Trojans defeated by Belle Plaine and Jordan in weekend baseball games

It was a tough weekend for the Worthington Trojans baseball team as they were swept in a doubleheader by Belle Plaine on Saturday after losing to Jordan Friday night. All three games were played at the Worthington Middle School field.

Game one of Saturday's twinbill was easily the closest of the three, as the visiting Tigers edged the Trojans 3-2. Belle Plaine grabbed a 1-0 edge in the top of the first and added two more runs in the second, but only managed a single hit while being held scoreless the rest of the way.

WHS, meanwhile, made it 3-1 game in the third when Austin Gruis' RBI single scored Manny Saravia. Gruis then connected for a run-scoring single in the fifth, once again bringing home Saravia and trimming the lead to a single run. The Trojans had the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the seventh, but those runners were left stranded.

Chase Byrne threw well on the mound for the first five innings and Max Ostrem tossed the final two frames. Saravia had three of the eight Worthington hits; Dom Pavelko added a double and Ostrem and Dalton Larson each had singles.

In game two Saturday, WHS grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first when Dawson Svalland singled and Byrne scored him with a double. That would be the lone run of the game for the Trojans, as Belle Plaine went on to claim an 11-1, five-inning victory.

On Friday night, Jordan and Worthington were tied at 0-0 after two innings, but the Hubmen then scored 15 times in the top of third and went on to win in five innings, 17-1. Byrne slugged his third home run of the season for the lone Trojans' run.

WHS now has a record of 2-14 this season and has finished its home schedule. The Trojans play at Windom on Tuesday and at Fairmont on Thursday.

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In the Section 3A high school softball tournament, Murray County Central is the No. 2 seed on the south side of the bracket and will open tourney play on Tuesday by hosting No. 7 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at 3 p.m.

The winner of that contest will meet the victor of a 4:30 p.m. game at MCC between third-seeded Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian and No. 6 Lakeview. That winners' matchup will begin at 6 p.m at MCC.

Adrian-Ellsworth, meanwhile, is the No. 5 seed in the south and will face No. 4 BOLD at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Wabasso. The Rabbits are the No .1 seed and will host eighth-seeded Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at 3 p.m. That game's winner will meet the A-E vs. BOLD victor at 6 p.m. in Wabasso.

In the Section 3AA softball tournament, Jackson County Central is the top seed on the south side of the bracket and will play at home at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday against the victor of a 4 p.m. game at JCC between fourth-seeded Windom and No. 5 Minneota/Canby. 

Pipestone Area is seeded second and has a bye. The Arrows will play host at 5:30 p.m. to whoever wins the 4 p.m. matchup in Pipestone between No. 3 Luverne and No. 6 Redwood Valley.

Pairings for the Section 2AAA softball tourney, which begins Thursday in North Mankato and involves Worthington, are likely to be announced Monday.