Cubs finish off regular season with impressive win; playoffs are next

The Worthington Cubs finished off their amateur baseball regular season on Sunday with a 12-0, seven-inning victory at Hadley.

Justin Saufley threw a complete game on the mound for the Cubs, scattering seven hits while walking one and striking out four. The Worthington offense did its job in supporting Saufley's pitching as everyone in the starting lineup had each one hit.

Ethan Meyer had two hits for the Cubs against the Buttermakers. Triston Sauerbrei, Logan Huisman, Saufley and Tucker Brandner each contributed two RBIs. Brandner homered in the triumph, and Huisman, Saufley and Meyer each connected for doubles.

Next up for the Cubs is their first postseason game, which is set for July 23. Worthington, with a record of 8-8 overall, will likely play as a No. 6 seed at No. 3 Jackson, which is 10-7. 

Two regional teams — Heron Lake and Fox Lake — will begin a best-of-three playoff series this Wednesday. Seven other seven teams in the Gopher and First Nite leagues will not begin their playoff schedule until July 23. Those games are tentatively set to be: Top-seeded Windom (15-1) vs. Fox Lake or Heron Lake; the second-seeded Milroy Irish (11-8) vs. seventh-seeded Lakefield (4-10); Jackson vs. Worthington; and No. 4 Hadley (13-9) vs. No. 5 Pipestone (8-10).

Luverne and Fairmont have been switched this year from Class C to Class B.