It’s a tall order to be sure, but Jackson County Central has been one of the hottest teams in the state the last three weeks and the Huskies are a determined bunch heading into this afternoon’s (Thursday’s) championship round of the Section 3AA softball tournament in Marshall.
JCC has won 13 of 14 games in that time, with the lone loss coming to Pipestone, 11-4, in the tournament’s winner’s bracket final on Tuesday.
After the loss to the Arrows Tuesday, the Huskies, seeded third in the South Sub-Section, bounced right back with their second win over North Sub-Section No. 1 seed Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta, this time 12-2 in five innings.
That gives Jackson County Central another meeting with Pipestone today, starting at 5 p.m. If the Huskies win that game, a second championship game would follow.
JCC broke out on top in Tuesday’s game with a two-run top of the first, but the Arrows came right back with two in their half of the inning.
Pipestone added three in the second with the Huskies plating one in the top of the third to get within 5-3. The Arrows scored four in the third and two in the fourth to lead 11-3. JCC scored its final run in the seventh inning.
Bailey Finck had three hits including a double and triple for Jackson County Central and had two runs batted in.
Hadley Wachal, Mady Wachal and CJ Pauling all pitched for the Huskies.
Finck had four more hits including a double and had two RBI vs. the Tigers. She had seven hits in the two games Tuesday.
Brittany Tufvesson had three hits including two doubles and three RBI, while Hadley Wachal and Renae Vancura also three hits apiece.
Hadley Wachal went the distance in the pitcher’s circle, striking out 10.
Two decades of champions
Only three schools have won the 19 Section 3AA softball tournaments that have been held in the last 20 years. The 2020 season was canceled.
Pipestone was won the section title 13 times, including the last six.
New Ulm won the title four times and Jackson County Central two. The Huskies went on to win the state championship each time they won the section.
Section 3AA softball champions since 2003
2003: Pipestone
2004: Jackson County Central
2005: Jackson County Central
2006: Pipestone
2007: Pipestone
2008: Pipestone
2009: Pipestone
2010: Pipestone
2011: Pipestone
2012: New Ulm
2013: New Ulm
2014: New Ulm
2015: New Ulm
2016: Pipestone
2017: Pipestone
2018: Pipestone
2019: Pipestone
2020: Canceled
2021: Pipestone
2022: Pipestone