This time, late game heroics were not needed...for the most part.
Facing a red hot Parkers Prairie team that had blazed its way through the elimination bracket of the Section 6A tournament, the B-B-E Jaguars baseball team broke a 1-1 tie with three runs scored in the bottom of the sixth inning. The first of those three runs was on a wild pitch that brought Hayden Sobiech home, while the latter two were driven home on Brett DeRoo's fielder's choice.
Defensively, relief pitcher Tate DeKok pitched a gem across the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In the top of the seventh, the Panthers drew back-to-back walks on one out before Luke Illies took the mound as the would-be closer. A quick fielder's choice grounder to second base and then an unassisted put out at third base by Casey Lenarz put the historic achievement in the bag: the Jaguars were state-bound! Final score: B-B-E 4, Parkers Prairie 2. The Jaguars have now won four straight postseason games by a total margin of just five runs.
**Here's a video that includes the exciting moment that the game's final out is recorded tonight!
The Jaguars improve to 13-11 overall as winners of seven of their last eight ball games. Parkers Prairie finishes 19-7.
The state tournament will be held next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, June 13-14 and 16. Other information is forthcoming. I know that the state quarterfinals will be hosted at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud on the 13th.
*Here's video from the top of the fifth inning with Tate DeKok pitching tonight:
What this means is that Jaguar Country will have TWO teams competing in the state tournament starting next Tuesday! This is wild!!!!
In an elimination game in Section 3AA today, Paynesville Area fell 6-3 to Fairmont to see their season end with a 19-4 overall record.
