Jackson Post 130 will play Sibley East (Gaylord Post 433) at 12:30 p.m. Friday in the first round of the Division II American Legion baseball state tournament at Redbird Field in Luverne.
Sibley East did advance to the Class 2A state high school tournament this spring, losing to eventual champion Fairmont 8-3 in the first round. The Wolverines then dropped a consolation bracket game to Wadena-Deer Creek 6-3.
The Tarantulas qualified for the state tournament by winning the Southwest Sub-State tournament in St. James last Saturday.
Jackson, which advanced to the sub-state as the third-place team from its sub-district, was the final unbeaten team in the sub-state tournament, facing the host team in the championship round. St. James would win 8-3 to force the ‘if necessary’ game, which Post 130 won 5-3.
“I’m so proud of these guys. I want to cry,” Coach Blaise Jacobsen said after the sub-state tourney. “There’s been a lot of emotion all season long, especially these last few weeks.”
Jacobsen and assistant coaches Alex Bretzman and Easton Bahr were piecing together makeshift lineups at times due to players being gone as well as some illness and injury issues
“It’s summer and schedules happen. All sorts of things happen,” Jacobsen said. “We have a good core group here that really plays hard and just doesn’t give up. Man, I love ‘em. It’s awesome.”
Two pitchers from the first game last Saturday actually played big roles how the Tarantulas were able to approach the second game.
After Trace Michelson’s arm began hurting, Brett Rossow came in after pitching three innings for Lakefield in an amateur game the night before.
“I didn’t know what I was going to get out of him, but he was absolutely great.” Jacobsen commented.
The Tarantulas trailed 8-3 and while you never want to give up on a game, Jacobsen wanted to save pitchers for a second game that appeared imminent.
“Andrew came in and threw curveball after curveball and did a phenomenal job,” Blaise said. “He struck out three. Brett and Andrew deserve as much credit as anybody for the second game be keeping our pitching intact for the second game.”
More conflicts
Even on state tournament weekend, there are more conflicts.
The Jackson County Fair.
A program Day honoring Jackson County Central’s state championship wrestling team is scheduled for Friday. Several of the wrestlers play baseball.
Amateur baseball. Several players and all of the coaches are members of the Jackson Bulls, who are in the Region 13C tournament.
No doubt there are a few other family and work issues to work through for players, coaches and fans as teams reported for the tournament Thursday and the first game was starting over the noon hour on Friday
Four state tournaments
Andrew Boyum had quite a senior year at Jackson County Central and it’s continued two months past graduation.
Boyum qualified for the state cross country meet last fall, was on the wrestling team that won the state tournament in the winter, and qualified in two events at this spring’s state track and field meet.
And now he’s on a Legion baseball team that’s headed to a state tournament.
Andrew will attend Iowa Central Community College and compete in cross country and track for the Tritons.
But he’s going to be a little late reporting to the team.
ICCC runners are reporting on Saturday.
According to his mom, Mary, Andrew called his college coach first thing this past Monday after the Tarantulas qualified for the state tourney to explain the situation.
She said his coach was very supportive and told Andrew to keep in touch as the tournament progresses and wished him and his team good luck.
Depending on how the tournament goes, Andrew will head to Fort Dodge Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
Let’s hope it’s not until Monday.
Legion Prospect Series
Two players from the Division II Southwest Sub-State have been selected to play in next week’s Legion Prospect Series.
Drew Rothenberger, a junior from Windom, will play for the White team; and Cody Wichmann, a senior from Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, will play for the Red team.
The Legion Prospect Series is Aug. 5-7 at Toro Stadium at Red Haddox Field in Bloomington.
Any rostered American Legion player graduating in 2023-2025 was eligible. Players are nominated by their coaches and those nominations are reviewed by a selection committee.