Jaguars Fastpitch open playoffs at home on Friday, May 15 vs. the Swanville Bulldogs

The pairings have been announced for Sub-Section 5A-West.

The Jaguars Fastpitch is seeded #4, earning them a home playoff game for the second straight season and the third time in the past four seasons. They will host the Swanville Bulldogs, who are 10-3 overall and 8-2 in the Prairie Conference (2nd place).

The Jaguars have won their past 4 playoff openers, dating back to May 19, 2005, when they defeated MACCRAY by a 6-5 score.

Maple Lake is the number one seed for the second year in a row. Osakis is number two, Holdingford is number three, and Swanville is number five.

Further information on the Swanville Bulldogs...The Bulldogs are led by 2008 Prairie Conference MVP Tracy Fruechte, a senior pitcher who has had a strong season thus far in 2009. As a junior, Freuchte helped Swanville finish third in the Prairie Conference (7-5) and 8-8 overall. In addition to Fruechte, the Bulldogs return six other starters from 2008: Paige Barthel, Jordan Novak, Kristi Johnson, Nicole Mortenson, Holly Pelzer and Rachael Beckman. Mortenson, a junior outfielder, batted .531 as a sophomore.

In 2006, the Jaguars hosted Swanville in the playoff opener that year and won 8-1.

Make no mistake, Swanville will be tough. They lost to Osakis in Swanville 3-1 in eight innings on April 20th. Fruechte pitched a complete game that day, earning seven strikeouts against the Silverstreaks.

After starting the season 4-0, Swanville lost three straight. Currently they have won their past six games, including a 7-4 win over Pierz and a 6-3 win over Kimball, both in the month of May.

Ordered seedings for Sub-Section 5A-West in fastpitch:
1- Maple Lake (12-2 overall, 10-1 CMC)
2- Osakis (14-2 overall, 10-0 Prairie)
3- Holdingford
4- B-B-E
5- Swanville (8-3 overall, 7-2 Prairie)
6- Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City
7- Kimball Area
8- Browerville
9- Upsala
10- Eden Valley-Watkins

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