Jaguars are Final Four-bound! BELIEVE IT! And State Golf update (VIDEOS)

Three videos added! And important scheduling notes...

How do you like them oats? Wow! After a thrilling performance today in their state tournament opener, the B-B-E Jaguars baseball team is heading to the Class 1A Final Four! They defeated top-seeded and heavily-favored South Ridge by a 2-1 score in regulation innings in today's state quarterfinals. The game started just before 4 p.m., and it ended just before 6 p.m. The Panthers were playing in their fifth straight state tournament and were determined to improve on an 0-2 record at state last year. Instead of a Final Four berth, South Ridge moves to the consolation bracket with a 22-5 record.

As they continue to make history at B-B-E, the Jaguars ruined the Panthers' hopes of a first-round win with a gritty defensive performance. It was one for the ages, including an incredible complete-game performance by starter Tanner Shelton. His stats line was outstanding: 7 innings pitched against a total of 30 batters, 9 hits scattered, no earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts on a total of 108 pitches. Shelton and his defense worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth inning when the one-run lead became quite tenous! That was amazing. The icing on the cake was when Shelton struck out the final batter faced on the day to end the game. BELIEVE IT!

B-B-E built the 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a two-RBI double by No. 9 batter Ryan Jensen. His knock deep to right-center field scored both courtesy runner Owen Paulson and then Casey Lenarz for the game-winner.

**Here's exciting video from the bottom of the seventh inning tonight!:


**Here's video from the bottom of the sixth inning...


**Here's video from the top of the first inning today:


NEXT: the Jaguars (14-11 overall) play in the Class 1A state semifinals tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. back at Joe Faber Field. B-B-E's opponent will be Fosston, champions of Section 8A. The Greyhounds, who battled back in the elimination bracket in their section playoffs while beating Sacred Heart 6-1 and 6-4 last Thursday, are 22-4 overall after defeating Legacy Christian 11-1 in six innings tonight in their quarterfinal game. The game will be carried on Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood. **UPDATE: if the Jaguars defeat Fosston, they play at 10 a.m. on Friday this week at CHS Field in St. Paul in the state championship game. If Fosston wins, the Jaguars will play immediately afterwards at Joe Faber Field (approximately 4 p.m.) tomorrow in the third-place game.

Noteworthy: Fosston was ranked No. 9 in the latest QRF rankings, while the Jaguars were ranked No. 11. At the top of the QRF list was South Ridge.

In a post-game interview, an elated head coach Ben Klaphake commented on the win, "Our guys played such a great game. They were making plays all afternoon. This was so much fun to be a part of."

About the challenge of the upcoming semifinal game, Klaphake said, "Fosston is a tremendous team. Everyone down here is great, and it's even more challenging when you get this deep in the tournament. Our coaching staff told the guys that this is no time to be satisfied. We want to grab the opportunity ahead of us."

About the Fosston Greyhounds...
Fosston, the tournament's No. 5 seed, earned their first-ever state baseball win today with a 13-hit attack to defeat No. 4-seeded Legacy Christian. The Greyhounds have 8 seniors on the roster. With the game tied 1-1, Fosston's bats came alive as they scored 5 runs in the fourth and 4 more in the fifth to pull away. Leading their offense was Hudson Boushee (3-for-3, 2B), Tommy Simonson (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Zach Theis (2-for-4, 3 runs). Cullen Norland had one single in four at bats and had 3 RBIs. Theis pitched a complete game.

In last year's Section 8A playoffs, Fosston finished 3-2. In 2021, the Greyhounds won the section title but went 0-1 at the state tournament. They had 4-2 records in the section playoffs with deep playoff runs in both 2018 and 2019. In 2017, the Greyhounds advanced to state and won the consolation title after losing 11-1 in six innings in their state opener.

Fosston's head coach, Ryan Hanlon, is in his 15th season leading their program and has a 225-85 career record. The team returned 5 starters from 2022, including 4 pitchers who logged at least 15 innings. Fosston lost 6 seniors to graduation, including two who were four-year starters.

STATE boys' golf update...
At the state boys' golf meet today in Becker, Brady Schwinghammer finished Day One in a three-way tie for second place with a 72. The current leader shot a 70. That's all I've got right now on that. Schwinghammer tees off at 1:35 p.m. tomorrow for the second 18 holes of state at Pebble Creek Golf Course. As a team, the Jaguars are tied for fifth place with a 339. The current first-place team, Lakeview of Cottonwood, shot a 322. In second is Walker-Hackensack-Akeley with a 324, while Fillmore Central shot a 331 to sit in third place. The top three teams receive team trophies.

More to come. Video is uploading. I also have to get out in the garden before I run out of day light!