We meet again
Bulls, Martins ready for rematch in 13C semifinals
Four teams are still in the running for three state tournament berths out of the Region 13C amateur baseball playoffs.
Jackson and Fairmont will meet up in one of the two best-of-three series in the Final Four round that starts Wednesday.
The second-seeded Bulls will host the third-seeded Martins in Game 1 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Wacker Field. Game 2 is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Herb Wolf Field in Fairmont. If Game 3 is necessary, it would be played at 2 p.m. Sunday in Jackson.
The Bulls won both regular-season matchups with the Martins.
It’s the second straight year the teams have met in the region semifinals.
Jackson was the No. 6 seed last year when it faced No. 2 Fairmont. The Martins won the opening game of that series 4-3 before the Bulls would win the next two games, 1-0 and 7-2.
The other series in the Final Four has top-seeded Luverne taking on fifth-seeded Windom starting Wednesday at Redbird Field in Luverne.
Each of the four teams remaining will play another series next week.
This week’s winners will both be guaranteed spots in the state tournament but will play another series for the region championship, seed order and draft order for more pitchers. This week’s losing teams will play for the region’s No. 3 seed.
Sites for this year’s state tournament are Jordan, Belle Plaine, Green Isle and Shakopee. Pairings will be announced during a selection show on Aug. 11.
Region 13C Final 4
Jackson Bulls (2) vs. Fairmont Martins (3)
Region first round
Jackson defeated Pipestone 2-0
Wednesday, July 24: Jackson 2, Pipestone 1
Friday, July 26: Jackson 12, Pipestone 5
Fairmont defeated Hadley 2-0
Wednesday, July 24: Fairmont 11, Hadley 8
Saturday, July 27: Fairmont 20, Hadley 3 (8 innings)
Draftees
Jackson: Tucker Sorenson, Hadley
Fairmont: Paxton Gravlin, Fox Lake
Regular season meetings
May 29 (at Jackson): Jackson 5, Fairmont 4
June 25 (at Fairmont): Jackson 11, Fairmont 7
State tournament appearances
Jackson (13): 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2023.
Fairmont (23): 1930 A champion, 1943, 1945, 1952 AA third, 1953 AA third, 1959 A champion, 1969, 1980, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2012 C second, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 C champion, 2022, 2023.
Luverne Redbirds (1) vs. Windom Pirates (5)
Luverne defeated Lakefield 2-0
Wednesday, July 24: Luverne 10, Lakefield 0 (8 innings)
Friday, July 26: Luverne 5, Lakefield 3
Windom defeated Milroy Irish 2-1
Wednesday, July 24: Milroy Irish 8, Windom 0
Saturday, July 27: Windom 3, Milroy Irish 2
Sunday, July 28: Windom 20, Milroy 3 (7 innings)
Draftees
Luverne: Tyler Maeyaert, Milroy Irish
Windom: Tyler Peterson, Milroy Irish
Regular season meeting
June 14 (at Windom): Luverne 4, Windom 2
State tournament appearances
Luverne (15): 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.
Windom (20): 1936 A champion,1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2009, 2018, 2021.
Other state tournament appearances
Here is the list of state tournament appearances for the other current Region 13C teams.
Pipestone (15): 1947, 1954, 1956 A third, 1957 B third, 1958 B champion, 1959, 1960 B champion, 1962, 1963 B second, 1965, 1971, 1996, 2004, 2006, 2011.
Hadley (13): 1940, 1942, 1943, 1945, 2001, 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023.
Worthington (7): 1944 A third, 1948, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1983, 2016.
Heron Lake (4): 1972, 1975, 1988, 1989.
Milroy Irish (4): 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022.
Fox Lake (1): 2007 (Welcome qualified in 1993)
Lakefield (1): 1933.
Great games
Jackson and Fairmont have had some great games and great postseason series with memorable moments.
For my money, my favorite occurred in Game 1 of this same round in 2014. And before you say anything, no I don’t think my son playing a leading role has anything to do with that, thank you very much.
So, here’s what happened.
The Bulls trailed 2-1 in the fourth inning but loaded the bases with one out. Blaise Jacobsen was on third, Ethan Welter on second and Caleb Rossow on first with Brett Larson batting.
Brett attempted a bunt on the first pitch but bunted it foul.
A few pitches later, with two strikes, Manager Scott Bahr gave the bunt sign again.
As Blaise came down the third baseline toward the plate, a fastball came in high and inside, exactly what the pitcher should do if he’s anticipating a bunt. Brett leaned back a little, put the bat up and got it on the ball and got the ball on the ground up the first base line and Blaise scored to tie the game.
I’ll point out that Fairmont did win that game, but Jackson won two nights later in Fairmont and the Bulls then won Game 3 at home.
One more nugget to add to the mix was that Brett’s best friend for like, forever, Dustin Pronk, had been drafted by Fairmont that year. DD would pitch a gem for the Martins in deciding Game 3 of that series, allowing one run in nine innings. Jackson did win it 2-1 in 10 innings.
And yes, I’ve told that story in the past and will probably continue to do it during the region playoffs every year I’m doing this, especially when Jackson and Fairmont are meeting.
It’s been 10 years and to this point I believe this account is pretty much what actually happened. Like a lot of stories, that is subject to change.