Cubs edged in final inning of amateur baseball series

The Worthington Cubs amateur baseball team led 4-2 going into the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday, but the host Pipestone A’s scored three times to walk off the Cubs and take a 5-4 victory. With the triumph, Pipestone – now 6-11 on the season -- captured the best-of-three playoff series between the two teams, two games to one.

Worthington, boosted by solid pitching from Jake Brandner and Brock Bruns and multiple contributors at the plate, forced Game Three on Friday night with a 6-4 victory over the A’s at the Worthington Middle School Field. Pipestone walked off the Cubs in Game One as it earned a 3-2, 12-inning win on Wednesday evening.

Worthington ends its 2024 season at 3-14.

In other amateur baseball action over the weekend, Hadley took care of Heron Lake 9-4 on Saturday to clinch the teams’ best-of-three series two games to none. On Friday night, Lakefield defeated Fox Lake 9-2 to win those clubs’ best-of-three-series, also by two games to none. Both Heron Lake and Fox Lake are eliminated from postseason play.

The top five seeded teams in the region – in order, they’re Luverne, Jackson, Fairmont, Milroy and Windom – as well as the three First Nite League/Gopher League playoff winners will now compete in the Region 13C playoffs that begin this week. The eight teams will be re-seeded on Monday for more best-of-three series in the tourney.