Section finals
JCC reaches title round for third straight year
Jackson County Central is the final undefeated team in the Section 3AA softball tournament as the Huskies completed a 3-2 win over Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta in eight innings spread over two days in Marshall.
The Tigers led 2-1 when the game was suspended in the third inning on Tuesday. JCC tied it when the game resumed on Wednesday and then scored the game-winner in the eighth.
Mady Wachal’s sacrifice brought in Cora Pauling with the tying run in the third.
The Huskies didn’t have another baserunner until Pauling reached on a bunt single with one out in the eighth. Kinley VanDeVere was out on a sacrifice bunt. Pauling kept going past second base to third. She was hit by the throw and when the ball bounced away, Pauling was able to score the go-ahead run.
Mady Wachal followed with a triple and Bailey Finck was walked intentionally, but the final was recorded and JCC took a one-run lead to the bottom of the eighth.
MACA’s leadoff hitter in its half of the eighth inning before a single put the tying run on base. Hadley Wachal recorded the final two outs with strikeouts, both swinging, and the Huskies advanced to the section finals for the third straight year.
Hadley Wachal pitched eight innings to record the win, allowing two runs on three hits, walking four and striking out 13. Haley Kill took the loss for the Tigers as she also gave up three hits, walked four and struck out 13.
The Tigers dropped to the elimination bracket, where they won 1-0 over Dassel-Cokato to get a rematch with the Huskies in the championship round. MACA would have to beat MACA twice to reach the state tournament.
All four first-round games in the state tournament will be played at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Seeding will be held on Saturday.
JCC 002 000 01 – 3
MACA 200 000 00 – 2
Still alive
Here are the teams 17 Class 2A softball teams still vying for a spot in the state tournament:
Section 1AA
Unbeaten: Randolph
1 loss: Caledonia
Section 2AA
Unbeaten: Jordan
1 loss: Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial
Section 3AA
Unbeaten: Jackson County Central
1 loss: Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta
Section 4AA
Unbeaten: St. Agnes
1 loss: Visitation
Section 5AA
Unbeaten: Spectrum
1 loss: Rockford
Section 6AA
Unbeaten: St. Cloud Cathedral
1 loss: Kimball Area
Section 7AA
Unbeaten: Rush City
1 loss: Esko
Section 8AA
Unbeaten: Roseau
1 loss: Hawley, East Grand Forks
Tough schedule
Five teams Jackson County Central played during the regular season are still in contention for a spot in the state softball tournament.
Class 1A: Wabasso, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian, New York Mills
Class 2A: Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial
Class 3A: New Ulm
Unscored on
Unranked Spectrum has not allowed a run this season in 19 games. The Spartans have outscored their opponents 179-0.
Spectrum is the last unbeaten team in the Section 5AA tournament and will play sixth-ranked Rockford in the finals Thursday in Annandale.
Spectrum was a 2-0 winner over Rockford when the teams met as the final two unbeatens on Tuesday.