Saturday’s Jackson County Central-Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial softball game was probably the most anticipated game on the Huskies regular-season schedule, and it lived up to its billing.
The two undefeated, state-ranked teams battled for seven innings, with the Class 2A second-ranked Knights edging eighth-ranked JCC 3-2.
Both teams had also played and won on Friday against a section rival.
If fact, Jackson County Central had won twice, beating Luverne 12-1 in six innings and 9-2. Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial downed Fairmont 5-1 Friday.
JCC got on the board first in Saturday’s game in the top of the fourth inning. Mady Wachal singled and scored on a groundout to shortstop by Bailey Finck.
The Knights scored all three of their runs after two were out in the bottom of the inning for a 3-1 lead.
JCC got to within 3-2 in the sixth when Kinley VanDeVere singled, stole second and scored on a Finck single. The Huskies got the tying run to third in the seventh inning as Miley VanDeVere walked and advanced to third.
Hadley Wachal pitched the first 3.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) and striking out six. Mady Wachal didn’t allow a hit or run and fanned four in the final 2.1 innings.
Jackson County Central has a Tuesday game at Blue Earth Area (0-11). The Huskies won the first meeting between the teams 13-1 in five innings in Jackson on April 10.
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE
Softball standings
As of April 27
Small School Division
Jackson County Central 6-0
Fairmont 5-1
Pipestone 4-2
St. James Area 5-3
Luverne 5-3
Redwood Valley 2-4
Windom 2-6
Blue Earth Area 0-10
Division games only
Large School Division
New Ulm 3-0
Tri-City United 4-1
St. Peter 4-1
Belle Plaine 3-2
Worthington 2-3
Waseca 0-4
Marshall 0-5
Division games only
Section 3AA
While the regular season is just starting to get in full gear, but postseason play isn’t that far off. The Section 3AA tournament starts three weeks from Tuesday.
In the South Sub-Section of Section 3AA, Minneota/Canby (8-1) and Jackson County Central (7-1) each have one loss on the season.
The Vikings’ loss was 4-0 to undefeated Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta (10-0) from the 3AA North Sub-Section.
The only games against another 3AA South team could come on May 10 when Minneota/Canby, Windom and Fairmont are all at a tournament in Windom.
The top two seeds in the South Sub-Section will have a first-round bye and host a pair of tournament games on May 20.
SECTION 3AA SOFTBALL RECORDS
As of April 26
South Sub-Section
Minneota/Canby 8-1
Jackson County Central 7-1
Luverne 6-3
Pipestone 4-4
Redwood Valley 3-5
Windom 2-3
North Sub-Section
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 10-0
New London-Spicer 7-3
Dassel-Cokato 6-3
Minnewaska Area 3-5
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 3-6
Litchfield 1-7
Montevideo 1-8
