at the site of the higher-seeded team on Thursday.
Section 3AA baseball
Tuesday, May 26
South Sub-Section
All games at 5 p.m.
Fairmont (17-3) has bye
Pipestone (7-11) at Windom (11-8)
Jackson County Central (6-13) at St. James Area (14-4)
Redwood Valley (5-15) at Luverne (16-3)
North Sub-Section
All game at 5 p.m.
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta (20-0) has bye
Paynesville Area (14-6) at New London-Spicer (12-7)
Montevideo (13-3) has bye
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (7-13) at Minnewaska Area (12-6)
Season results
JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL (6-13)
Thursday, April 3: at Windom, L 11-1
Tuesday, April 8: Blue Earth Area, W 10-0
Friday, April 11: Maple River, L 11-5
Tuesday, April 15: Luverne, L 19-1
Thursday, April 17: Pipestone, L 10-6
Tuesday, April 22: Fairmont, L 13-4
Friday, April 25: at Redwood Valley, L 7-1
Friday, April 25: at Redwood Valley, W 2-1
Tuesday, April 29: at Blue Earth Area, W 11-2
Thursday, May 1: St. James Area, L 6-5
Thursday, May 1: Pipestone, L 9-4
Friday, May 2: at St. James Area, L 9-8
Monday, May 5: at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, W 2-0
Tuesday, May 6: at Luverne, L 10-0
Thursday, May 8: Windom, L 5-2
Monday, May 12: at Worthington, W 7-3
Tuesday, May 13: at Fairmont, L 10-0
Thursday, May 15: Hayfield, W 7-4
Thursday, May 15: Springfield, L 11-0
Season results
ST. JAMES AREA (14-4)
Friday, April 4: at Fairmont, L 10-5
Tuesday, April 8: Windom, W 11-8
Tuesday, April 8: Windom, W 12-1
Friday, April 11: Mankato Loyola, W 6-5
Tuesday, April 15: Redwood Valley, W 9-2
Tuesday, April 22: at Blue Earth Area, W 11-1
Friday, April 25: at Pipestone, W 14-3
Friday, April 25: at Pipestone, W 4-3
Tuesday, April 29: Fairmont, L 3-1
Thursday, May 1: at Jackson County Central, W 6-5
Friday, May 2: Jackson County Central, W 9-8
Tuesday, May 6: at Redwood Valley, W 6-1
Thursday, May 8: Luverne, L 8-1
Thursday, May 8: Luverne, L 11-4
Friday, May 9: Martin County West, W 10-0
Saturday, May 10: United South Central, W 8-7
Monday, May 12: at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, W 19-11
Tuesday, May 13: Blue Earth Area, W 10-0