Jackson is headed to the state Class C amateur baseball tournament for the first time since 2018 as the sixth-seeded Bulls were 2-1 winners over the third-seeded Milroy Irish in Game 2 of their best-of-three Region 13C amateur baseball playoff series Friday at Wacker Field.
The Bulls, who won Game 1 by a 17-0 score at The Irish Yard on Wednesday, won the series 2-0.
In the opening game Milroy made three first-inning errors that led to four Jackson runs. This time the Bulls made three errors in the first (two on one play) but they were able to hold the Irish to one run.
“This game was a great battle,” said Jackson pitcher Ryan Rasche, who pitched eight innings to record the win. “The top of the first didn’t go so well for us with them getting that first run but everybody got back to picking up the baseball, throwing across, doing the things right. We were able to hold them to that one run and squeak out two runs for the win.”
Bulls Manager Scott Bahr had much the same as his veteran left-hander, who continues to add to his Jackson career-leading win total.
“Maybe the story of the game is that we made three errors in the first inning but only gave up one run,” Bahr commented. “They had three errors in the first inning the other night and we scored four. That’s a big difference only being down one run after that many errors. And then we just turned around and started playing defense.”
Bahr praised the play of the Irish.
“You have to tip your cap to Milroy,” he said. “After giving up 17 runs and making six or seven errors you don’t know what’s going to happen to them. What’s their mental state going to be and then we come in and we make three errors in the first inning.
“’Were we tight?” Bahr continued. “Yeah, we were tight one time through the order. I think everybody knew what was going on so then you have to look at that and say that Ryan carried us for a while and started getting things going in the fourth inning.”
Milroy had that 1-0 lead until the Bulls tied it 1-1 in the fourth.
Easton Bahr led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a fielder’s choice, third on a single by Evan Olesen and then scored on Chris Gumto’s single.
There would be no more scoring until Jackson pushed across what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Seth Busch singled to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Payton Handevidt.
Bahr then singled and Busch came around to slide in headfirst across the plate with what proved to be the winning run.
Jackson changed left handers on the mound in the ninth inning as Will Larson took over for Rasche. Larson struck out the first batter, walked the next, recorded another strikeout and then recorded the final out on a bouncer to Andy Wolf at second base.
In his eight innings Rasche allowed only that unearned run in the first inning on four hits, not walking a batter and striking out seven.
“Everything worked well,” Rasche said. “I still have all my pitches, which helps as you get up there in age. You definitely have to get some movement and location because I can’t just throw fastballs past everybody. I was able to keep them off balance and hold them to that one run.”
Easton Bahr had three hits for the Bulls, Gumto had two while Olesen and Busch each had one.
Also Friday, Fairmont defeated Lakefield 10-0 in eight innings to win that series in two straight. Spencer Chirpich pitched the first six innings, with Jack Hested and Adam Schmidt each going one inning.
Jon Traetow had three hits for the Martins, while Lincoln Becker and Levi Becker each had two.
Luverne swept Heron Lake in two straight games and Hadley bounced back to beat Windom in three games after the Pirates had won Game 1.
The tournament will be played out to determine seeds 1-4 for the state tournament that starts Friday, Aug. 18 with games at Delano, Dassel and Litchfield.
Also, the four remaining teams will hold a draft Monday night. Teams will select one pitcher from the eight teams in the region that have been eliminated.
Draft order
Luverne
Fairmont
Hadley
Jackson
REGION 13C PLAYOFFS
Semifinals
Luverne (1) vs. Hadley (5)
Wednesday, Aug. 2 – at Luverne, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 5 – at Hadley, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 6 – at Luverne, 2 p.m.
Fairmont (2) vs. Jackson (6)
Wednesday, Aug. 2 – at Fairmont, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 4 – at Jackson, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 6 – at Fairmont 2 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Luverne (1) vs. Heron Lake (8)
Luverne wins series 2-0
Wednesday, July 26 – Luverne 15, Heron Lake 0 (7 innings)
Saturday, July 29 – Luverne 3, Heron Lake 0
Windom (4) vs. Hadley (5)
Hadley wins series 2-1
Wednesday, July 26 – Windom 6, Hadley 3
Saturday, July 29 – Hadley 5, Windom 0
Sunday, July 30 – Hadley 10, Windom 6
Fairmont (2) vs. Lakefield (7)
Fairmont wins series 2-0
Wednesday, July 26 – Fairmont 10, Lakefield 0 (7 innings)
Friday, July 28 – Fairmont 10, Lakefield 0 (8 innings)
Milroy Irish (3) vs. Jackson (6)
Jackson wins series 2-0
Wednesday, July 26 – Jackson 17, Milroy Irish 0 (7 innings)
Friday, July 28 – Jackson 2, Milroy Irish 1