The Jackson County Central softball team is back in the State Tournament after taking down Pipestone Area in the Section 3AA Championship on Thursday in Marshall.
The second-ranked Huskies beat the Arrows 4-1 to repeat as section champions and advance to State for the sixth time in program history.
Huskies head coach Morgan Christopher says it’s not something they take for granted.
Mady Wachal delivered 17 strikeouts in her complete-game title-clinching gem that included striking out the side in the fourth and sixth.
The Arrows only managed one run on three hits plus one walk against her. She also had a single and a walk at the plate.
Hadley Wachal got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with her two-run single that scored Cora Pauling and Bailey Finck for a 2-0 JCC lead. Finck grew the lead to 3-0 when she doubled to score Kinley VanDeVere in the second.
Pipestone capitalized on a throwing error to get on the board in the third.
Finck delivered another double to plate Cora Pauling in the fourth and that produced the final score. She also caught the final out to clinch the title.
Cora Pauling walked twice to go with her pair of runs and a single in another productive postseason outing.
Kelcie Sillman also produced a pinch-hit single in the seventh.
The 24-1 Huskies carry a 22-game winning streak into the State Tournament and we will have full JCC coverage on KKOJ.
The Class AA quarterfinals are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Caswell Park in North Mankato on Tuesday, June 2. The AA semifinals begin at 4:30 on Wednesday, June 3. The AA championship game takes place on Friday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m. inside Jane Sage Cowles Stadium at the University of Minnesota.
The AA consolation round starts at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Caswell Park. The consolation championship is at 11:00 a.m. and the 3rd Place game is at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday at Caswell Park.
RECAP STORY
FULL POST-GAME SHOW
Section 1AA 🥎 Championship
Caledonia 5
Winona Cotter/Hope Lutheran 4
FINAL (9 innings)
Section 2AA 🥎 Championship
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 2
LeSueur-Henderson 1
FINAL
Section 4AA 🥎 Championship
Visitation 2
Concordia Academy 0
FINAL
Section 5AA 🥎 Championship
Rockford 7
Southwest Christian 1
FINAL
Section 6AA 🥎 Championship
St. Cloud Cathedral 11
Kimball Area 0
FINAL
Section 7AA 🥎 Championship
Esko 2
Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 0
FINAL