The Jackson Bulls moved out to 5-1 lead Friday night, but the Fairmont Martins scored the final dozen runs of the game and claimed a 13-5 win in Region 13C amateur baseball playoff action. With the triumph, Fairmont swept the best-of-three series between the teams 2-0 and qualified for the upcoming state tournament.
Jackson scored a pair of runs in the first inning, added another in the second and tacked on two more in the third to build its 5-1 edge. Fairmont, however, cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the third, then grabbed its lead by tallying four runs in the fourth. The Martins scored two more times in the fifth, followed by one more in the seventh and two more in the eighth.
Evan Olesen and Blaise Jacobsen each had a pair of hits for the Bulls in defeat. Jackson, however, will play on, as it will now take on Windom in a best-of-three series to determine the third and final Region 13C qualifier at state.
Fairmont, now 16-3 on the season, was the No. 3 seed in Region 13C; it will next take on top-seeded Luverne in another best-of-three playoff series to determine seeding for the state tourney. The Redbirds moved to 16-2 on the year on Saturday afternoon by earning a 5-2 victory over No. 5 Windom to win those teams’ series two games to none. Luverne also knocked off the Pirates 5-2 this past Wednesday night.
This Wednesday, Fairmont will play at Luverne at 7:30 p.m. in the series to determine the No. 1 and No. 2 Region 13C seeds at state. Meanwhile, Windom – now 13-7 this summer, will play at Jackson – now 14-5, also at 7:30 p.m.
This year’s amateur baseball tournament begins Aug. 16 with games scheduled in Jordan, Belle Plaine and Green Isle.
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