Playoffs start!

During a sixth-inning rally, Coach T.J. Schmiesing gave a few instructions to his base runners and batters.

The Sauk Centre softball team started what is hopefully a string of playoff wins with a thriller today on the home diamond.

Here's the end of the game tonight:


What a night for the Mainstreeters softball team! They rallied past Paynesville Area to win 5-2 and advance in the Sub-Section 6AA-West playoffs. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the third inning and then went ahead 2-1 in the top of the sixth.

The Mainstreeters (11-6 overall) poured it on with four runs plated in the bottom of the sixth. The Bulldogs (8-7 final record) went down with two pop flies and a grounder in the top of the seventh as the game ended in Sauk Centre's favor. Paynesville Area was a co-champion of the West Central South Conference with BOLD; both went 8-5 against WCC competition this spring.

They play again on Wednesday at Minnewaska Area high school. The game is at 3 p.m. against the top-seeded (host) Lakers, who beat Wadena-Deer Creek 11-3 in their quarterfinal game.
 
Tonight's win was the second playoff-opening win in a row for Sauk Centre. It was their first playoff win on the home diamond since 2001. Last year they also earned a home playoff game, but the weather (rain) scrubbed their home game and moved it to a neutral site.