Faribault Lakers Win and Get Another Crack at Union Hill

The Faribault Lakers amateur baseball team scored four runs in the ninth inning to score a 6-5 win over the New Prague Orioles on Thursday night.

With the win, the Lakers finished their journey through the elimination bracket and now get the chance to recapture the seed they earned when the Region 3C playoffs began - the No. 1 seed.

Faribault will play at Union Hill Friday at 7:30PM. If they win they would have to battle the Bulldogs again Sunday for the top seed out of the Region in the State Class C Amateur Baseball Tournament.

The No. 1 seed gets to take the first weekend of the state tournament off and automatically is inserted into the second of the three weekends of action.

With the 6-5 loss to Faribault in Veseli on Thursday night, the New Prague Orioles are the No. 3 seed representative out of Region 3C.

The Lakers downed New Market 6-2 Sunday, which gave the Muskies the No. 4 seed.

Faribault must defeat Union Hill twice to secure the top seed. The Lakers lost to Union Hill on August 2 by a 2-0 score to send Faribault into the elimination bracket.

Since then they've reeled off three straight wins and Union Hill has not played since Sunday, when they beat New Prague 6-3.

The Bulldogs have not lost in the Region 3C playoffs so a win over Faribault Friday night would give them the top seed.

If Faribault defeats Union Hill on Friday night, the Sunday afternoon game would be played in Union Hill at 1PM.

When the Region 3C playoffs began, Union Hill was the No. 4 seed and Faribault the No. 1 seed.

Meanwhile, the latest Class C state rankings have been released and Faribault is not even in the others receiving votes category despite a 24-10 record.

Here are the latest Class C Minnesota Amateur Baseball rankings:

1. Sartell Muskies
2. Raymond Rockets
3. Fort Ripley Rebels
4. Hutchinson Huskies
5. Sobieski Skis
6. Waterville Indians
7. Lamberton Long Sox
8. Green Isle Irish
9. Plato Blue Jays
10. Elrosa Saints

Also receiving votes: Jordan Brewers, Fergus Fall Hurricanes, Hampton Cardinals, Kimball Express, Wanamingo Jacks, Union Hill Bulldogs, Morris Eagles, Watkins Clippers, Fairmont Martins and Milroy Irish.

The Wanamingo Jacks did not win a game in the Region 5C playoffs and saw their season come to a crashing halt last weekend.