Worthington edges Pipestone in game 2 of Region 10C playoffs to move on

The Worthington Cubs advanced to the next round in the Region 10C amateur baseball playoffs by earning a wild 12-11 victory at Pipestone on Friday night.

With the win, the Cubs earned a two-game-to-none sweep over the A's in their playoff series. Worthington took game one at home, 7-1, on Wednesday night.

On Friday, the Cubs earned the triumph thanks to solid clutch hitting with runners in scoring position — and despite seven errors in the field.

Pacing Worthington — now 9-10 overall this season — at the plate was Tyler Linder, who connected for a pair of hits while also driving in three runs. Kent Lais and Ethan Meyer each contributed a pair of hits and two RBIs, and Ethan Duffy also drove in two runs with a double. The Cubs had 10 hits in the contest as a team.

Justin Saufley started on the mound for Worthington and tossed five innings, giving up 11 hits and nine runs — of which only two were earned -- and striking out eight A's batters. McKinley Bush threw 2 2/3 Innings of relief, fanning three while surrendering a pair of unearned runs. Blake Ahrenstorff picked up a four-out save; he had a pair of strikeouts.

No. 6 seed Worthington will next play No. 2 Fairmont in the Region 10C quarterfinals; those series are slated to begin on Wednesday evening.

Two other amateur baseball teams besides Worthington earned spots over the weekend in the Region 10C quarterfinals by finishing off 2-0 sweeps in their first-round playoff series.

On Saturday, the Jackson Bulls dominated in an 18-0 victory over Heron Lake to capture the series between those clubs.

Tyler Netsch had a day to remember at the plate for Jackson, reaching base all six times with a pair of home runs while also walking twice. JD Schneider chipped in with a double and two singles; he also walked and was hit by a pitch. Cael Miller added three hits, including a homer.

Will Larson, Preston Crees, Talan Holm and Javen Baumgarn combined to pitch the shutout. They allowed a total of four hits and struck out 11 Lakers hitters.

Also advancing to the quarterfinals is Fox Lake, which won at Lakefield 4-2 on Friday to clinch that series. The Foxes won the first game between the teams, 4-3, on Wednesday in Fox Lake.

With the score 1-0 heading into the top of the ninth, the Foxes scored three times to extend their lead to four. The Frogs answered with two runs in the bottom of the ninth but could get no closer.

Taylor Christopher and Carson Kolander had a pair of hits each for Lakefield in its season finale; Gabe Wolff and Dustin Pronk also had hits.

Sixth-seeded Jackson will now meet No. 3 Milroy in a best-of-three series that starts Wednesday. Eighth-seeded Fox Lake will begin a series with No. 1 Windom that same night.