Where To Begin... Jaguars Fastpitch & Baseball Both Fall Out of Playoffs

The photo backed up what the ump said...Laura was safe with the slide, against Barnum.


In a matter of a couple hours tonight, my chances at covering four Jaguars sports programs at their respective state tournaments was narrowed to only two. It was a difficult evening to be a Jaguars fan. While the ticket to the state golf tournament was punched last Friday, three chances were in play going into this evening (baseball, fastpitch, track & field).

The Jaguars Fastpitch team lost two games in the Section 5A Final Four to end their season in 3rd place, after gaining the Sub-Section 5A-West championship last week. In the winner's bracket final they faced the Barnum Bombers and lost 7-1. In the loser's bracket final, the Jaguars then fell to Maple Lake 9-4.

They had a great showing in the playoffs, both this season and in 2007. I was proud to see them battle back against Maple Lake tonight, after falling behind 9-0 after 3 1/2 innings. They certainly could have folded and gone home after a 5-inning game. They battled the rest of the way, but it was not meant to be.

In their three appearances in the Section 5A Final Four (2000, 2007, 2008), the Jaguars fastpitch team finished third each time. This one was the most special run, as they entered the tournament for the first time as sub-section champions. They finish the season 14-7. In my three years covering their team, they have gone 11-9, 10-13, and now 14-7. (35-29 overall)

The top-seeded Jaguars Baseball team fell in the sub-section semi-finals in a shocker, 7-0, to the 4th-seeded Browerville/Eagle Valley Broncos tonight. I don't even know where to begin with that one. I feel very sorry for the eight seniors on the team. I've seen them win a pile of games in 2006, 2007, and 2008, especially during their run in the Region tournament with Legion baseball last summer.

Tonight's loss for the baseball team was the 7th straight semi-final loss in sub-section play. Since 2002 they have always been seeded in the top four of the sub-section, with this year being the first in that stretch with a #1-ranking. It never translated into a section berth, however. It's simply baffling, like a cruel and unfair jinx in my opinion.

They have gone 8-12, 9-10, and 15-5 in my three years covering them. (32-27)

The Broncos are 9-7 after the win. They advance to the sub-section championship on Thursday night, facing either Upsala-Swanville Area or Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City. They were Prairie Conference Tri-Champions with Royalton and USA, with all three teams going 5-3 in league play.

Good luck to the Jaguars track and field teams, who have eight tracksters at the Section 5A meet at St.John's tomorrow. Action begins around 10:30 at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.

Also on Wednesday, the annual B-B-E athletic banquet will be held at the Padua Pub at 7:00. Did you get your ticket?

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